What is User Management?
Desktop Authority User Management features the application of settings that are specific to a Windows user environment. These configuration settings are applied at user Logon, Logoff and Desktop Authority Refresh intervals.
Alerts
The Alerts object allows for the custom configuration of warning and notification messages (events) that Desktop Authority may display during the logon process. The event message text may be customized and a notification may be posted to the client and/or designated Administrator via the event log, popup message box or email.
A list of all configured Alerts is displayed upon entry into the object. Click Edit on the entry that is to be modified.
Event configuration
Alert title
Type in static text or press F2 to select a dynamic variable. The window title is displayed at the top of an Alert's popup message box.
Alert type
Select a message box type from the list. Choose from Information, Question, Warning, or Error. Each type displays an icon to the left of the message. The types use the following icons in the message box:
Alert text
Enter the text to be displayed in the message box. Dynamic variables can be used in conjunction with any other text or dynamic variable(s). Press the F2 key to select a dynamic variable.
Destination
Define the settings that configure the display of the event notification.
Display a pop-up message to the user logging on
Select this check box to enable a popup message box to display on the clients desktop. The message box will be displayed when the selected event occurs during the client logon process. Clear this check box to disable the popup alert.
Timeout (seconds)
Timeout is available when the Client Message Box notification destination is selected. Enter a numeric value representing the number of seconds the message box will display for. It will be displayed for the specified number of seconds unless the OK button is pressed before the timeout occurs.
Display a pop-up message to specific user(s) and/or computer(s)
Select this check box to enable a popup message box to the specified computers or user's desktop. The message box will be displayed when the selected event occurs regardless of the user logging on. Clear this check box to disable this message box notification.
Enter one or more computer names and/or user names that will receive visual notification of the selected event. Each computer/user should be delimited by a semicolon (;).
Write this alert to the client computer’s event log
Select this check box to enable event logging on the client computer. The event will be logged when the selected event occurs during the client logon process. Clear this check box to disable event logging for the selected event.
Write this alert to the event log on one or more specific computers
Select this check box to enable event logging to the specified computers or users. The event will be logged when the selected event occurs during any client logon process. Clear this check box to disable event logging for the selected event.
Enter one or more computer names and/or user names that will receive visual notification of the selected event. Each computer/user should be delimited by a semicolon (;).
E-mail this alert to specific address(es)
Select this check box to enable e-mail alerts. Notification of the alert will be e-mailed when the selected event occurs during any client logon process. Clear this check box to disable e-mail alerts for the selected event.
Enter one or more e-mail addresses to receive notification of the selected event. Each e-mail address should be delimited by a semicolon (;).
Reset to Default
Click this button to reset the event to its default settings.
Global alert settings
SMTP server
Enter the name of the SMTP server to be used to send e-mail alert(s).
Application Launcher
The Application Launcher object allows you to define and launch an application on the client’s desktop after the logon script completes. This is equivalent to placing a shortcut in the client’s Startup folder, however, Desktop Authority performs this in a centralized fashion so there is no need to visit each computer to set this up.
In addition to launching standard applications, such as Internet Explorer or Outlook, the Application Launcher object is the perfect way to update your client’s anti-virus signatures, using the update executable supplied by the vendor of your anti-virus software.
The Desktop Authority Application Launcher queues programs for launching after the logon process is complete. However, if Desktop Authority detects the client is connecting over dial-up networking, the application is immediately launched while the script continues to execute.
Settings
Application
File name including path
Enter the complete path and filename where the application’s executable exists or click Browse to locate the executable’s path. Desktop Authority’s dynamic variable selection is available for this field by pressing the F2 key.
Arguments
Enter any optional parameters (switches) to be passed to the launched application.
Miscellaneous options
Run as administrator
Select this check box to run the application with Administrator privileges. If the user logging on to the network does not normally have Administrator privileges, the application will be executed using Desktop Authority’s RunAs Admin service.
If this check box is cleared and the user does not have rights to access or run the application, the application will not run.
Hide any screen output
Select this check box to hide any windows that would normally be displayed by the application.
Launch asynchronously
Select this check box to run the application asynchronously. In asynchronous mode, the applications will run at the same time. If this check box is cleared, applications will run one after another. Each application must complete before the next one will begin.
Message box settings
Show time-out message box prior to launching applications
Select this box to pop up a message box before the application is executed.
Window Title
Type in static text or press F2 to select a dynamic variable. The window title is displayed at the top of the popup window.
Message
Enter the text to be displayed in the message box. Dynamic variables can be used in conjunction with your text. Press F2 to select a dynamic variable.
Message box will time-out in xx seconds
Optionally, specify the number of seconds for the message box to be displayed. If there is no confirmation of the message box, the message box will be closed and the application will automatically be launched. Specifying 0 seconds will display the time-out message box, until it is confirmed.
Cycle schedule
Unique ID
The unique id entry is used to make each entry in the Application Launcher list a unique item, regardless of the application that is to be launched. This is helpful in the execution of an application when the Frequency is set to run Once Per Day or One Time. The data in this entry is automatically generated and should not be modified. However, if an entry in the list, that is set to run Once Per Day or One Time, must be executed a second time, the unique id can manually be changed by clicking the Generate button.
Frequency
Select a logon frequency from the list. Select from Every Time, Once Per Day (User), Once Per Day (Computer), One Time (User) and One Time (Computer).
Select Every Time to launch the application every logon, logoff, refresh, shut down, desktop.
Select Once Per Day (User) to launch the application at the specified cycle, one time per day for the current user.
Select Once Per Day (Computer) to launch the application at the specified cycle, one time per day for the computer.
Select One Time (User) to launch the application at the specified cycle, a single time for the current user.
Select One Time (Computer) to launch the application at the specified cycle, a single time for the computer.
Example:
To launch Outlook each time your users log on, select Everyday from the first cycle prompt and Every Logon from the second. Anti-virus updates need only be launched once on the selected day. For this type of application, you would select Specific Date and set the logon frequency to Once per day.
Cycle
Select a time interval for which the application will run. Choose from Every Time, Day of Week, Monthly (Day of Week), Monthly (Day of Month) and Specific Date.
Selecting Every Time as the cycle, will force the application to be run each day each logon, logoff, refresh, shut down, and desktop timing as specified in the Application Launcher validation logic.
Selecting Day of Week as the cycle, presents a new list allowing the selection of a day from Sunday to Saturday.
Selecting Monthly (Day of Week) as the cycle, presents a new list allowing the selection of a day in the month ranging from 1st Sunday, 1st Monday, ... to the last Saturday of the month.
Selecting Monthly (Day of Month) as the cycle, presents a new list allowing the selection of a date within the month.
Selecting Specific Date as the cycle, presents an entry to which the specific date should be entered. Press the arrow to make your date selection from any calendar day.
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.
Common Folder Redirection
The Common Folder Redirection object allows you to change the location of where Windows 7/2008/2008 R2/2012/2012 R2/2016/2019 computers look for common specialized folders known as the All Users Shell Folders.
Common Shell Folders are folders that are shared by all users of the computer and include Common Desktop, Common Programs Group, Common Start Menu and the Common Startup Group.
By instructing the operating system to locate the Common Shell Folders on a network share (or mapped drive), rather than the computer’s own local hard drive, you allow users to access the common portion of the Desktop, Start Menu and/or Program Group regardless of the computer from which they log on to.
In addition to Common Shell Folders, Windows 7/2008/2008 R2/2012/2012 R2/2016/2019 also includes an individual set of shell folders that are available to each user on each computer. Individual user shell folders can be configured by Desktop Authority using the Folder Redirection object.
Settings
Action
Shell folder
Select a shell folder from the Shell Folder list. Desktop Authority’s dynamic variable selection is available for this field by pressing the F2 key.
Redirect to folder
Specify a path that the shell folder should be redirected to. The path may be in the form of a path, mapped drive or UNC. Click Browse to navigate to the path. Desktop Authority’s dynamic variable selection is available for this field by pressing the F2 key.
Reset to default
Select this check box to restore the redirected folder to the operating system’s default location.
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.