A linear node includes a begin option-node that has a direct link to an end option node. The begin option node has a single entry, and also includes a list of links with each entry in the list being a link to one of a plurality of parallel branches. 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. Also, during parsing of the command, a linear command regeneration template is generated that includes a begin option node template, a next option node template, and an end option node template. The linear command regeneration template is used to recreate the original command using data in a system configuration database.