DMXzone Extension Manager for Dreamweaver Support Product Page

Implemented

install for multiple users

Shared 25 Sep 2014 13:40:39
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25 Sep 2014 13:40:39 Jack McNeely posted:
It successfully updated itself to v.1.0.3.0 for me with no errors, and it works great. I had to jump through a couple of hoops to get it working for nonadmin users on Windows 8 and 7. I use the administrator account to install software, but I use nonadmin accounts to do all my work, so my nonadmin accounts have many more extensions installed than the admin account does. I can't be the only person who works this way, so below are the steps I followed, in case it might be helpful to others.
The DMXzone Extension Manager sets itself up fine for the admin user. It does not install its executable in the traditional "Program Files" directory. Instead, it installs the executable in:
"C:\Users\adminname\AppData\Local\DMXzone Extension Manager\"
and also creates:
"C:\Users\adminname\AppData\Local\dmxzone-extension-manager\"
1. The latter folder is where it stores the user's actual extensions. To get it to work for all the users, copy the "\DMXzone Extension Manager\" folder into each user's \AppData\Local\ folder. For new installs, also copy the "\dmxzone-extension-manager\" folder. For upgrading, don't copy that folder.
2. In each user's "c:\Users\username\AppData\Local\DMXzone Extension Manager\" folder, modify the properties of the "Start Extension Manager" shortcut so that it points to:
"C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\DMXzone Extension Manager" instead of to the admin's AppData folder.
3. It installs a desktop shortcut only for the admin, in "c:\Users\adminname\Desktop\". On new installs, copy that shortcut into each user's "c:\Users\username\Desktop" folder and modify the "Start in" path in the shortcut's properties to point to that user's AppData folder, as you did with the per-user shortcuts in Step 2.
4. It installs a Start menu shortcut, which is accessed by all users, in "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\DMXzone Extension Manager". Modify the properties of the "DMXzone Extension Manager" shortcut in that folder so that instead of pointing to the admin's AppData folder, it points to:
"%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\DMXzone Extension Manager".
You can modify the shortcuts to the uninstaller as well, but that won't matter, because the uninstall has to be run by the admin anyway. If you ever uninstall it, log in as the admin and use "Add Remove Programs" in the Control Panel to uninstall it for the admin, and then manually delete the per-user directories in each user's AppData folder and the shortcut in each user's Desktop folder.
All done!

Replies

Replied 25 Sep 2014 14:03:55
25 Sep 2014 14:03:55 Teodor Kuduschiev replied:
Hello Jack,
Could you please explain what is the point of having several accounts? The normal workflow on windows machines is to have one user and work with it.
Replied 25 Sep 2014 14:04:29
25 Sep 2014 14:04:29 George Petrov replied:
Wow Jack, that is quite a guide!

But why won't you just install the DMXzone Extension Manager for each nonadmin user directly instead of manually copying it?

-George
Replied 25 Sep 2014 16:04:12
25 Sep 2014 16:04:12 George Petrov replied:
Hi Jack,

I've prepared a new beta for the upcoming update of DMXzone Extension Manager and its installer does not require now any administrative rights and can be installed for every user you like separately.

Also the shortcuts are fixed.

Please download and try it from:

www.dmxzone.com/beta/DMXzone-Extension-Manager-Win.exe

Let me know how it goes.

Greetings,
George
Replied 25 Sep 2014 16:27:23
25 Sep 2014 16:27:23 Jack McNeely replied:
Having multiple accounts on Windows is a security thing. I use the admin logon only to do administrative tasks, like stopping and starting services, installing software, pulling disk backups, and configuring the firewall and virus scanner. The ordinary user accounts aren't allowed to install software or change settings on programs that can do a lot of damage.
By doing all my day-to-day work under a nonadmin account, if a virus gets through, it would try to install itself with the privileges of the nonadmin user, and it wouldn't be able to install. Even my email is like that. Outlook is installed by the admin, but no email accounts are set up under that user. Only the nonadmin users have email accounts. And essentially all of my web browsing also is done by the nonadmin logons. If I hit a malicious web page, whatever exploit it runs is likely to fail. Every corporate enterprise environment where I have worked has the same setup. Only the IT people can install software. The weenie little users can't even update Flash in their web browsers.
Replied 25 Sep 2014 16:31:12
25 Sep 2014 16:31:12 George Petrov replied:
Well try the beta version linked above - it should install for regular users just fine and do not require any admin rights.

Replied 25 Sep 2014 19:58:43
25 Sep 2014 19:58:43 Jack McNeely replied:
Yup, I just finished installing the 1.0.4 beta on my Win 7 machine, and it worked great. I installed first as the admin, and that was hassle-free. And then I logged on as the unprivileged user and verified that 1.0.3 was still the installed version for that user. And then I ran the installer again as that user, and the magic worked. It updated to 1.0.4 and did not ask for the admin's password. What's even more amazing is that not only did the installer work, but the extension itself worked! Another great job by the DMX crew!

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