To add a metaknob, edit *param_info.in*, and Search for $FEATURE, (it's near the bottom). metaknobs are mostly ordered by their category: $ROLE, $FEATURE, $SECURITY, etc. Your probably should probably be declared as a $FEATURE knob, so search for that. The perl script that parses param_info.in knows that something is a metaknob because the name begins with $. The code that uses metaknobs expects that they will be declared in the param_info.in as $.. Where categories can be added arbitrarily, (but not discovered). So you should be reluctant to add new categories. Metaknobs usually have multiline values, but this is not required. As of 8.5.6 metaknobs can have arguments, which opens exciting new possibilities. see https://htcondor-wiki.cs.wisc.edu/index.cgi/tktview?tn=5739,0 In metaknob statements any $(arg) where arg starts with a digit will be substituted as the *use* line is parsed. (valid param names can't start with a digit). The substitutions are *: =$(0)= all of the args *: =$(0?)= 1 if any arguments, 0 if no arguments *: =$(0#)= the number of arguments (i.e. the number of commas+1) *: =$(1)= the first argument *: =$(1?)= 1 if the first argument is non-empty, 0 if it is empty *: =$(1+)= all of the arguments, starting with the first one. equivalent to =$(0)= *: =$(2)= the second argument *: =$(2?)= 1 if the second argument is non-empty, 0 if it is empty *: =$(2+)= all of the arguments, starting with the second one *: =$(3)= the third argument *: etc For instance. The =FEATURE : PerodicCronHook= metaknob is declared thus: {snip: from param_info.in} [$FEATURE.PeriodicCronHook] friendly_name=Configure a Periodic Cron Hook, args: STARTD_CRON | SCHEDD_CRON , tag, period, exe [,hook_args] default : @end $(1)_JOBLIST=$($(1)_JOBLIST) $(2) $(1)_$(2)_MODE=Periodic $(1)_$(2)_PERIOD=$(3) $(1)_$(2)_EXECUTABLE=$(4) if $(5?) $(1)_$(2)_ARGS=$(5) endif @end {endsnip} And the =FEATURE : StartdCronPeriodic= metaknob uses it. it is declared {snip: from param_info.in} [$FEATURE.StartdCronPeriodic] friendly_name=Configure a STARTD Cron periodic Hook, args: tag, period, exe [, hook_args] default = use FEATURE : PeriodicCronHook(STARTD_CRON, $(0)) {snip} {endsnip}