Does anyone know how to manipulate strings such as %computername%? I only want the left three digits from the computername but when I try left(%computername%,3) it takes it literally in theglobal policy preferences variables.

Hello, As far as I know, there is no such a function that can manipulate strings of the existing variables. I will forward the function requirement to product group. Thanks for your reporting. As a workaround, you can set up a computer startup or user logon script to create custom variables from a part of the existing variables. After the custom environmental variable is generated, you can use it in group policy preference configuration. ---------------------------------------- Const HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = &H80000002 strComputer = "." Set Shell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell") ComputerName = Shell.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%ComputerName%") MyVariable = Mid(ComputerName, 1, 3) Set objShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell") Set colsysEnvVars = objShell.Environment("SYSTEM") colsysEnvVars("custom_variable") = MyVariable ---------------------------------------- For your reference: Environment Variables http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/guide/sas_wsh_kmmj.mspx Functions (VBScript) http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/3ca8tfek(VS.85).aspxI find that you have another duplicated post in the Group Policy queue.Would you mind ifwe discuess this question in that post?