Saving consoles

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Saving consoles

Saving an MMC console to a file preserves the list of loaded snap-ins for the console, the arrangement and contents of console windows in the main MMC window, the default mode, and information about permissions. All the configuration settings for the tools and controls are saved with the console and restored when the console file is opened. You can open a console file on different computers or even different networks and restore the saved settings for all the tools.

Console files have an .msc (management saved console) file name extension. The operating system you are using may already have preconfigured console files that are available from the Administrative Tools folder in Control Panel. Many applications also include preconfigured consoles, which are typically available from the Start menu. If you create console files and save them in your per-user Administrative Tools folder (located at %systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\user\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools), they are available from the Administrative Tools folder on the Programs menu for you only--the console files are not available for other users of the computer. After you save a console, you can distribute it by using a floppy disk, e-mail, or your network.

If you are working with a console in author mode, you can save changes to the console by using the Save command on the File menu. If you are working with a console in one of the user modes, saving changes to the console is determined by whether the Do not save changes to this console check box (available by clicking Options on the File menu) was selected when the console was configured. If this check box was not selected, changes to the console are automatically saved when you close MMC; if it was selected, changes to the console are discarded when you close MMC. For more information about saving consoles, see Save an MMC console file. For more information about console modes, see Console access options.