SideBar MCX help

[bentoms]

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for a way through MCX to manage our Macs sidebar settings so they are like the external image link

I've downloaded manifest below, but am not sure what i'm doing with it!

https://jamfnation.jamfsoftware.com/viewProductFile.html?id=135&fid=421

Anyone else manage this via MCX? If so, can you post your MCX?? this is for 10.7.x clients btw

[talkingmoose]

I downloaded the manifest file and had to change the .xml extension to .plist before I could upload it into Managed Preferences. Even after uploading, though, it appears malformed.

You may wish to customize your sidebar and then view the com.apple.sidebars.plist file in your home folder to get an idea of what you need to add.

[bentoms]

I tried that but it doesn't make sense nor will it apply.. BUT FUT/FEU's does? Ideally i was this set "Often" i.e. at every login.

[bentoms]

So i added the below, but on MCX refresh got the errors:

Error: Import of Managed Preference Setting "SideBar Shared" failed.
Error: Import of Managed Preference Setting "SideBar Favorites" failed.
Error: Import of Managed Preference Setting "SideBar Devices" failed.

Sidebar Shared

<dict>
        <key>Controller</key>
        <string>CustomListItems</string>
        <key>CustomListItems</key>
        <array />
        <key>CustomListProperties</key>
        <dict>
            <key>com.apple.NetworkBrowser.backToMyMacEnabled</key>
            <false />
            <key>com.apple.NetworkBrowser.bonjourEnabled</key>
            <false />
        </dict>
    </dict>

SideBar Favortites

<dict>
        <key>Controller</key>
        <string>VolumesList</string>
        <key>CustomListProperties</key>
        <dict>
            <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.Restricted.upgraded</key>
            <true />
            <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.VolumesListMigrated</key>
            <true />
        </dict>
        <key>ShowEjectables</key>
        <true />
        <key>ShowHardDisks</key>
        <true />
        <key>ShowRemovable</key>
        <true />
        <key>ShowServers</key>
        <true />
        <key>VolumesList</key>
        <array>
            <dict>
                <key>CustomItemProperties</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.SpecialItemIdentifier</key>
                    <string>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.IsMeetingRoom</string>
                </dict>
                <key>Name</key>
                <string>domain-AirDrop</string>
                <key>URL</key>
                <string>nwnode://domain-AirDrop</string>
            </dict>
            <dict>
                <key>EntryType</key>
                <integer>16</integer>
                <key>Name</key>
                <string>Computer</string>
                <key>SpecialID</key>
                <integer>1919905652</integer>
                <key>Visibility</key>
                <string>NeverVisible</string>
            </dict>
            <dict>
                <key>Alias</key>
                <data>
                AAAAAACcAAMAAQAAy3pDQAAASCsAAAAAAAXw/AAF8dwA
                AMt6ROYAAAAACSD//gAAAAAAAAAA/////wABAAgABfD8
                AAC5WQAOABAABwBEAGUAcwBrAHQAbwBwAA8AFgAKAFUA
                bgB0AGkAdABsAGUAZAAgADEAEgATVXNlcnMvYnRvbXMv
                RGVza3RvcAAAEwABLwAAFQACAAz//wAA
                </data>
                <key>CustomItemProperties</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.TemplateSystemSelector</key>
                    <integer>1935819892</integer>
                </dict>
                <key>Flags</key>
                <integer>1</integer>
                <key>Icon</key>
                <data>
                SW1nUgAAATgAAAAARkJJTAAAASwAAAACAAAAAAAAAAAB
                HAADAAAAAMt6Q0AAAEgrAAAAAAAACvkAADbAAADLDbFP
                AAAAAAkg//4AAAAAAAAAAP////8AAQAYAAAK+QAACQUA
                AAkEAAAAPAAAAC8AAAAuAA4APAAdAFQAbwBvAGwAYgBh
                AHIARABlAHMAawB0AG8AcABGAG8AbABkAGUAcgBJAGMA
                bwBuAC4AaQBjAG4AcwAPABYACgBVAG4AdABpAHQAbABl
                AGQAIAAxABIAXVN5c3RlbS9MaWJyYXJ5L0NvcmVTZXJ2
                aWNlcy9Db3JlVHlwZXMuYnVuZGxlL0NvbnRlbnRzL1Jl
                c291cmNlcy9Ub29sYmFyRGVza3RvcEZvbGRlckljb24u
                aWNucwAAEwABLwD//wAA
                </data>
                <key>Name</key>
                <string>Desktop</string>
            </dict>
        </array>
    </dict>

Sidebar Devices

<dict>
        <key>Controller</key>
        <string>VolumesList</string>
        <key>CustomListProperties</key>
        <dict>
            <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.VolumesListMigrated</key>
            <true />
        </dict>
        <key>ShowEjectables</key>
        <true />
        <key>ShowHardDisks</key>
        <true />
        <key>ShowRemovable</key>
        <true />
        <key>ShowServers</key>
        <true />
    </dict>

[rmanly]

I just put it in the User Template. Saved a lot of time. ;)

[tlarkin]

You will want to create the com.apple.MCX.sidebar plist file, and use that to set your settings and import it into Casper. In this file you will have to set what you want your users to see. I think you can also disable bonjour computers from here as well.

I don't know if this works in 10.7, but I used it at my old job in 10.5.8 and 10.6.8 both. Have you tried creating them in WGM and then exporting the settings and then importing them into Casper? I know that is an extra step but a lot of times the WGM app helps figure out what boolean keys to create

[bentoms]

I did look at that Tom, but don't understand it or rather the format required for the Custom URLs.

Examples would be great!

[bentoms]

Sorry missed the WGM part, will try that shortly. Thanks.

[bentoms]

Well this is getting frustrating!

If I a managed preference using the manifest, it doesn't seem to take & doesn't error.. in fact it doesn't seem to deploy??

The keys are need are in the "Google Manifest Destiny," yet they can only be unmanaged????

The keys present in the manifest are what i'm looking for, with @login/often being when applied.

I know i can create a plist & do a FEU/FUT but i'm trying to move as much as i can away from that & to MCX/Profile Manager.

When trying via Local MCX, I can import for my Local Admin account fine.. unsure how to export though?

[rockpapergoat]

if you need to export a working example, you can use dscl's -mcxexport switch.

[tlarkin]

Hey Ben,

I just went through WGM on my 10.7 machine here to a local account to look at the side bar options. To test this out on your machine in WGM you will need to add the managed client app from /System/Library/CoreServices/Managed Client.app. That will then import all your specific plist files you can tweak. You can from WGM export the file and import into the JSS. The nice thing about the WGM app is that the GUI allows you to easily see all the XML settings/files and all the options that goes along with them, like string, dictionary, array, boolean keys, etc. So, I think it is a great troubleshooting tool since you get that visual and of course once you build it you can export/import it.

After looking it over and comparing what I built in WGM to the built in manifests they look the same. I was going to post some screen shots and a little write up, but I don't think that is necessary since I produced the same results as you would using the manifest in the JSS. I am however, unable to test it due to the lack of having a 10.6.x machine at my disposal and MCX will not work on 10.7 machines.

From the looks of it, all of those should be in one file. If you pull up any local user account from the terminal and do the following (you may have to be in that user's ~/Library/Preferences directory):

defaults read com.apple.sidebarlists

You will see all those settings are stored there. I got a few old PDF files that can also give you some good references I will email you. They are a bit outdated but the MCX information in them is still a good reference. If we cannot get this fixed, perhaps we should get a support ticket on it. So, check your email for those PDF files. They should help you be able to create a custom preference in WGM and then export/import it.

Thanks!

Tom

[bentoms]

Tom, as always thanks!

I've become rusty with MCX as last job had OD & i'm just bring in Caspers flavour into this new job & only for 10.7.

Which is why I'm worried about the above statement:

MCX will not work on 10.7 machines.

Can you please expand on that statement?

[tlarkin]

Hi Ben,

MCX will still work I think in Lion as legacy support, but the preferred method in 10.7 is to use profiles. Profile Manager is a part of the OS X 10.7 Server App, which you download from the App store. 10.7 supports local MCX according to this link:

http://managingosx.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/local-mcx-and-lion/

Profiles seem to be the way Apple is going though, so it would be probably a good idea to see how they work. Profiles are still XML files that contain settings, so a lot of the MCX stuff from 10.6 may work in the same manner. I am still testing out my old settings on Lion clients since my last job was a straight 10.6.8 shop.

Hope this helps you.

Thanks,
Tom

[bentoms · Accepted solution]

Thanks Tom.. to me it seems that Configuration Profiles are more system-level & mcx user level..

Anyways, i managed to resolve this issue.

I created 3 x Managed Preferences by clicking: Create Managed Preference > Create Manually.

details below, applied at login;

Favourites:

Display Name:   Favorites       
Application Domain: com.apple.sidebarlists      
Key Name:   favorites       
Key Type:   manual  <dict>
        <key>Controller</key>
        <string>VolumesList</string>
        <key>CustomListProperties</key>
        <dict>
            <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.Restricted.upgraded</key>
            <true/>
            <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.VolumesListMigrated</key>
            <true/>
        </dict>
        <key>ShowEjectables</key>
        <true/>
        <key>ShowHardDisks</key>
        <true/>
        <key>ShowRemovable</key>
        <true/>
        <key>ShowServers</key>
        <true/>
        <key>VolumesList</key>
        <array>
            <dict>
                <key>Alias</key>
                <data>
                AAAAAAEaAAMAAQAAypzxHwAASCsAAAAAAAC6vQAAur4A
                AMpbagYAAAAACSD//gAAAAAAAAAA/////wABABwAALq9
                AAC58QAAuewAALnrAAAAPAAAAC8AAAAuAA4AMgAYAG0A
                eQBEAG8AYwB1AG0AZQBuAHQAcwAuAGMAYQBuAG4AZQBk
                AFMAZQBhAHIAYwBoAA8AGgAMAE0AYQBjAGkAbgB0AG8A
                cwBoACAASABEABIAXlN5c3RlbS9MaWJyYXJ5L0NvcmVT
                ZXJ2aWNlcy9GaW5kZXIuYXBwL0NvbnRlbnRzL1Jlc291
                cmNlcy9NeUxpYnJhcmllcy9teURvY3VtZW50cy5jYW5u
                ZWRTZWFyY2gAEwABLwD//wAA
                </data>
                <key>CustomItemProperties</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.TemplateSystemSelector</key>
                    <integer>1935819078</integer>
                </dict>
                <key>Icon</key>
                <data>
                SW1nUgAAAUYAAAAARkJJTAAAAToAAAACAAAAAAAAAAAB
                KgADAAAAAMqc8R8AAEgrAAAAAAAAur8AALrDAADKW2oG
                AAAAAAkg//4AAAAAAAAAAP////8AAQAkAAC6vwAAur4A
                ALq9AAC58QAAuewAALnrAAAAPAAAAC8AAAAuAA4AIAAP
                AGEAbABsAE0AeQBGAGkAbABlAHMALgBpAGMAbgBzAA8A
                GgAMAE0AYQBjAGkAbgB0AG8AcwBoACAASABEABIAeFN5
                c3RlbS9MaWJyYXJ5L0NvcmVTZXJ2aWNlcy9GaW5kZXIu
                YXBwL0NvbnRlbnRzL1Jlc291cmNlcy9NeUxpYnJhcmll
                cy9teURvY3VtZW50cy5jYW5uZWRTZWFyY2gvUmVzb3Vy
                Y2VzL2FsbE15RmlsZXMuaWNucwATAAEvAP//AAA=
                </data>
                <key>Name</key>
                <string>All My Files</string>
            </dict>
            <dict>
                <key>Alias</key>
                <data>
                AAAAAACQAAMAAQAAypzxHwAASCsAAAAAAAC/VgALg00A
                AMrgK54AAAAACSD//gAAAAAAAAAA/////wABAAQAAL9W
                AA4ADAAFAGIAdABvAG0AcwAPABoADABNAGEAYwBpAG4A
                dABvAHMAaAAgAEgARAASAAtVc2Vycy9idG9tcwAAEwAB
                LwAAFQACAAz//wAA
                </data>
                <key>CustomItemProperties</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.TemplateSystemSelector</key>
                    <integer>1935820909</integer>
                </dict>
                <key>Icon</key>
                <data>
                SW1nUgAAABwAAAAAU1lTTAAAABAAAAAAdGhvbQ==
                </data>
                <key>Name</key>
                <string>btoms</string>
            </dict>
            <dict>
                <key>Alias</key>
                <data>
                AAAAAACUAAMAAQAAypzxHwAASCsAAAAAAAAAAgAAAFsA
                AMoBn94AAAAACSD//gAAAAAAAAAA/////wABAAAADgAa
                AAwAQQBwAHAAbABpAGMAYQB0AGkAbwBuAHMADwAaAAwA
                TQBhAGMAaQBuAHQAbwBzAGgAIABIAEQAEgAMQXBwbGlj
                YXRpb25zABMAAS8A//8AAA==
                </data>
                <key>CustomItemProperties</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.TemplateSystemSelector</key>
                    <integer>1935819120</integer>
                </dict>
                <key>Icon</key>
                <data>
                SW1nUgAAABwAAAAAU1lTTAAAABAAAAAAdEFwcw==
                </data>
                <key>Name</key>
                <string>Applications</string>
            </dict>
            <dict>
                <key>Alias</key>
                <data>
                AAAAAACgAAMAAQAAypzxHwAASCsAAAAAAAuDTQALk0kA
                AMZgk+QAAAAACSD//gAAAAAAAAAA/////wABAAgAC4NN
                AAC/VgAOABAABwBEAGUAcwBrAHQAbwBwAA8AGgAMAE0A
                YQBjAGkAbgB0AG8AcwBoACAASABEABIAE1VzZXJzL2J0
                b21zL0Rlc2t0b3AAABMAAS8AABUAAgAM//8AAA==
                </data>
                <key>CustomItemProperties</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.TemplateSystemSelector</key>
                    <integer>1935819892</integer>
                </dict>
                <key>Icon</key>
                <data>
                SW1nUgAAATwAAAAARkJJTAAAATAAAAACAAAAAAAAAAAB
                IAADAAAAAMqc8R8AAEgrAAAAAAAACt0AADnBAADKSN2u
                AAAAAAkg//4AAAAAAAAAAP////8AAQAYAAAK3QAACO8A
                AAjuAAAAPAAAAC8AAAAuAA4APAAdAFQAbwBvAGwAYgBh
                AHIARABlAHMAawB0AG8AcABGAG8AbABkAGUAcgBJAGMA
                bwBuAC4AaQBjAG4AcwAPABoADABNAGEAYwBpAG4AdABv
                AHMAaAAgAEgARAASAF1TeXN0ZW0vTGlicmFyeS9Db3Jl
                U2VydmljZXMvQ29yZVR5cGVzLmJ1bmRsZS9Db250ZW50
                cy9SZXNvdXJjZXMvVG9vbGJhckRlc2t0b3BGb2xkZXJJ
                Y29uLmljbnMAABMAAS8A//8AAA==
                </data>
                <key>Name</key>
                <string>Desktop</string>
            </dict>
            <dict>
                <key>Alias</key>
                <data>
                AAAAAACmAAMAAQAAypzxHwAASCsAAAAAAAuDTQALk0oA
                AMZgk+QAAAAACSD//gAAAAAAAAAA/////wABAAgAC4NN
                AAC/VgAOABQACQBEAG8AYwB1AG0AZQBuAHQAcwAPABoA
                DABNAGEAYwBpAG4AdABvAHMAaAAgAEgARAASABVVc2Vy
                cy9idG9tcy9Eb2N1bWVudHMAABMAAS8AABUAAgAM//8A
                AA==
                </data>
                <key>CustomItemProperties</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.TemplateSystemSelector</key>
                    <integer>1935819875</integer>
                </dict>
                <key>Icon</key>
                <data>
                SW1nUgAAABwAAAAAU1lTTAAAABAAAAAAdERvYw==
                </data>
                <key>Name</key>
                <string>Documents</string>
            </dict>
            <dict>
                <key>Alias</key>
                <data>
                AAAAAACmAAMAAQAAypzxHwAASCsAAAAAAAuDTQALk0sA
                AMZgk+QAAAAACSD//gAAAAAAAAAA/////wABAAgAC4NN
                AAC/VgAOABQACQBEAG8AdwBuAGwAbwBhAGQAcwAPABoA
                DABNAGEAYwBpAG4AdABvAHMAaAAgAEgARAASABVVc2Vy
                cy9idG9tcy9Eb3dubG9hZHMAABMAAS8AABUAAgAM//8A
                AA==
                </data>
                <key>CustomItemProperties</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.TemplateSystemSelector</key>
                    <integer>1935819884</integer>
                </dict>
                <key>Icon</key>
                <data>
                SW1nUgAAABwAAAAAU1lTTAAAABAAAAAAdER3bg==
                </data>
                <key>Name</key>
                <string>Downloads</string>
            </dict>
            <dict>
                <key>Alias</key>
                <data>
                AAAAAACaAAMAAQAAypzxHwAASCsAAAAAAAuDTQALk00A
                AMZgk+QAAAAACSD//gAAAAAAAAAA/////wABAAgAC4NN
                AAC/VgAOAAwABQBNAHUAcwBpAGMADwAaAAwATQBhAGMA
                aQBuAHQAbwBzAGgAIABIAEQAEgARVXNlcnMvYnRvbXMv
                TXVzaWMAABMAAS8AABUAAgAM//8AAA==
                </data>
                <key>CustomItemProperties</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.TemplateSystemSelector</key>
                    <integer>1935822195</integer>
                </dict>
                <key>Icon</key>
                <data>
                SW1nUgAAABwAAAAAU1lTTAAAABAAAAAAdE11cw==
                </data>
                <key>Name</key>
                <string>Music</string>
            </dict>
            <dict>
                <key>Alias</key>
                <data>
                AAAAAACiAAMAAQAAypzxHwAASCsAAAAAAAuDTQALk04A
                AMl5l2oAAAAACSD//gAAAAAAAAAA/////wABAAgAC4NN
                AAC/VgAOABIACABQAGkAYwB0AHUAcgBlAHMADwAaAAwA
                TQBhAGMAaQBuAHQAbwBzAGgAIABIAEQAEgAUVXNlcnMv
                YnRvbXMvUGljdHVyZXMAEwABLwAAFQACAAz//wAA
                </data>
                <key>CustomItemProperties</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.TemplateSystemSelector</key>
                    <integer>1935822947</integer>
                </dict>
                <key>Icon</key>
                <data>
                SW1nUgAAABwAAAAAU1lTTAAAABAAAAAAdFBpYw==
                </data>
                <key>Name</key>
                <string>Pictures</string>
            </dict>
            <dict>
                <key>Alias</key>
                <data>
                AAAAAACcAAMAAQAAypzxHwAASCsAAAAAAAuDTQALk0wA
                AMZgk+QAAAAACSD//gAAAAAAAAAA/////wABAAgAC4NN
                AAC/VgAOAA4ABgBNAG8AdgBpAGUAcwAPABoADABNAGEA
                YwBpAG4AdABvAHMAaAAgAEgARAASABJVc2Vycy9idG9t
                cy9Nb3ZpZXMAEwABLwAAFQACAAz//wAA
                </data>
                <key>CustomItemProperties</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>com.apple.LSSharedFileList.TemplateSystemSelector</key>
                    <integer>1935822198</integer>
                </dict>
                <key>Icon</key>
                <data>
                SW1nUgAAABwAAAAAU1lTTAAAABAAAAAAdE1vdg==
                </data>
                <key>Name</key>
                <string>Movies</string>
            </dict>
        </array>
    </dict>

Network Browser:

Display Name:   Network Browser 
Application Domain: com.apple.sidebarlists      
Key Name:   networkbrowser      
Key Type:   manual      
Key Value:  
<dict>    
 <key>CustomListProperties</key>    
 <dict>    
 <key>com.apple.NetworkBrowser.backToMyMacEnabled</key>
 <false/>  
 <key>com.apple.NetworkBrowser.bonjourEnabled</key>  
 <false/>  
 <key>com.apple.NetworkBrowser.connectedEnabled</key>
 <true/>  
 </dict>
 </dict>

System Items:

Display Name:   System Items        
Application Domain: com.apple.sidebarlists      
Key Name:   systemitems     
Key Type:   manual      
Key Value:  
<dict>    
 <key>ShowEjectables</key>  
 <true/>  
 <key>ShowHardDisks</key>   
 <true/>  
 <key>ShowRemovable</key>   
 <true/>  
 <key>ShowServers</key> 
 <true/>
 <key>VolumesList</key>
 <array>
 <dict>
 <key>EntryType</key>
 <integer>16</integer>
 <key>Name</key>
 <string>iDisk</string>
 <key>SpecialID</key>
 <integer>1766093675</integer>
 <key>Visibility</key>
 <string>NeverVisible</string>
 </dict>
 <dict>
 <key>EntryType</key>
 <integer>16</integer>
 <key>Name</key>
 <string>Computer</string>
 <key>SpecialID</key>
 <integer>1919905652</integer>
 <key>Visibility</key>
 <string>AlwaysVisible</string>
 </dict>
 </array>

[Bukira]

how did you get this to work?