a system and method to facilitate the translation of command line interface configuration scripts associated with a device into the corresponding equivalent cli configuration scripts of another device . the system includes a translator and one or more data dictionaries . the translator includes a user interface module , a translator logic module to enable the translation , and a current data dictionary module for retaining a selected data dictionary . each of the data dictionaries includes common syntax generated for a variety of cli script types . a particular data dictionary is referenced based upon initial input from a network administrator . the translator then generates the automated translation of corresponding scripts from those scripts associated with an original device into a device having differing script requirements .