Comparing ADM and ADMX Syntax
Applies To: Windows Server 2008
This section provides a high-level mapping of ADM syntax to the ADMX equivalents. ("Not applicable"in the ADM-to-ADMX conversion chart implies there is no equivalent syntax used in that file.)
| ADM Language Reference | .admx Equivalent | .adml Equivalent | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
ADM File Language Versions (#If Version) |
resources minRequiredRevision |
revision |
Unlike ADM files, the ADMX file has versioning built in and is not be tied to an operating system version. |
ADM File Language Versions (#If Version) |
resources minRequiredRevision |
Not applicable |
The resources minRequiredRevision attribute provides the coordination between the .admx and .adml file versions |
ADM File Language Versions (#If Version) |
schemaVersion |
schemaVersion |
The schemaVersion attribute specifies the ADMX schema version assumed when creating the .admx and .adml files. The Windows Vista ADMX files assume a 1.0 schema version number. |
comments (;) |
<!-- --> |
<!-- --> |
For ADM files, all text following the ";" is considered a comment. For ADMX files, the XML comments will not be processed by GP tools. |
Strings reference (!!) |
string |
Not applicable |
In ADM files, precede text with "!!" to reference a string. |
<Strings> section of the .adm file |
Not applicable |
stringTable |
|
CLASS |
class |
Not applicable |
ADMX files provide the ability to classify the policy definition as being for user, machine, or both. The "both" classification will allow you to create a single policy definition that applies to the machine and user registry keys. |
CATEGORY |
|
Not applicable |
ADM files assume categories are nested within the definitions. ADMX files specify a parentCategory element for each policy element defined in the .admx file. An individual category is defined within the "categories" element. |
Duplicate Category Sections allowed in different ADM files. |
Duplicate category sections are not allowed in different ADMX files. |
Not applicable |
If one .adm file includes a duplicate "CATEGORY" entry used in a different existing .adm file, the policy settings will be merged when the Group Policy Management Console or the Local Group Policy Editor processes the ADM files. ADMX files have unique namespaces. Defining the same "category" element names in two different .admx files will cause the category to be displayed twice. Instead for .admx files, you must define the "category" element name once and then reference the category element name with the "using" element. |
SUPPORTED |
supportedOn |
Not applicable |
|
POLICY |
|
Not applicable |
In the .admx file, the policies element contains individual policy elements that correspond to a policy setting. |
PART |
elements |
presentation |
In ADM files, the PART statement specifies various policy setting options, such as drop-down list boxes, text boxes, and text in the lower pane of the Group Policy snap-in. ADMX files aggregate policy setting options for one policy setting into the elements element in the .admx file and the presentation element in the .adml file. |
CHECKBOX |
boolean |
checkbox |
|
TEXT |
Not applicable |
text |
The text element in the .adml file provides the string used as the parameter text prompt. |
EDITTEXT |
text |
textBox |
|
NUMERIC |
decimal |
decimalTextBox |
|
COMBOBOX |
text |
comboBox |
|
DROPDOWNLIST |
|
dropdownList |
|
LISTBOX |
list |
listBox |
|
VALUEON |
enabledValue |
Not applicable |
|
VALUEOFF |
disabledValue |
Not applicable |
|
ACTIONLISTON |
enabledList |
Not applicable |
|
ACTIONLISTOFF |
disabledList |
Not applicable |
|
KEYNAME |
key |
Not applicable |
|
EXPLAIN |
explainText |
Not applicable |
|
VALUENAME |
valueName |
Not applicable |
|
CLIENTEXT |
clientExtension |
Not applicable |
|
END |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
XML syntax includes termination of all of its elements. There is no need to use special syntax to terminate an element. |
DEFCHECKED |
Not applicable |
defaultChecked |
|
Line Breaks \n or \n\n |
Not applicable |
Use line breaks or blank lines within the string definitions. |
|
Maximum string length for EXPLAIN text |
Not applicable |
Limited by available memory only. |
|
Maximum string length for CATEGORY EXPLAIN text |
Not applicable |
Limited by available memory only. |
|
Maximum string length for EDITTEXT string |
Not applicable |
Maximum string length for EDITTEXT string = 1023 characters. |
|