Exporting the GOP to a DB or template?

I seem to be having a lot of trouble with the GPO at the mo, i'm wanting to keep either a DB or template(s) on my system for later updates and regular checks. I've been using the security config snap-in to configure a DB so far and can export the templates I need, but with one huge problem... everything I keep saving doesn't actually save itself properly or i'm being misslead.
In other words, when I go to re-open the DB and change any settings, all the settings when looking and the File System or Registry keep unsetting themselves, and even the Local Policy dissapears at times.

Has anyone had this problem before?

Forget my message sorry I blame it on drugs sir!

The chicken came before the egg and so did the templates beore the database.