[27709] in resnet
Re: Setting display resolution with group policy
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jeremy Mlazovsky)
Fri May 25 09:35:51 2012
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Message-ID: <CAPfpEMnXAxZ7M5Lnm-ZamdkT+vmsB=dm0nCS-iq-f5+JcqEHCg@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 May 2012 08:54:15 -0400
Reply-To: Resnet Forum <RESNET-L@listserv.nd.edu>
From: Jeremy Mlazovsky <jmlazovsky1@UDAYTON.EDU>
To: RESNET-L@listserv.nd.edu
In-Reply-To: <E9F8CA088AE7B645B6A412B2F7133AAA2BC9272C@SMCEXMBX02.mikenet.smcvt.edu>
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It looks like a number of other people have already given their ideas, but
I just wanted to mention that we also use dccmd.exe . We have a program
where international students need to take English tests on a computer using
IE, and the resolution has to be set to 800x600 while they take the test.
Obviously, we do not want the resolution set to 800x600 before or after the
test. I wrote the following AutoIt script to fix this problem. I compile
the code into an .exe ("Launch Software.exe"), copy it to the local
machine, and place a shortcut to "Launch Software.exe" on the Windows
desktop. When the students need to take the test, they double-click the
shortcut, the script records the current resolution, sets the resolution to
800x600, and then restores the original resolution once the test is over.
#Region ;**** Directives created by AutoIt3Wrapper_GUI ****
#AutoIt3Wrapper_icon=C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\Icons\au3.ico
#AutoIt3Wrapper_outfile=G:\Common\Tech Tools\Change Resolution\Misc\Launch
Software.exe
#AutoIt3Wrapper_UseX64=n
#EndRegion ;**** Directives created by AutoIt3Wrapper_GUI ****
Local $permwidth = @DesktopWidth
Local $permheight = @DesktopHeight
Local $tempwidth = 800
Local $tempheight = 600
Local $dcFilename ;filename of display changer program (will differe
depending on if OS is 64-bit or not)
Local $COMPASSESL_Path ;location of program (will differe depending on if
OS is 64-bit or not)
If @OSArch = 'X64' Then
$dcFilename = 'dc64cmd.exe'
$COMPASSESL_Path = 'C:\Program Files (x86)\ACT\COMPASSESL Internet Version
Setup'
Else
$dcFilename = 'dccmd.exe'
$COMPASSESL_Path = 'C:\Program Files\ACT\COMPASSESL Internet Version Setup'
EndIf
;set resolution to 800x600
RunWait ( 'C:\misc\' & $dcFilename & ' -width=' & $tempwidth & ' -height='
& $tempheight )
;lock down the browser for taking the test
RunWait ( $COMPASSESL_Path & '\LockdownBrowser.exe' )
;restore the resolution to what it has been previously
RunWait ( 'C:\misc\' & $dcFilename & ' -width=' & $permwidth & ' -height='
& $permheight )
Thanks.
Jeremy Mlazovsky '02
Director of Information Technology
College of Arts and Sciences
University of Dayton
300 College Park
Dayton, Ohio 45469-2201
937-229-2166
Leadership UD 2009
Please contact CAS Help (937-229-2166, cashelp@udayton.edu) for service
requests.
On Thu, May 24, 2012 at 10:51 AM, Umansky, Shawn <SUmansky@smcvt.edu> wrote:
> Has anyone on this listserv attempted to use group policy to control
> display resolution for all users of a group of computers? If so, I'd love
> to know what you discovered (i.e., did it work and was it difficult).
>
> I'll try to give you a snapshot of our situation. We are currently using
> Symantec Ghost for image capture and deployment, and have a single Windows
> 7, 64-bit image for all of our classroom computers. I should also mention
> that the computer hardware for all classroom computers is identical
> (including the video card). The default resolution of that image is
> currently 1280x1024.
>
> Historically, we have had to customize our classroom computer image with a
> lower resolution (1024x768) to ensure all of our various models of digital
> projector can display properly. However, as many of the projectors in
> those classrooms have been replaced over time, we now have a mix of
> projectors that can handle a resolution higher than 1024x768 and those that
> cannot.
>
> Ideally, instead of having to modify the image to set the resolution, we
> would be able to put the computers that connect to the older projectors
> into their own OU and leverage group policy to downgrade the resolution for
> just those classroom computers. This would also give us the flexibility to
> set the resolution at a more granular level (i.e., if 85% of the classroom
> projectors can handle 1280x1024, we only downgrade the other 15%). This is
> something we do not currently have the capacity to control to that degree
> of granularity. Pushing out a group policy to control this would give us
> that.
>
> My preference would be to push out a registry setting to HKCU for the
> classroom OUs. Server 2008 R2 makes this really easy to do. From what
> I've read, it does not appear to be quite that straight forward. I'm
> hoping that the collective intelligence of the group can tell me whether or
> not I'm barking up the wrong tree.
>
> Has anyone else out there dealt with this? If so, what did you choose to
> do?
>
> Thanks,
> Shawn
>
>
>
> Shawn L. Umansky
> Network Engineer
> Saint Michael's College
> Phone: (802) 654-2763
> SUmansky@smcvt.edu
>
> ___________________________________________________
> You are subscribed to the ResNet-L mailing list.
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or search the archives,
> go to http://LISTSERV.ND.EDU/archives/resnet-l.html
> ___________________________________________________
>
___________________________________________________
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It looks like a number of other people have already given their ideas, but =
I just wanted to mention that we also use=A0dccmd.exe . =A0We have a progra=
m where international students need to take English tests on a computer usi=
ng IE, and the resolution has to be set to 800x600 while they take the test=
.<div>
<br></div><div>Obviously, we do not want the resolution set to 800x600 befo=
re or after the test. =A0I wrote the following AutoIt script to fix this pr=
oblem. =A0I compile the code into an .exe ("Launch Software.exe")=
, copy it to the local machine,=A0and place a shortcut to=A0=A0"Launch=
Software.exe"=A0on the Windows desktop. =A0When the students need to =
take the test, they double-click the shortcut, the script records the curre=
nt resolution, sets the resolution to 800x600, and then restores the origin=
al resolution once the test is over.</div>
<div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 =
40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><div><div>#Region ;**** Directives creat=
ed by AutoIt3Wrapper_GUI ****</div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote sty=
le=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px">
<div><div>#AutoIt3Wrapper_icon=3DC:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\Icons\au3.i=
co</div></div></blockquote><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:no=
ne;padding:0px"><div><div>#AutoIt3Wrapper_outfile=3DG:\Common\Tech Tools\Ch=
ange Resolution\Misc\Launch Software.exe</div>
</div></blockquote><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;paddi=
ng:0px"><div><div>#AutoIt3Wrapper_UseX64=3Dn</div></div></blockquote><block=
quote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><div>#EndReg=
ion ;**** Directives created by AutoIt3Wrapper_GUI ****</div>
</div></blockquote><div><div><br></div></div><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 =
0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><div>Local $permwidth =3D @DesktopWi=
dth</div></div></blockquote><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:n=
one;padding:0px">
<div><div>Local $permheight =3D @DesktopHeight</div></div></blockquote><div=
><div><br></div></div><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;pa=
dding:0px"><div><div>Local $tempwidth =3D 800</div></div></blockquote><bloc=
kquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px">
<div><div>Local $tempheight =3D 600</div></div></blockquote><div><div><br><=
/div></div><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px">=
<div><div>Local $dcFilename<span class=3D"Apple-tab-span" style=3D"white-sp=
ace:pre"> </span>;filename of display changer program (will differe depen=
ding on if OS is 64-bit or not)</div>
</div></blockquote><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;paddi=
ng:0px"><div><div>Local $COMPASSESL_Path<span class=3D"Apple-tab-span" styl=
e=3D"white-space:pre"> </span>;location of program (will differe depending=
on if OS is 64-bit or not)</div>
</div></blockquote><div><div><br></div></div><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 =
0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><div>If @OSArch =3D 'X64' Th=
en</div></div></blockquote><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:no=
ne;padding:0px">
<blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><div>$=
dcFilename =3D 'dc64cmd.exe'</div><div>$COMPASSESL_Path =3D 'C:=
\Program Files (x86)\ACT\COMPASSESL Internet Version Setup'</div></div>=
</blockquote>
Else<br><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><di=
v>$dcFilename =3D 'dccmd.exe'</div><div>$COMPASSESL_Path =3D 'C=
:\Program Files\ACT\COMPASSESL Internet Version Setup'</div></blockquot=
e>
EndIf</blockquote><div><div><br></div></div><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0=
0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><div>;set resolution to 800x600</div>=
</div></blockquote><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;paddi=
ng:0px">
<div><div>RunWait ( 'C:\misc\' & $dcFilename & ' -width=
=3D' & $tempwidth & ' -height=3D' & $tempheight )</=
div></div></blockquote><div><div><br></div></div><blockquote style=3D"margi=
n:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px">
<div><div>;lock down the browser for taking the test</div></div></blockquot=
e><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><div=
>RunWait ( $COMPASSESL_Path & '\LockdownBrowser.exe' )</div>
</div>
</blockquote><div><div><br></div></div><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0 40=
px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><div>;restore the resolution to what it ha=
s been previously</div></div></blockquote><blockquote style=3D"margin:0 0 0=
40px;border:none;padding:0px">
<div><div>RunWait ( 'C:\misc\' & $dcFilename & ' -width=
=3D' & $permwidth & ' -height=3D' & $permheight )</=
div></div></blockquote><div><div><br></div><div>Thanks.</div><div><br></div=
>
<div>Jeremy Mlazovsky '02</div><div>Director of Information Technology<=
/div><div>College of Arts and Sciences</div><div>University of Dayton</div>=
<div>300 College Park</div><div>Dayton, Ohio 45469-2201</div><div>937-229-2=
166</div>
<div><br></div><div>Leadership UD 2009</div><div><br></div><div>Please cont=
act CAS Help (937-229-2166, <a href=3D"mailto:cashelp@udayton.edu" target=
=3D"_blank">cashelp@udayton.edu</a>) for service requests.</div><br>
<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, May 24, 2012 at 10:51 AM, Umansk=
y, Shawn <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:SUmansky@smcvt.edu" target=
=3D"_blank">SUmansky@smcvt.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=
=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padd=
ing-left:1ex">
Has anyone on this listserv attempted to use group policy to control displa=
y resolution for all users of a group of computers? =A0If so, I'd love =
to know what you discovered (i.e., did it work and was it difficult).<br>
<br>
I'll try to give you a snapshot of our situation. =A0We are currently u=
sing Symantec Ghost for image capture and deployment, and have a single Win=
dows 7, 64-bit image for all of our classroom computers. =A0I should also m=
ention that the computer hardware for all classroom computers is identical =
(including the video card). =A0The default resolution of that image is curr=
ently 1280x1024.<br>
<br>
Historically, we have had to customize our classroom computer image with a =
lower resolution (1024x768) to ensure all of our various models of digital =
projector can display properly. =A0 However, as many of the projectors in t=
hose classrooms have been replaced over time, we now have a mix of projecto=
rs that can handle a resolution higher than 1024x768 and those that cannot.=
<br>
<br>
Ideally, instead of having to modify the image to set the resolution, we wo=
uld be able to put the computers that connect to the older projectors into =
their own OU and leverage group policy to downgrade the resolution for just=
those classroom computers. =A0This would also give us the flexibility to s=
et the resolution at a more granular level (i.e., if 85% of the classroom p=
rojectors can handle 1280x1024, we only downgrade the other 15%). =A0This i=
s something we do not currently have the capacity to control to that degree=
of granularity. =A0Pushing out a group policy to control this would give u=
s that.<br>
<br>
My preference would be to push out a registry setting to HKCU for the class=
room OUs. =A0Server 2008 R2 makes this really easy to do. =A0From what I=
9;ve read, it does not appear to be quite that straight forward. =A0I'm=
hoping that the collective intelligence of the group can tell me whether o=
r not I'm barking up the wrong tree.<br>
<br>
Has anyone else out there dealt with this? =A0If so, what did you choose to=
do?<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
Shawn<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Shawn L. Umansky<br>
Network Engineer<br>
Saint Michael's College<br>
Phone: <a href=3D"tel:%28802%29%20654-2763" value=3D"+18026542763">(802) 65=
4-2763</a><br>
<a href=3D"mailto:SUmansky@smcvt.edu">SUmansky@smcvt.edu</a><br>
<br>
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<br>
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</blockquote></div><br></div>
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<p>
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