A method of regenerating a network device configuration command based on configuration data stored in the network device is provided. The configuration data is created as a result of parsing and processing of the configuration command. The command comprises at least one command element that can have a plurality of values. At least one linear node is created and stored in a parse tree for representing said at least one command element. The linear node comprises a begin option node having a single entrance; a next option node coupled to the begin option node; and an end option node coupled to the begin option node. The end option node has a single exit. A linear command regeneration template is created and stored in a memory. The linear command regeneration template comprises information identifying how to regenerate a command. The command is then regenerated based on the linear command regeneration template and based on data from a database. Each of the plurality of branches represents one possible value of a command element of the configuration command. Each branch is connected back to the begin option node through a next option node. During parsing of a command, each command element is represented by a different linear node.