Office 2016 Admin Templates: ADMX/ADML Files for Group Policy

In the realm of enterprise-level software management, Office 2016's administrative template files, namely ADMX and ADML, play a pivotal role. These files enable administrators to configure and customize Office 2016 settings on a large scale, streamlining the deployment process and enhancing security and compliance. Let's delve into the intricacies of ADMX and ADML files, their purpose, and how to leverage them effectively.

Office 2016 administrative templates are XML-based files that store configuration settings for various Office applications. The ADMX files contain the actual settings and policies, while the ADML files provide the localized user interface text for these settings. By understanding and utilizing these files, administrators can exert granular control over Office 2016's features and functionalities.

Understanding ADMX and ADML Files

ADMX files are the backbone of Office 2016's administrative templates. They define the configuration settings for Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more. Each setting is represented as an element within the XML structure, with attributes that specify the setting's name, description, and possible values.

ADML files, on the other hand, are responsible for providing localized user interface text for the settings defined in the ADMX files. They ensure that users see consistent and appropriate text for each setting, regardless of their language or region. ADML files are language-specific and correspond to the ADMX files based on the language identifier.

ADMX File Structure

The ADMX file structure is organized into sections, each containing a set of related settings. Within each section, settings are grouped under policies, which can be enabled or disabled. The basic structure of an ADMX file looks like this:

1. Settings - The root element of the ADMX file, containing all the settings and policies.
2. Section - A group of related settings, identified by a unique name and title.
3. Policy - A specific setting within a section, with attributes like name, description, and possible-values.

ADML File Structure

ADML files follow a similar structure to ADMX files, with the same sections and policies. However, they contain only the localized user interface text for each setting. The basic structure of an ADML file is as follows:

1. Settings - The root element of the ADML file, containing all the localized text for the settings.
2. Section - A group of related localized text, corresponding to the sections in the ADMX file.
3. Policy - The localized text for a specific setting within a section, including title, description, and possible-values.

Working with ADMX and ADML Files

To leverage Office 2016's administrative template files, administrators need to understand how to create, edit, and deploy these files. This process involves using the Office Administrative Templates Editor, a tool provided by Microsoft to simplify working with ADMX and ADML files.

The Office Administrative Templates Editor allows administrators to create, edit, and preview ADMX and ADML files. It provides a user-friendly interface for managing settings, policies, and localized text. Once the templates are created or modified, they can be exported and deployed using Group Policy Objects (GPOs) or other management tools.

Creating and Editing ADMX and ADML Files

To create or edit ADMX and ADML files, follow these steps:

1. Open the Office Administrative Templates Editor.
2. Select the language for the ADML file (e.g., English (United States)).
3. Choose the Office application for which you want to create or edit settings (e.g., Word 2016).
4. Select the section where you want to add or modify a setting.
5. Click on "New" or "Edit" to create or modify a policy.
6. Enter the desired settings, such as name, description, and possible values.
7. Repeat steps 4-6 for each policy you want to create or modify.
8. Click "File" > "Save" to save the changes to the ADMX and ADML files.

Deploying ADMX and ADML Files

Once you have created or modified the ADMX and ADML files, you can deploy them using Group Policy Objects (GPOs) or other management tools. To deploy the templates using GPOs, follow these steps:

1. Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC).
2. Create or edit a GPO that targets the desired users or computers.
3. Navigate to "Computer Configuration" > "Policies" > "Administrative Templates" > "Office 2016" > "Language Settings" > "Office Language Settings".
4. Double-click on "Office 2016 Administrative Templates" and select "Enabled".
5. Click on "Browse" and select the ADMX and ADML files you want to deploy.
6. Click "OK" to close the dialog boxes and save the changes to the GPO.
7. Update the GPO on the target computers or users.

By understanding and leveraging Office 2016's administrative template files, administrators can streamline the deployment process, enhance security and compliance, and provide a consistent user experience across the organization. Embrace the power of ADMX and ADML files to unlock the full potential of Office 2016 in your enterprise environment.