Set preferences for all users

[Greenbeast]

I'm trying to configure some macbooks we've bought for the art staff.

 

First job is setting trackpad preferences (seemed a sensible/simple place to begin). I've found the plist and copied it off of the machine up to the server but how can i apply it to any user that i subsequently create?

 

I'm using Deploystudio to push out images and do initial configuration. I can get it to prompt for a new user after the image is rolled out and i could copy down the plist afterwards but i can't specify the path because i won't know what the user is called until i roll out a particular machine.

[HodgeHi]

If you haven't created the user home dies yet you could out the plist file in the users preferences folder. Then when you do create the home dies it will already be there. Alternatively you could open WGM and go to preferences and and then details think and add the plist file there.

[Greenbeast]

Thanks i'll have a play with that

[Greenbeast]

Not having any luck, i added a plist to the macbook group in WGM but when i log in to the macbook the touchpad prefs don't reflect those set in the plist.

 

Not sure what you mean by users preferences folder, surely this only exists after the user is created?

Looks like i might have to run a script to manually copy prefs in after i've created the users on each machine.

[HodgeHi]

Are the users local?

 

If so using ARD may be the answer here. Using ARD you can specify the full path and copy the file directly into the users preferences folder. If you are planning to create the users on the local machine but have yet to do so then you could just copy the preference into the default profile on the client.

 

However, if you have yet to create the users on the local machines then I would suggest creating a temp user to create a template home dir of your own and then overwriting the default template on the clients. This way each user will pick up a home dir that yu have pre-created with all the preferences that you have set, similar to a mandatory profile on windows.

 

It all depends how you are approaching this. In theory you could do all of this using ARD. If you have not got ARD then buy it. It's a no-brainer and perhaps Apple's best piece of software.

[Greenbeast]

Thankyou, yes i have ARD and agree it's pretty handy.

 

I will have a play with your ideas.

[Greenbeast]

Could i use WGM to manage the local users on these macbooks?

[HodgeHi]

You could possibly do this by managing the computer itself. However, some things cannot be managed using the computer preferences if I remember right but you may ne able to get away with it.

 

Depends on what you want to manage.

[HodgeHi]

Also when managing additional preferences using WGM, you can't always have the preferences set to "always be managed". You have to change it to "often" or even just "once".