How To Convert Personal or Common Groups

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5 and 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51

SUMMARY

The REGTOGRP.EXE and GRPTOREG.EXE utilities from the Windows NT Resource Kit can be used to give users a single group without using User Profile Editor. The utilities also allow you to convert personal groups to common groups and vice-versa.

MORE INFORMATION

REGTOGRP.EXE creates a .GRP file in the current directory for each of your Program Manager groups. The .GRP files created by REGTOGRP are Windows NT specific and can only be used by Windows NT. They are intended to be used only by GRPTOREG. If the first eight characters of the group name are the same, REGTOGRP does not generate unique group names.

GRPTOREG transfers a Windows NT compatible .GRP file to a valid Registry entry for use by Windows NT. Note: The .GRP file must have been created using REGTOGRP. GRPTOREG does not accept MS-DOS Windows .GRP files.

You must first create .GRP files before converting groups. To do so, type REGTOGRP at the command prompt. Group files are created in the current directory.

To convert a personal group to a common group use the /c switch. You need administrative privileges to use /c, otherwise a personal group is created. For example: "GRPTOREG /C Games.GRP" creates a Games (Common) group.

NOTE: The new group is placed directly on top of the existing group. To convert multiple groups place a space between group names. For example, "GRPTOREG /C Games.GRP Startup.GRP". A lowercase "c" preceding the group name indicates a common group. To convert a common group to personal group, do not use the /c switch. For example, "GRPTOREG cMicrosoftOffice.grp" converts a Microsoft Office (Common) group to a personal group.

If a Program Manager group already exists with the same name as the groupfile, using the /o switch, as in "GRPTOREG /o", overwrites it.

NOTE: Personal groups and Common groups with the same name, do not have the same groupfile name. For example: "GRPTOREG /o cMicrosoftOffice.grp" does not overwrite the existing Microsoft Office (Common) group, instead a new personal Microsoft Office group is created.