Xref: utzoo comp.sys.mac.apps:1375 comp.sys.mac.system:1350 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!uwvax!titanic.cs.wisc.edu!tonyrich From: tonyrich@titanic.cs.wisc.edu (Anthony Rich) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps,comp.sys.mac.system Subject: Per-User Preferences (was: Extended command keys.) Message-ID: <11128@spool.cs.wisc.edu> Date: 2 Sep 90 04:13:27 GMT References: <2768@network.ucsd.edu> <1990Aug30.193950.24035@cs.utk.edu> Sender: news@spool.cs.wisc.edu Organization: U of Wisconsin CS Dept Lines: 44 wnn@ornl.gov (Wolfgang N. Naegeli) writes: > It would be great if I could carry a floppy with my personal preferences > file around, stick it in any Mac, [and have] all the applications > configured to my personal preferences. YES, YES, YES! Right now, the Mac programs that *do* allow saving preferences usually keep their preference files in the System Folder (or in a Preferences folder in the System Folder), but that still associates the preferences with the *machine*, not with the *users* of the machine. Normally people sharing a Mac share its hard disk, and therefore the preferences in *one* System Folder, rather than booting from customized System Folders on their own private floppies. What would be ideal is for the Mac to maintain a collection of user- preference setups, perhaps selectable in a list in the Control Panel. Each user could select his or her own preferences, or switch back to a default set of preferences, or even switch to someone else's preferences if they wanted to try them out. (Sort of a "Blesser" for preferences). At the computer science department here, the Unix workstations are networked, so if you're in someone else's office, you can use their machine to "log into" your own (typically to show someone something that's only on your machine). But it's usually awkward to do any work that way, because even though you're connected remotely to your own machine, your own preferences (such as your custom keyboard mapping, command aliases, etc.) don't apply to the machine you're sitting at. Often very basic things are different, like whether the "backspace" key or the "delete" key acts as a backspace. It would be nice if preferences were in a single file (or folder, on the Mac) that was easy to install and move from machine to machine without disrupting whatever preferences people normally use on those computers. Maybe someday. If it ever happens, I'm guessing that it'll happen on the Mac before it happens anywhere else. How about in System 8, Apple? -- Tony -- ----------------------------------------- | EMAIL: tonyrich@titanic.cs.wisc.edu | | Disclaimer: I speak only for myself. | -----------------------------------------