Registry (User Management)

Registry

The Registry object provides a single point of control over changing values in the registry of the user’s computer. This object takes advantage of the DA Administrative Service, which allows Desktop Authority to modify any Windows 2008/7/8.1/10/2008 R2/2012/2012 R2/2016/2019 registry key/value, even if the user logging on does not have the necessary permissions to modify that particular key/value under their own security context.

Settings

Registry action list

Instead of configuring a single registry setting per profile element, the Registry profile object lets you configure multiple registry actions within a single Registry profile element. Click Add from the Registry profile object to create a Registry profile element. This Registry implementation will save you time when implementing multiple registry settings. Group all registry settings together that will use the same Timing and Validation Logic settings. If you prefer, you can stick to the old way of doing things by adding one element to the Registry action list and create several Registry profile elements.

Add

Click Add to add a new registry setting to the Registry action list.

Import

Click Import to import existing registry (.reg) files.

Importing Registry Files

There are two ways to import an existing registry file:

• Import registry entries into a single Registry profile element
• Import registry entries into multiple Registry profile elements

Figure 12: Import registry entries into a single Registry profile element

Figure 13: Import registry entries into multiple Registry profile elements

Clicking the Import button from the Registry profile object will import all entries within the selected .reg file as multiple elements in the Registry profile object. This will result in multiple Registry profile elements.

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Edit

Select Edit to modify the currently selected registry action.

Delete

Select Delete to remove the currently selected registry action.

Cut/Copy/Paste

Registry actions can be managed by using the standard Windows Cut/Copy/Paste actions to maneuver them into child profiles or parent profiles. Drag and Drop actions may also be used for this purpose.

Move up/Move down

Registry actions will be evaluated on a client in the order they appear in the Registry action list, from the first Registry element to the last. The order of the Registry actions can be modified by using the Move Up and Move Down buttons. To move a registry action, you must first select it, by clicking on it. Once it is selected (it will be highlighted), press the Move Up or Move Down button based on which way you want to move the setting.

The order in which the Registry actions are displayed in the list is the order they will get processed in. For example, if there are 2 registry elements and they each have a registry action list, all actions for the first registry element will be processed and then all actions for the second registry actions list will be processed.

Configuring a registry action

Once you have configured the registry action, click Confirm to save the settings or Cancel to abort the setting changes.

Action

Select an action from the list to define how the registry setting is to be updated. Registry keys can be created and removed. Available actions are:

• Write Value
  Store the specified data to the specific Hive\Key\Value. If the key does not already exist, it will be created.
• Delete Value
  Remove the specified value from the specific hive\key.
• Add Key
  Create a key in the specified hive.
• Delete Key
  When the Delete Key is selected you have the option of deleting the key regardless of whether subkeys exist or not using the Delete Key even if subkeys exist option. Selection this option to delete the key and any associated subkeys. If this option is not selected, the key will not be deleted if any subkeys exist.
  
  
  
  This option cannot be performed on the Software\Microsoft or Software\Classes keys.

Hive

Select the hive on which to perform the action from the list. The following hives can be selected:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER
  Contains preferences for the user currently logged in.
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
  Contains computer specific information about the type of hardware, software, and other preferences on a given PC.
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
  Contains all file associations, OLE information and shortcut data.
• HKEY_USERS/.DEFAULT
  Contains default profile preferences.
• HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
  Represents the currently used computer hardware profile.

Key

Enter the specific key to be added or updated in the registry. Keys are subcomponents of the registry hives. Dynamic variables are available for use in defining the key.

Type

Select the value type to be stored in the registry key.

Valid types are:

• REG_BINARY
  The entry field for binary data is similar to the entry field in RegEdit. Use the actual hex values as entry.
• REG_DWORD
• REG_DWORD_BIG_ENDIAN
• REG_DWORD_LITTLE_ENDIAN
• REG_EXPAND_SZ
• REG_FULL_RESOURCE_DESCRIPTOR
• REG_LINK
• REG_MULTI_SZ
  Enter each piece of data or expression on a new line.
• REG_NONE
• REG_QWORD
  Select the type of data to be entered, Decimal or Hex.
• REG_RESOURCE_LIST
• REG_SZ

The Type list is not applicable when the Action field is set to either Add Key or Delete Key.

Value

Enter the name of the value for the registry key that will be written. Value is not applicable when the Action field is set to either Add Key or Delete Key.

A value is not required when the Action field is set to Write Value. If no value is specified, the data will be written to the key's default value.

Data/expression

Type the data you would like stored in the specified value. This field may contain static text, Desktop Authority Dynamic Variables, KiXtart macros or any combination of the three. Press the F2 key to select a dynamic variable from the list.

If you want to create a new value with no data, or to erase an existing registry value’s data, leave this field blank. The value will be created with no data.

Force use of 32 bit registry locations of 64 bit operating systems

Check this box to force the 32 bit registry location to be used instead of the 64 bit location when executing on 64 bit operating systems.

Validation Logic

Select the Validation Logic tab to set the validation rules for this element.

Notes

Select the Notes tab to create any additional notes needed to document the profile element.

Description

When adding or modifying a profile object element, the description appears above the settings tab. Enter a description to annotate the element. The default value for new profile elements can be changed by going to the system Preferences.