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Launch services

  • September 12, 2009
  • 1 reply
  • 12 views
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Ok, so I created a package for The Unarchiver, and in that package is the com.apple.launchservices.plist. Now I know that there is a lot more info stored in that file than just the file types that I want The Unarchiver to open. When I push out this software will it just overwrite the existing launchservices plist or will it add to the one that is there? Ideally I would like it to add to it so I don't have to keep track of a master with all of my file associations. Does anyone know what the behavior is here with Casper? If it does overwrite the file does anyone have a solution that will allow me to add to the existing plist? Thanks!

Alan

Sent from my iPhone

    1 reply

    talkingmoose
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    • talkingmoose
    • Community Manager
    • September 12, 2009

    No, it will not merge. Source files overwrite destination files.

    Behind the scenes, Casper uses the "ditto" command to install .dmg packages.
    Ditto overwrites existing files with the source files you're installing. I'm
    not sure what the "installer" command for installing .pkg files, but it too
    generally overwrites existing destination files with with source files from
    your install package.

    I would suggest you get into a little scripting for this situation and use
    Composer's ability to create .pkg packages. A .dmg package is dumb and flat.
    It contains files to copy and that's it. A .pkg package, however, can be
    smart and include post install scripts that run once the files are in place.

    In Composer, create a new package by dragging the files you want to install
    into its window. You'll see the package name on the left. Twiddle the
    disclosure triangle open to view the Scripts section. Right-click or
    Control-click the Scripts section and select Add Shell Script -->
    postinstall.

    Select the postinstall script and you'll be able to edit it in the pane on
    the right. You'll probably want to use a "defaults write" command to edit
    com.apple.launchservices and run this recursively through every user folder
    as well as your User Template. Remember, each user has his own
    launchservices database.

    Or, if you are using the MCX preferences feature of Casper Suite 7.0, then
    you can specify a default launchservices setting and it will apply to all
    users at login, merging your setting with their existing settings. This
    would be much simpler to maintain but requires you also be using a JSS.

    --

    bill

    William M. Smith, Technical Analyst
    MCS IT
    Merrill Communications, LLC
    (651) 632-1492

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