Policy File Format

A policy (.POL) file is a registry hive, which is created by using the Win32 RegSaveKey function.

The following top-level keys are defined:

• Computers
• Groups
• GroupData
• Users
• Misc

A policy downloader uses the following steps to download policies:

1. Locates the appropriate computer key, if any, under Computers. Beneath that key is an image of the registry settings to be merged. The policy downloader should walk through all the subkeys and values and merge those settings into the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key, paying attention to the control codes that are defined in the following section.
2. Locates the appropriate groups key(s), if any, under Groups. Under the Groups keys is an image of the registry settings to be merged. These settings must be merged into the HKEY_CURRENT_USER key.
3. Locates the appropriate user key, if any, under Users. Under the Users key is an image of the registry settings to be merged. These settings must be merged into the HKEY_CURRENT_USER key.