OK, Random question :)

[m1ddy]

Morning Guys,

 

Had a rather random request. I have been asked to sort a wallpaper for the staff desktops that includes a contact list that updates dynamically. It needs to pull its data from a txt or xls file so it can be updated on the fly. Does anyone know of an app that does this or am I going to be telling them 'no'?

 

Oh, and lol. They also want it to be "transparant" so they can still see their desktop background

 

Jon

[oalcock]

You can change your desktop to a webpage, could this be any use??

[jamesb]

If they're on Vista or Windows seven, there might be a desktop sidebar thingy for this.

[mac_shinobi]

If they're on Vista or Windows seven, there might be a desktop sidebar thingy for this.

 

I was just thinking that ie a widget / gadget or w/e they are called on windows - think yahoo do a similiar thing that you can install - just curious where is the contact information coming from ie there outlook address book or what exactly ?

[Domino]

you could use BGinfo to pull the info from a shared file - but it would only update on logout/logoff i think.

 

Also that'd be a lot of text strewn over the desktop.....

[dhicks]

I have been asked to sort a wallpaper for the staff desktops that includes a contact list that updates dynamically.

 

How dynamically? You could just set everyone's desktop to an image available on a network share somewhere that can be updated via script / manual editing. It wouldn't change on the fly, but it would be easy enough to update day-by-day.

 

--

David Hicks

[HullFC]

We use BGInfo. It can incorporate lots of data from different sources. Using GPPrefs in server 2008 (or 2003) we set command variables which are included in the BGinfo file so we can easily change values on the wallpaper without modifying any files on the server or clients. You just change the variables value in group policy and your done. You can shedule BGInfo to run regularly if you want to but we have it display PC related info on startup and user related info when a user is logged in.

 

Shaun

[Edu-IT]

strewn

I love that word.

 

Anyway, could you not just create a page and then have a desktop shortcut on all staff desktops to this page?

[p858snake]

In xp you could set some sort of web page as the background but then they couldn't set their own background (but a nice "corporate"/school branded wallpaper would look nicer anyway")

[HullFC]

We use BGInfo. It can incorporate lots of data from different sources. Using GPPrefs in server 2008 (or 2003) we set command variables which are included in the BGinfo file so we can easily change values on the wallpaper without modifying any files on the server or clients. You just change the variables value in group policy and your done. You can shedule BGInfo to run regularly if you want to but we have it display PC related info on startup and user related info when a user is logged in.

 

Shaun

 

Thinking about this more and you will need a multiline value I suppose. You can set it to import the value of a text file. I (personally) would also use GPprefs to deploy the file to stations and then you can just modify it in the one place. This would also ensure it worked for stations that are disconnected such as staff laptops.

 

Shaun

[bandgeekmafia78]

Sounds like a lot of unneccessary hassle to me!

[rad]

Would this not slow the desktop load down though, the rfact its having to search for information?

 

Would the teachers/staff want students to see this when it is displayed on a smartboard/projector?

[mjs_mjs]

doesn't the wallpaper refresh when you come back from screensaver??

 

if your xp couldn't you add a webpage to the desktop by having an 'active desktop'

go to display properties, desktop, customize desktop, web, and add a shared html or php page containing your xml data.

this is a way anyway.

[alan-d]

Would something like the Fuzzy Duck Notepad be of any use?

 

http://wareseeker.com/Home-Shell-Desktop/fuzzy-duck-notetab-1.0.6.zip/204317

 

May need some tweaking though. The writer is an edugeek member but has not been around for a long time.

[browolf]

How dynamically? You could just set everyone's desktop to an image available on a network share somewhere that can be updated via script / manual editing. It wouldn't change on the fly, but it would be easy enough to update day-by-day.

 

--

David Hicks

 

Neat Idea but

 

stick to simplicity like David suggests I say. I'd have the image locally and the staff logon script overwrite it if its updated.

[HullFC]

doesn't the wallpaper refresh when you come back from screensaver??

 

if your xp couldn't you add a webpage to the desktop by having an 'active desktop'

go to display properties, desktop, customize desktop, web, and add a shared html or php page containing your xml data.

this is a way anyway.

 

The wallpaper does refresh I believe but it wouldn't re-run BGInfo if you went down that route.

 

My personal feelings would be to stay away from active desktop due to it being notably resource hungry.

 

If pc resources are an issue then as someone said, a shortcut on the desktop to a web page.

 

Shaun

[mb2k01]

I've had a similar request before. Honest opinion = ....tell them "no"!

 

No matter how you technically achieve it, it will still cluter the desktop. There is also the potential for contact information to be seen by others (if it is on a staff wallpaper then pupils will see it on demo's etc?)

 

A better option (or at least the one I went for) was putting a shortcut to a webpage on staff desktops taking them to the contact information.

It's only a double-click away, protects their information and keeps the desktop looking clean.