create adm file

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:20:39 Z

Hi. I'm trying to create an administrative template for changing decimal point in regional settings of users via Group Policy.
This setting is controlled by key sDecimal in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International.
I’ve created this template:
[code]CLASS USER
CATEGORY "my Settings"
    POLICY !!decimal_policy_name
        KEYNAME "Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\International"
        EXPLAIN !!decimal_explain

        PART !!decimal_part_name EDITTEXT
            VALUENAME "sDecimalNew"
            MAXLEN 1
        END PART

    END POLICY
END CATEGORY

[strings]
decimal_policy_name="Decimal simbol"
decimal_explain="This policy change decimal simbol in the regional settings of the user invironment."
decimal_part_name="Decimal simbol"[/code]

When I apply a policy whith this template, the key in Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\International sucesfully created.
But in GUI decimal symbol is not changed.
Where do I have a mistake?

create adm file

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:43:14 Z

Yakov, sorry I am not directly helping you with your ADM file, but for regional settings I strongly recommend to use GP Preferences.
If it is possible for you to go this way (only need 1 admin machine with Vista or Win2008 and the GPP CSE on your clients), then Regional Settings
are really easy to manage.
Are you familar with GPP? If not, start here:
http://www.microsoft.com/DOWNLOADS/details.aspx?familyid=42E30E3F-6F01-4610-9D6E-F6E0FB7A0790&displaylang=en
And the forum here includes many other helpful threads, just use the search.

Patrick

create adm file

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:22:44 Z

Howdie!

If the registry is correctly modified (accroding to the data provided in the ADM template file), chances are that Windows doesn't honor (simply ignores) the registry key. Is that the correct Registry location to set this? Have you tried locating the correct registry location using a registry monitor like regmon/procmon and changing the setting on a test machine (manually)?

Other than that, I second Patrick's advice here to look into Group Policy Preferences. They can do that natively with a nice GUI without extra cost (they're free from MSFT!).

Cheers,
Florian

Microsoft MVP - Group Policy (http://www.frickelsoft.net/blog)

create adm file

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:31:05 Z

Policy correctly modify Registry key.
If I try to change the key in "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International" directly, decimal point sucesfully changing in gui.
But this policy not is "true policy".
"true policy" must use keys in "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\".
But I don't know, which key is required for my setting.

create adm file

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:13:55 Z

Regional Settings were never part of Policies, therefore I am quite sure they are not "policy aware" which means they don't look into registry key like "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\". You are right saying "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International" is not "true policy".
But this is the same for many other applications or even OS parts. For those types of applications you have to use the original registry keys.
And even though it is not "true policy" the GPO processing (either via ADM => Registry CSE or via GPP => GPP CSE) will apply the setting during every refresh cycle.
Thus you will have some kind of "enforcement" which - to my opinion - comes quite near to "true policy".

So you have 2 options:
1. Go on with your ADM file but change the registry key to "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International"
2. Switch over to GPP ("Regional Options" module already includes a "Decimal Symbol" box within "Numbers" tab)

Patrick

create adm file

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:57:26 Z

Hi,

Patrick is correct. In this case, it is not necessary to create a new registry entry in "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\". Instead, you need to edit the sDecimal registry entry in "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International" directly.

Thanks.