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multiple users - host shared shortcut list? (8 posts)

  • Started 17 years ago by donmontalvo
  • Latest reply 17 years ago from Jim Matthews
  • donmontalvo Member

    can a group of fetch users share a single, centrally managed ftp shortcuts list hosted on a server? we need to manage a predefined list of vendor ftp sites...while giving users flexibility to manually connect to nondefined ftp sites. is it possible? is it supported? :)

    thanks,
    don

    Posted 17 years ago #

  • Scott McGuire Administrator

    Hi Don,

    Currently there's no way to have Fetch open a single centrally stored shortcuts file automatically when the user double-clicks the Fetch application. We'll take that as feedback, thanks.

    However, one way you could accomplish this now would be to create a shortcut list document that contains the shortcuts you want, put it on the server, and give users an alias to that file. Then you could tell them to start Fetch by double-clicking on that alias icon instead of the Fetch application icon, and then Fetch would open and display the shortcuts in that file.

    Thanks,

    Scott McGuire
    Fetch Softworks

    Posted 17 years ago #

  • donmontalvo Member

    interesting. i think what we may do is manage a shortcut list on the server (as you suggested) but instead of using aliases that can break, we can use a login hook to check modificaiton date/time on hosted shortcut list. if a newer version is available, pull it down...else, skip. since it's a login hook, it'll ensure every user is always up to date...since it's not an alias, nothing can break.

    as a feature request, i would say fetch should offer a pref to read a hosted shortcuts list and cache locally. revised lists would require fetch to be relaunched, but this way the hosted file is referenced only on launch.

    thanks for your help,
    don

    [This message has been edited by donmontalvo (edited 01-18-2007).]

    Posted 17 years ago #

  • Scott McGuire Administrator

    Hi Don,

    Thanks for the additional thoughts.

    Best,

    Scott McGuire
    Fetch Softworks

    Posted 17 years ago #

  • donmontalvo Member

    are shortcuts editable via command line? i looked at it and it looks like plain text (except for encrypted passwords). is there a way for a sysadmin to manage plain text or xml shortcut documents? we need to set up 20 or so users with centrally managed shortcut documents. looks like the only way to edit is via gui (using fetch).

    don

    Posted 17 years ago #

  • Scott McGuire Administrator

    Hi Don,

    In Fetch 5.0.5 and earlier, the default shortcuts are stored as plain text (except for the passwords) in the file named "Fetch Shortcuts".

    In Fetch 5.1 and later, they are stored as binary plists in the file named "com.fetchsoftworks.Fetch.Shortcuts.plist", and passwords are stored in the keychain.

    In theory you could edit them outside of the GUI, but we don't support that or really encourage it. (In other words, you're on your own if something breaks.)

    Probably your best bet is to create the shortcuts file you want one Mac and distribute it to the others, or use workarounds such as the alias I suggested or other method you proposed above.

    Thanks,

    Scott McGuire
    Fetch Softworks

    Posted 17 years ago #

  • donmontalvo Member

    it's funny, today when i proposed fetch instead of masstransit (which we already own), the cio asked about central management. he said to ask you guys if there's a corporate version of fetch application coming.

    if you give us a way to keep lists on the server (check out cdfinder...they went with a very simple routine that works great!), the 17 seats i need (and probably many more at corp shops) would be an easier sell. right now, tech managers are trying to centralize as much control as possible to keep costs down - and support calls. :)

    don

    Posted 17 years ago #

  • Jim Matthews Administrator

    Thanks again for the feedback; I can't promise a corporate version of Fetch, but it's something we'll keep under consideration.

    Thanks,

    Jim Matthews
    Fetch Softworks

    Posted 17 years ago #

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