[Casper] MS Office 2008 configuration

[Miles Leacy]

This is in re: to my script that sets the default save formats in MS Office
2008 apps to .doc, .xls, and .ppt in order to avoid any file compatibility
issues with systems that are not up to date on their Office versions.  I
will paste in the original script at the end of this message.

I'm taking this on-list in case anyone else needs this info.  The issue
turns out to be that I didn't test this fully, and I was, in fact, managing
these preferences via Open Directory and MCX.
The commands are sound, but as John Wetter found in testing, they're being
run by root, so they are not setting the preferences for the user in
question.  The script functions properly if you run it as the user in
question.

I see a couple of options to fix this...

1. Use the script with the full paths to the user's plists, then add a chown
command to the end of the script to return ownership to the user.  To do
this:

- Insert "/Users/$3/Library/Preferences/" in front of each of the
"com.microsoft" preference domains in the script.
- add the following line to the end of the script:
chown $3 /Users/$3/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft*

2. Write the plist to /Library/Preferences instead of ~/Library/Preferences
and grant read permissions to everyone.  I like this best since you'll only
have to do it once per computer, rather than once per user.  To do this:

- Insert "/Library/Preferences/" in front of each of the "com.microsoft"
preference domains in the script.
- Add the following line to the end of the script:
chmod a+r /Users/$3/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft*

2. If you have Open Directory in place, open the Preferences Details pane in
Workgroup Manager, add the Office apps to the list and set the preference
values within Workgroup manager.

3. Use dscl to manage MCX settings in the local directory service.

4. I haven't tried this, and it may not work because I think it generates a
new shell which could cause problems, but you might try adding `su $3` to
the beginning of the script to have the commands executed as the correct
user.

Here's the original script:

#!/bin/bash

# scr_app_office2008FileFormats.bash
#
# Set Office 2008 apps to save in .doc, .xls. .ppt rather than docx, etc.
#
# Written by Miles A. Leacy IV
# Last modified 20080612

# Word
defaults write com.microsoft.Word 2008\\Default\ Save\\Default\ Format
-string Doc97

# Excel
defaults write com.microsoft.Excel 2008\\Default\ Save\\Default\ Format -int
57

# Powerpoint
defaults write com.microsoft.Powerpoint 2008\\Default\ Save\\Default\
Save\\Default\ Format -string Microsoft\ PowerPoint\ 98\ Presentation

exit 0

### end script
----------
Miles A. Leacy IV

 Certified System Administrator 10.4
 Certified Technical Coordinator 10.5
 Certified Trainer
Certified Casper Administrator
----------
voice: 1-347-277-7321
miles.leacy at themacadmin.com
www.themacadmin.com
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