Tile and Taskbar Layouts

[Gongalong]

Hi folks,

 

I'm after some advice with tile and taskbar layouts, provisioned by group policy. I've followed the guide here for tiles and have used this for a couple of years https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/configuration/customize-and-export-start-layout

 

I have one niggle with tiles, in that I want to create a tile that signs the user out. This points to a shortcut that in turn runs C:\Windows\System32\logoff.exe. I've created the tile like all the others that work, but it doesn't appear. Similarly I would like another tile that runs our PaperCut client app, which is antoher link that goes to the pc-client-local-cache.exe app on the print server. Same problem, the tile doesn't appear. Code for both is as follows. Position seems to be irrelevant, because they just don't appear, so there must be something peculiar about the links or apps that breaks the tile. Any ideas?

 

 

I'm also trying to modify the taskbar, but can't get that to work at all. I'm using Microsoft's guide at the following link, but even their example code doesn't work. I just end up with a duff set of tiles and no modified taskbar, which essentially means it has failed to process the XML. Any clues on getting this working, or is it just broken? (I'm testing in 1903) https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/configuration/configure-windows-10-taskbar

 

Thanks

[thimon]

Got all of this setup at my school, I’ll have a look Monday and go through the setup if someone else hasn’t done so by then 🙂

[Gongalong]

Thanks, it will be much appreciated.

 

It's frustratingly fragile. This is the code I have just for the tiles, which works fine. But if I change things around too much e.g. drop the group cell width to 4, then it fails to process.

 

 

I've just tried adding this very simple change to the taskbar, including the end code from the start menu just to demonstrate it was there, and this breaks the processing i.e. I just get the default start menu and no change to the taskbar.

 

[Arthur]

It's frustratingly fragile.

When exporting the layout try adding the -UseDesktopApplicationID switch onto the end. e.g.

 

Export-StartLayout -Path "$env:Temp\StartLayout.xml" -UseDesktopApplicationID

 

I've just tried adding this very simple change to the taskbar, including the end code from the start menu just to demonstrate it was there, and this breaks the processing i.e. I just get the default start menu and no change to the taskbar.

To modify the taskbar you also need to add the line highlighted in red below. It's not there by default.

 

    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification"
   xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"
   xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"
   [color="#FF0000"]xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"[/color] 
   Version="1">
   
   
       
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
           
       
   
   
       
           
               
           
       
   

[Steve21]

You got the full version of XML you're trying to use with the shortcuts in? Doesn't look like anything is different in your top post from what we use, and it's running fine

 

The only thing we did notice, is for papercut you also need to add a link to pc-toast-notify.exe into "Programs" within the start menu, as the client refers to it and will wobble without it unless they've fixed that in a newer version

 

Edit - Just noticed on ours we're using shutdown /l rather than logoff.exe? Might be worth a shot

 

Steve

Edited August 5, 2019 by Steve21

[Gongalong]

Thanks guys. I've got the tile to work properly, including logoff and the printer credits. @Arthur it was definitely about getting those links correct via using that flag when exporting.

 

Code is now as follows, but I still cannot get the taskbar to change. I've followed the Microsoft guide, ensure that the schema is there, but it doesn't change. I've tried both adding and replacing, doesn't make any difference. Any ideas?

 

	xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"
xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification"
xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"
Version="1">
 
 
   
     
       
         
         
         
         
       
       
         
         
         
         
         
	   
	  
       
     
   
 
 

	
		
		
       	
	
   
 

[Gongalong]

Hmm, as a user if I try and browse to %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Word.lnk I get the error "Accessing the resource '%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Word.lnk' has been disallowed." so I'm guessing somewhere in a GPO I've disabled the ability for the user to see this, hence it doesn't appear. Now to try and figure out (a) where I've disabled it or (b) can I point to something else that isn't disabled.

[Gongalong]

Have tried using AppUserModelID, same problem. No apps appear on taskbar. Also tried with Replace enabled.

 

	xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"
xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification"
xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"
Version="1">
 
 
   
     
       
         
         
         
         
       
       
         
         
         
         
         
	   
	  
       
     
   
 
 

	
		
		
		
	
   
 

[thimon]

For the taskbar icons, instead of the App ID's I use the location of the .link files, which has worked from 1511 up to 1809.

[Gongalong]

Ah-ha! Well Chrome shows now on both 1803 and 1903 with the following code, so it does seem to be an issue of defining the right link...

 

[thimon]

Yeah... I remember playing trial and error finding the right location for each link. Made no sense!

[Gongalong]

I think I've sussed it. It's because I disallow access to the C drive. I've just tried using LNK files in a UNC path that are on a network share (we redirect to a fixed start menu) and now they appear. Wahoo!

[thimon]

What happens when they’re off the network and go to use the link?

[Gongalong]

These are classroom machines, so always on the network.

[thimon]

Win! How about on staff laptops?

[Gongalong]

They're on a different part of the forest and far less locked down... they're allowed their own start menu and the ability to customise