I've seen this posted a few times so here's the simple way i do it.

Code:
STRING* str_file_data = "";
var _fHandle_user_config_i = NULL;

function get_user_settings(STRING* local_filename){
	
	_fHandle_user_config_i = file_open_read(local_filename);
	
	if(_fHandle_user_config_i){ //read config file
		int eof = 0;
		while(eof != -1){
			eof = file_str_read(_fHandle_user_config_i, str_file_data);
			var_for_name(str_file_data);
		}
	}
	file_close(_fHandle_user_config_i);
}


then call from another function
Code:
	get_user_settings("config.ini");
and change as necessary, (e.g multiple user settings)

then your config file should look something like this
Quote:
[input devices] 1 joystick 2 keyboard/mouse
_input_1_device = 2

[camera mode] 1 1st 2 3rd 3 orbit 4 world
_camera_mode = 2

[player settings]
_player_inverse_move_x = 1
_player_inverse_move_y = 1
_player_inverse_turn_x = 1
_player_inverse_turn_y = 1

_player_movespeed = 1.8
_player_turnspeed = 1.5


Hope this helps