Methods and systems are provided for creating a configuration file template. One method for creating a configuration file template includes presenting 568 a base configuration file stored in memory in a window of a first pane 220, selecting 572 a portion of the base configuration file that indicates a syntax element 236, and defining 576 one 244 or more parameters 230/232/234 of the selected syntax element. The method also includes defining the one or more parameters upon receiving a value 244 or choosing from an already defined list of values 242, at least one of the parameters including a defined descriptor 240 for the selected syntax element, and presenting 576 the user defined descriptors 246/248 associated with the selected syntax element 236 or group of elements 227/228 in a second pane 222.