G
Guest
is there a way to set the text for the scrolling marquee screensaver for all pc's in a domain from the server?
Thanks,
Harold
Thanks,
Harold
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K
Kevin Sullivan
Hey Harold,
There are only a few items related to screen savers that can be managed
through Group Policy with the default set of client side extensions offered
by Microsoft. The first is you can set 'Screen Saver' This simply says if
disabled screen savers will not run and if enabled they will if not
configured, well you know how that works. The caveat here is that all
clients will need to be configured seperately regarding what screen saver
should run and what the preferences are. The second Screen Saver related
setting is Screen Saver executable name. This is simply the name of the
screen saver. The screen saver you are looking for is ssmarque.scr. The
third setting related is screen saver time out. this is in seconds I believe
and just says how long to wait for the Screen Saver to kick in. These
settings are configured under Administrative Templates under the User node
most likely.
What you can not do is setup the message or any other configuration settings
for the individual screen saver that you choose. This makes the task that
you are attempting much more complex that it should be. The goal is set
screen saver settings, just like I would do locally, and make those settings
propogate through my environment via Group Policy so that I can take
advantage of all of the cool features of group policy. Microsoft created a
fantastic framewok to do this kind of configuration management through Group
Policy and opened the framework so that software companies can extend the
reach of Group Policy by adding robust Client Side Extensions that adhere to
the original Microsoft intent and specification.
This is what we do at AutoProf. We extend the reach of Group Policy by
making robust Client Side Extensions available to our customers that need to
get more out of the investment they made in AD. We know what kinds of tasks
need to be accomplished easily by listening to the market and by having been
there managing large AD environments from the advent of Active Directoy.
Very cool stuff, you should take a look at some of the extensions that are
already available.
Good Luck,
Kevin Sullivan
Product Manager
AutoProf
http://www.autoprof.com/policy
There are only a few items related to screen savers that can be managed
through Group Policy with the default set of client side extensions offered
by Microsoft. The first is you can set 'Screen Saver' This simply says if
disabled screen savers will not run and if enabled they will if not
configured, well you know how that works. The caveat here is that all
clients will need to be configured seperately regarding what screen saver
should run and what the preferences are. The second Screen Saver related
setting is Screen Saver executable name. This is simply the name of the
screen saver. The screen saver you are looking for is ssmarque.scr. The
third setting related is screen saver time out. this is in seconds I believe
and just says how long to wait for the Screen Saver to kick in. These
settings are configured under Administrative Templates under the User node
most likely.
What you can not do is setup the message or any other configuration settings
for the individual screen saver that you choose. This makes the task that
you are attempting much more complex that it should be. The goal is set
screen saver settings, just like I would do locally, and make those settings
propogate through my environment via Group Policy so that I can take
advantage of all of the cool features of group policy. Microsoft created a
fantastic framewok to do this kind of configuration management through Group
Policy and opened the framework so that software companies can extend the
reach of Group Policy by adding robust Client Side Extensions that adhere to
the original Microsoft intent and specification.
This is what we do at AutoProf. We extend the reach of Group Policy by
making robust Client Side Extensions available to our customers that need to
get more out of the investment they made in AD. We know what kinds of tasks
need to be accomplished easily by listening to the market and by having been
there managing large AD environments from the advent of Active Directoy.
Very cool stuff, you should take a look at some of the extensions that are
already available.
Good Luck,
Kevin Sullivan
Product Manager
AutoProf
http://www.autoprof.com/policy
all pc's in a domain from the server?hbohn said:is there a way to set the text for the scrolling marquee screensaver for
G
Guest
While I understand your desire to push your product I disagree with your assessment as to the capabilities of managing screen savers (or other applications) with group policy. Now obviously one is going to have more options if they make use of the group policy APIs as I'm assuming your software has; but this doesnt mean that someone has to run out and get a 3rd party product just to accomplish a simple task.
I'll just use screen savers as an example, but there are plenty of other applications where this would also apply. Screen savers are generally going to store their settings in one of two places. Either the registry or config file(s). Using a GPO and a little very basic scripting (nothing more than batch files) you can copy or merge these settings as you need to.
As for the Marquee screen saver you'll note that the settings (including the displayed text) are included in this registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Marquee
You could set it up on one machine however you want it to appear domain wide and than export that .reg file. You could than use a GPO to merge this key into your clients' registries. The time required to set this up is minimal and it doesnt require the use of 3rd party products.
Cheers,
-Erik
I'll just use screen savers as an example, but there are plenty of other applications where this would also apply. Screen savers are generally going to store their settings in one of two places. Either the registry or config file(s). Using a GPO and a little very basic scripting (nothing more than batch files) you can copy or merge these settings as you need to.
As for the Marquee screen saver you'll note that the settings (including the displayed text) are included in this registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Marquee
You could set it up on one machine however you want it to appear domain wide and than export that .reg file. You could than use a GPO to merge this key into your clients' registries. The time required to set this up is minimal and it doesnt require the use of 3rd party products.
Cheers,
-Erik
K
Kevin Sullivan
Thanks Eric,
You are correct there are always many different ways to accomplish tasks. I
was simply pointing out the three settings that are found out of the box
with Group Policy. One, to me, obvious item to point out is that Group
Policy at the same time a great robust platform for configuration management
that is pervasive throughout the AD enterprises and very complex and
difficult for some (not all) organizations to grok. From my experiences some
things that may be simple in one organzaiton introduces many complexities in
another and sometimes the 'simple' taks are not that simple to implement.
My goal with my post was to answer the question from the context of group
policy since this is the group, express my utopian reality and point out why
third parties exist to meet such needs. I did not mean for it to be a
'shamelss' plug ;-) but more subtle. Sorry if I overstepped.
Creating ADM files, maintaining them through version changes possibly,
mainting scripts and affording the expertise to create/maintain those
scripts is not always in the reach of organizations. If a great scripting
person is on staff they can accomplish a lot I don't know if I need them to
spend their time deploying registry hacks there are other more important
projects that will need their skills I am sure. Simplifying and creating a
"re-usable" process is a major goal of many companies and sometimes we all
turn to third parties or ISVs to see what they are doing in these areas.
Also, regarding creating a script to meet the needs it is not 'policy'. It
is launced via one of the four events available through Group Policy but the
action that the script performs is not policy and there are many benefits to
do this type of configuration management through Group Policy.
Just my thoughts,
Kevin
applications) with group policy. Now obviously one is going to have more
options if they make use of the group policy APIs as I'm assuming your
software has; but this doesnt mean that someone has to run out and get a 3rd
party product just to accomplish a simple task.
to store their settings in one of two places. Either the registry or config
file(s). Using a GPO and a little very basic scripting (nothing more than
batch files) you can copy or merge these settings as you need to.
key into your clients' registries. The time required to set this up is
minimal and it doesnt require the use of 3rd party products.
You are correct there are always many different ways to accomplish tasks. I
was simply pointing out the three settings that are found out of the box
with Group Policy. One, to me, obvious item to point out is that Group
Policy at the same time a great robust platform for configuration management
that is pervasive throughout the AD enterprises and very complex and
difficult for some (not all) organizations to grok. From my experiences some
things that may be simple in one organzaiton introduces many complexities in
another and sometimes the 'simple' taks are not that simple to implement.
My goal with my post was to answer the question from the context of group
policy since this is the group, express my utopian reality and point out why
third parties exist to meet such needs. I did not mean for it to be a
'shamelss' plug ;-) but more subtle. Sorry if I overstepped.
Creating ADM files, maintaining them through version changes possibly,
mainting scripts and affording the expertise to create/maintain those
scripts is not always in the reach of organizations. If a great scripting
person is on staff they can accomplish a lot I don't know if I need them to
spend their time deploying registry hacks there are other more important
projects that will need their skills I am sure. Simplifying and creating a
"re-usable" process is a major goal of many companies and sometimes we all
turn to third parties or ISVs to see what they are doing in these areas.
Also, regarding creating a script to meet the needs it is not 'policy'. It
is launced via one of the four events available through Group Policy but the
action that the script performs is not policy and there are many benefits to
do this type of configuration management through Group Policy.
Just my thoughts,
Kevin
assessment as to the capabilities of managing screen savers (or otherErik Szewczyk said:While I understand your desire to push your product I disagree with your
applications) with group policy. Now obviously one is going to have more
options if they make use of the group policy APIs as I'm assuming your
software has; but this doesnt mean that someone has to run out and get a 3rd
party product just to accomplish a simple task.
applications where this would also apply. Screen savers are generally goingI'll just use screen savers as an example, but there are plenty of other
to store their settings in one of two places. Either the registry or config
file(s). Using a GPO and a little very basic scripting (nothing more than
batch files) you can copy or merge these settings as you need to.
the displayed text) are included in this registry key:As for the Marquee screen saver you'll note that the settings (including
wide and than export that .reg file. You could than use a GPO to merge thisHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Marquee
You could set it up on one machine however you want it to appear domain
key into your clients' registries. The time required to set this up is
minimal and it doesnt require the use of 3rd party products.