A method is implemented by a processor of a computing device for generating an output match action table (MAT) or output MAT template from an input MAT template. The input MAT template is transformed through successive updates of symbolic actions using policy rules into the output MAT or output MAT template. The method includes selecting a first MAT row from the input MAT template and selecting a first action field from the first MAT row. A check is made whether the first action field includes a first symbolic action. The first symbolic action is looked up to determine whether a first policy rule has been defined for the first symbolic action. A first action specified by the first policy rule is written into a corresponding action field of a corresponding MAT row in the output MAT template or the output MAT to replace the first symbolic action.