Startup Script is an AppleScript designed for use in Mac-Labs. It should be placed in the "Startup Items" folder of each machine in your lab.
What is its purpose in life?
We all know that there are some applications out there that are "Mac-Lab Friendly." Eudora and NewsWatcher would be good examples of "Mac-Lab Friendly" applications, because Mac-Lab managers can configure both of those so that users are required to use their own "Eudora Disk" or "NewsWatcher Disk."
There are other applications which are not "Mac-Lab Friendly." Netscape Navigator is probably the best example of such an application. Users are allowed to configure Netscape with their own username and password when they use Netscape, and when they leave the machine this information remains. This can lead to security problems and can just be a pain in the neck. In addition, with Netscape Navigator 2.x, users can download their own e-mail to the lab machine, possibly leaving it there for the next user to read.
To make a long story short, Startup Script tries to solve these problems, and more. The solution it provides it not perfect, but it should help you maintain your Mac-Lab.
What does it do?
When Startup Script is placed in the Startup Items folder, it will execute at each startup and take care of some of the problems mentioned above. Here is a list of what Startup Script does:
* Deletes the "Netscape Preferences" file and copies over a fresh one, with
all of your custom configurations in tact.
* Deletes the "newsrc" and "NewsFAT" files, which keep track of which
newsgroups the previous user had subscribed to and read. Then it copies
over fresh versions of each file. This way, you can automatically
subscribe all of your lab machines to certain newsgroups.
* Deletes any e-mail messages that the previous user may have left on the
machine.
* Deletes the Netscape "Global History" file. This eliminates the situation
where one user can set where the previous user surfed, through Netscape
"visited link color-change'.
* Deletes Netscape "Bookmarks.html.bak" file if it exists. This file is
created if you've locked the "Bookmarks.html" so users can not add their
own bookmarks.
* Empties the trash.
* Closes every open window in the Finder.
* Cleans up the Desktop, so that the hard disk and trash icons are in the
right spot.
* Sets the "Label" of the hard disk and trach to "None."
How does it do it?
The secret to Startup Script lies in a folder called "Default Files" which you put inside the "Preferences" folder of each machine. This folder holds 'fresh' copies of the following files: Netscape Preferences, newsrc, NewsFAT.
*** You must create this folder ("Default Files") and place the correct files in it on each machine. ***
How can I configure my default files?
The best thing to do is take one of your lab machines and install all of the software that you will use in your lab on it (ie. Netscape and helpers, etc). With everything installed, launch Netscape and configure it as you would like it to be for every user. Some things you might consider include (but are not limited to):
* homepage location
* number of days until a link expires
* mail and news server address
* helper applications (be sure to set the mime types and extensions)
Next, open the Netscape News window and subscribe to the 'default' groups that you would like all users to be subscribed to by default.
Once everything is set the way you want it, quit Netscape and look for the Netscape Preferences, newsrc, and NewsFAT files. These will become your default files. I'd make a copy of each of these and place them in a folder called "Default Files" on your Desktop. That way, you can work with these files more easily.
Next, you must open the "Netscape Preferences" file with ResEdit (or some other resource editing application) and DELETE the ALIS resource. This is the resource that keeps track of things like "volume name" which may be different on each machine, so you must get rid of it.
Finally, once you've done all of that, place the "Default Files" folder inside your "Preferences" folder, and place the Startup Script application inside "Startup Items." Then restart!
What if I need to make changes?
I've included the source-code for Startup Script with this distribution. Feel free to make changes to it as needed. However, if you do make changes, please do not ask me to help you out.
Is this script free?
Well, yes and no. There is no charge for this, but I would like to know who is using it. So, if you find it useful, send me e-mail at: wjdennen@colby.edu.
Use this software at your own risk. I make no guarantees that will work with your system (although it shoudl work!).
