Policy with Spaces After a Comma Truncates the Spaces When the Policy Is Applied (258267)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

This article was previously published under Q258267

SYMPTOMS

If you apply a policy that contains spaces after a comma to an object, all of the spaces after the comma are removed.

For example, if you define a Group Policy to display 'Message text for users attempting to log on' at the organizational unit level and the text message is 'This is a test, only a test', users who log on see 'This is a test,only a test'. The spaces immediately after the comma are lost.

CAUSE

Windows 2000 treats the comma as a delimiter character while it applies policies. Windows 2000 treats such strings as MULTI-SZ strings when it processes them and removes the spaces immediately after the comma when the string is formulated back.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, add quotation marks to the string. In the example string listed in the "Symptoms" section, change the string to: "This is a test, only a test".

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

After you have typed the new text including the quotation marks, the next time you access the policy the quotes are missing. However, when you apply the policy it leaves the spaces after the comma as you expect.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/11/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB258267