DEPNotify is a small light weight notification app that was designed to let your users know what's going on during a DEP enrollment. The app is focused on being very simple to use and easy to deploy.
- Download
- Basic Usage
- Application Flags
- Commands
- DEPNotify Plist
- Status Updates
- Default File Locations
- Workflow
- Advanced Workflows
- Changelog
- Notes
Get the latest version, visit our tags: DEPNotify tags
DEPNotify is completely controlled via echoing text to its control file. By default this is /var/tmp/depnotify.log but can be changed with the -path flag.
The application then reacts to Command: and Status: lines written to the control file. Newer features of the app also utilize menu.nomad.DEPNotify.plist that is saved to the current user's home library preferences folder.
Application flags augment default settings or alert DEPNotify of different management software solutions to pull information from.
This replaces the default control file located at /var/tmp/depnotify.log allowing to select the path with -path [some path].
Example: /Applications/DEPNotify.app/Contents/MacOS/DEPNotify -path /private/tmp/setup.txt
This flag will create a full screen behind the DEPNotify screen to focus the user on the task at hand. By default, DEPNotify launches as a window that can be moved by the end user. Additionally, command-control-x will quit DEPNotify, although this can be modified via the DEPNotify configuration.
Example: /Applications/DEPNotify.app/Contents/MacOS/DEPNotify -fullScreen
This has DEP Notify read in the FileWave log at /var/log/fwcld.log and then update the status line in the DEP Notify window with any downloads and installations.
Example: /Applications/DEPNotify.app/Contents/MacOS/DEPNotify -filewave
This has DEP Notify read in the Jamf log at /var/log/jamf.log and then update the status line in the DEP Notify window with any installations or policy executions from the Jamf log. Note there is nothing special you need to name your items in Jamf for them to be read.
Example: /Applications/DEPNotify.app/Contents/MacOS/DEPNotify -jamf
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jamf.log will be parsed for the following strings:
- Downloading - currently only found when Jamf DEBUG logging is enabled
- Installing
- Successfully installed
- failed - when a package fails to install, it will attempt to find the package and reason it failed
- Error:
- FileVault, Encrypt, and Encryption - if one of these is listed, it will open an "alert sheet" via the Alert: command stating: "FileVault has been enabled on this machine and a reboot will be required to start the encryption process."
- DEPNotify Quit - upon reading, a Command: Quit: is issued stating "Setup Complete!" and if FileVault was enabled, it reiterates a reboot is needed.
- So, if a policy name contains this string, and executes on the machine, DEPNotify will quit itself.
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The following strings will be ignored:
- flat package - for lines with "downloading flat package"
- bom - for lines with "downloading bom" or "failed to download a bom" file for a package -- only seen when Jamf DEBUG logging is enabled
- an Apple package... - for lines with "Installing an Apple package" -- only seen when Jamf DEBUG logging is enabled
- com.jamfsoftware.task.errors - for lines that display Jamf Errors that we don't want displayed
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If you have Prefixes, Postfixes, or other Patterns in your package names, that you do not want displayed to screen, you can add those into the code as well.
This has DEP Notify read in the Munki log at /Library/Managed Installs/Logs/ManagedSoftwareUpdate.log and then update the status line in the DEP Notify window with any downloads and installations.
Example: /Applications/DEPNotify.app/Contents/MacOS/DEPNotify -munki
DEPNotify responds to a number of commands. All are prefaced with Command: and then the verb. Most are then followed by some text or other attribute.
Below are commands that will modify the main window properties, text, or associated images.
This will replace the very fancy DEPNotify logo, created by Erik Gomez, with a very fancy image of your own. Note that DEPNotify should scale the image up or down to fit the space.
Example: Command: Image: /tmp/logo.png
This command will tell DEPNotify to remove the command file from the filesystem when DEPNotify is quit. Keep in mind file permissions to ensure that the file can actually be removed by DEPNotify.
Example: Command: KillCommandFile:
This command will change the main body of text in the application.
Example: Command: MainText: Something about how amazing the DEP process you've created is.
Example w/ New Lines: Command: MainText: Something about how amazing the DEP process you've created is. \n \n It really is amazing.
This command will change the main body to an icon of your choosing
Example: Command: MainTextImage: /tmp/logo.png
This command will change the main title of text in the application.
Example: Command: MainTitle: Something about how amazing the DEP process you've created is.
Plays a video from a stream or local source. DEPNotify automatically detects if it’s a local or http video. (Video formats accepted .m4v, .mp4, .m3u8)
Example: Command: Video: https://example.com/awesome_video.mp4
Example: Command: Video: /var/tmp/awesome_video.mp4
Loads a website in DEPNotify.
Example: Command: Website: https://apple.com
This command has a few modifiers to it:
* Activate This will force the DEPNotify window to the front of all other windows.
* ActivateOnStep This will force the window to the front for each new progress bar step, so that you don't have to issue the Activate command each time.
* NotMovable This will center the DEPNotify window and make it unable to be moved.
Example: Command: WindowStyle: NotMovable
This will change the title of the DEPNotify window.
Example: Command: WindowTitle: My Great DEP Notification App
Plays a youtube video in DEPNotify.
Example: Command: YouTube: <youtube_id_here>
Below are commands allow for user interactions like EULA screen or registration screen. There are also commands for modifying the "progress" bar.
This places a Continue button at the bottom of the screen that that calls the Registration window. Creates a bom file /var/tmp/com.depnotify.registration.done on successful completion.
Example: Command: ContinueButtonRegister: <Button Label>
This places a Continue button at the bottom of the screen to display a URLA or other agreement you need the user to agree to. Creates a bom file /var/tmp/com.depnotify.provisioning.done on successful completion.
Example: Command: ContinueButtonEULA: <Button Label>
This makes the progress bar be determinate instead of just a spinny bar. You need to follow this with the number of stages you'd like to have in the bar. Once set, every status update that you send DEPNotify will increment the bar by one stage.
Example: Command: Determinate: 5
This makes the progress bar be determinate instead of just a spinny bar. You need to follow this with the number of stages you'd like to have in the bar. Once set, you will need to manually tell DEPNotify when to update instead of relying on status updates or information from the various log files. This allows you to create a progress bar independent of status updates.
Example: Command: DeterminateManual: 5
When in DeterminateManual mode this will advance the progress bar by one step, or by the number following the verb.
Example: Command: DeterminateManualStep: 2
Disables a deterministic state for the progress bar. Note that the steps already occurred in the bar will remain, allowing you to move between a deterministic behavior and non-deterministic without loosing your place.
Example: Command: DeterminateOff:
After turning off the deterministic state of the progress bar, you need to reset it the count to 0.
Example: Command: DeterminateOffReset:
Below are commands for dropdown alerts and notification center alerts for end users.
This creates an alert sheet on the DEPNotify window with an "Ok" button to allow the user to clear the alert. The text that follows the Alert: will be the contents to the alert.
Example: Command: Alert: The installation is now finished
This will issue a notification to the Mac's notification center and display it.
Example: Command: Notification: Please look at this notification.
This sets an image to use for the user notifications. Keep in mind that this may not be what you are looking for. After setting this notifications will still have the DEP Notify icon in them, but will also have the image set with this command.
Example: Command: NotificationImage: /tmp/image.png
This will cause all status updates to be sent to the Notification Center as well. It takes no modifiers.
Example: Command: NotificationOn:
Below are commands that can be used to quit, logout, or restart the Mac after workflows are completed.
This places a Continue button at the bottom of the screen that quits DEPNotify. Creates a bom file /var/tmp/com.depnotify.provisioning.done on successful completion.
Example: Command: ContinueButton: <Button Label>
This places a Continue button at the bottom of the screen that will perform a logout of the Mac. Creates a bom file /var/tmp/com.depnotify.provisioning.done on successful completion.
Example: Command: ContinueButtonLogout: <Button Label>
This places a Continue button at the bottom of the screen that will perform a soft restart of the Mac. Creates a bom file /var/tmp/com.depnotify.provisioning.restart on successful completion.
Example: Command: ContinueButtonRestart: <Button Label>
This will show a sheet dialog and then log the user out when the "Logout" is clicked. This is commonly used to log the user out and initiate a FileVault encryption process.
Example: Command: Logout: Please logout now to start disk encryption.
Executes an immediate logout of the user session without waiting until the user responds to the alert
Example: Command: LogoutNow:
The first of two ways to quit DEPNotify. This option takes no modifiers and will immediately quit the application. Note there is no : on this command.
Example: Command: Quit
The second way to quit the application. This method will allow you to show a dialog with text of your choosing. The user will then be able to dismiss the dialog to quit the application.
Example: Command: Quit: Thanks for using this app.
This will change the default key to quit DEPNotify. By default this is the "x" key with the command and control keys held down. Settign QuitKey: allows you to change "x" to any other single character. Note: you are unable to modify the requirement for the command and control keys.
Example: Command: QuitKey: j
This will cause the machine to begin the restart process. The user will get a notification to accept with the text following the command.
Example: Command: Restart: Your session will end now.
This will cause a restart event without requiring the user to accept.
Example: Command: RestartNow:
Below commands have been removed from the product as newer methods have been added.
This command was removed in version X.X.X and changed to a help bubble that is configured by plist.
This will show a help button in the lower right corner of the DEPNotify window. Pressing the button will open up the path that you specify. Note that this can be both web URLs, such as http://www.apple.com/support, or file paths to local files such as file:///Applications/Chess.app.
Example: Command: Help: http://www.apple.com/support
For more functionality and advanced workflows, additional options are slowly being added into the menu.nomad.DEPNotify.plist. This file is able to configure various things like EULA window, registration window, status text alignment, and help bubbles.
Main window configurations modify the look, feel, and some of the underlying locations of files.
| Key | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| statusTextAlignment | String | Sets the main screen status text alignment under the progress bar. Can be left, center or right | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify statusTextAlignment left |
| helpBubble | Array | Sets the title and text of the help bubble | defaults write menu.nomad.depnotify helpBubble -array "Title" "Content" |
| pathToPlistFile | String | Sets the UserInput.plist file location. This file is used for responses from EULA and registration windows | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify pathToPlistFile "/My/Path/myplistfile.plist" |
The EULA window adds a button the end user must press to activate a dropdown that the user can read and then accept some terms of agreement to use the computer. The EULA text file can be ether .txt or .rtf format.
| Key | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| EULAMainTitle | String | Sets EULA main title | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify EULAMainTitle "End User Level Agreement" |
| EULASubTitle | String | Sets EULA sub title | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify EULASubTitle "Agree to the following terms and conditions to start using this Mac." |
| pathToEULA | String | Set the path to the EULA text file | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify pathToEULA "/Users/Shared/eula.txt" |
| quitSuccessiveEULA | Boolean | Allows DEPNotify to quit upon agreeing to the EULA | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify quitSuccessiveEULA -bool true |
Registration window adds a button the end user must press to activate a dropdown that will allow the user to fill in associated data about themselves, the computer, use case for computer, or any other idea you have. A sensitive data box is enabled by default that allow the user to self identify if there is client or other types of secured data on the device.
| Key | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| registrationMainTitle | String | Sets registration main title | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify registrationMainTitle "Please register your Mac" |
| registrationPicturePath | String | Sets custom image shown on page | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify registrationPicturePath "/Path/to/picture.jpg" |
| registrationButtonLabel | String | Sets button label name | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify registrationButtonLabel "Registration" |
| Key | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| textField1Label | String | Enables text input 1 and sets custom label | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify textField1Label "Full name" |
| textField1Placeholder | String | Enables text input 1 text placeholder | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify textField1Placeholder "Placeholder" |
| textField1IsOptional | Boolean | User can leave text input 1 text field empty | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify textField1IsOptional -bool true |
| textField1Bubble | Array | Enables text input 1 information bubble and sets custom content | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify textField1Bubble -array "Title" "Informative text" |
| Key | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| textField2Label | String | Enables text input 2 and sets custom label | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify textField2Label "Full name" |
| textField2Placeholder | String | Enables text input 2 text placeholder | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify textField2Placeholder "Placeholder" |
| textField2IsOptional | Boolean | User can leave text input 2 text field empty | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify textField2IsOptional -bool true |
| textField2Bubble | Array | Enables text input 2 information bubble and sets custom content | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify textField2Bubble -array "Title" "Informative text" |
| Key | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| popupButton1Label | String | Enables popup button 1 and sets custom label | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify popupButton1Label "Region" |
| popupButton1Content | Array | Contents of the popup menu 1 | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify popupButton1Content -array "US" "APAC" "Europe" "Americas" |
| popupMenu1Bubble | Array | Enables popup menu 1 information bubble and sets custom content | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify popupMenu1Bubble -array "Title" "Informative text" |
| Key | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| popupButton2Label | String | Enables popup button 2 and sets custom label | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify popupButton2Label "Region" |
| popupButton2Content | Array | Contents of the popup menu 2 | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify popupButton2Content -array "US" "APAC" "Europe" "Americas" |
| popupMenu2Bubble | Array | Enables popup menu 2 information bubble and sets custom content | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify popupMenu2Bubble -array "Title" "Informative text" |
| Key | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| popupButton3Label | String | Enables popup button 3 and sets custom label | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify popupButton3Label "Region" |
| popupButton3Content | Array | Contents of the popup menu 3 | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify popupButton3Content -array "US" "APAC" "Europe" "Americas" |
| popupMenu3Bubble | Array | Enables popup menu 3 information bubble and sets custom content | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify popupMenu3Bubble -array "Title" "Informative text" |
| Key | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| popupButton4Label | String | Enables popup button 4 and sets custom label | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify popupButton4Label "Region" |
| popupButton4Content | Array | Contents of the popup menu 4 | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify popupButton4Content -array "US" "APAC" "Europe" "Americas" |
| popupMenu4Bubble | Array | Enables popup menu 4 information bubble and sets custom content | defaults write menu.nomad.DEPNotify popupMenu4Bubble -array "Title" "Informative text" |
This are very simple. Just echo set Status: followed by the text of your status. If you've set NotificationOn: the status will also be sent as a notification. Also, if you have Determinate: set, each time you send a status the process bar will increment by one.
Example: Status: Reticulating splines...
| File Name | Description | Default Path |
|---|---|---|
| DEPNotify.app | Main app for project that is called to give a clean user experience | /Applications/Utilities/DEPNotify.app |
| depnotify.log | Configuration and control file that is written to as device progresses thru setup | /var/tmp/depnotify.log |
| menu.nomad.DEPNotify.plist | Newer configuration plist with additional configuration options | /Users/username/Library/Preferences/menu.nomad.DEPNotify.plist |
| UserInput.plist | EULA and registration window saved user responses | /Users/Shared/UserInput.plist |
| com.depnotify.provisioning.done | Successful completion of DEPNotify BOM file | /var/tmp/com.depnotify.provisioning.done |
| com.depnotify.provisioning.restart | Successful completion of DEPNotify and required reboot BOM file | /var/tmp/com.depnotify.provisioning.restart |
| com.depnotify.agreement.done | Successful user agreement to the EULA window | /var/tmp/com.depnotify.agreement.done |
| com.depnotify.registration.done | Successful user agreement to the registration window | /var/tmp/com.depnotify.registration.done |
| eula.txt | Text file of the EULA terms and conditions that are presented to the end user during EULA acceptance | /Users/Shared/eula.txt |
While every DEP workflow is different, here's a simple method of using DEPNotify with a DEP process.
- Install DEPNotify as early on as possible during your DEP process
- Install a default command file if you'd like, DEPNotify will read an existing command file at the location you specify and then do those actions all at once. This is helpful for setting the logo and the text.
- Launch DEPNotify. When scripting the opening of DEPNotify, best practice is to use
sudo -u $currentUser open -a /path/to/DEPNotify.app --args -flags - As you complete actions for the user write the status updates, or other changes, to the command file.
echo "Command: Quit: The process is now complete." >> /var/tmp/depnotify.logis one example of doing this. - Quit DEPNotify when you're done either with
QuitorQuit: - Remove DEPNotify
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Using Filewave argument
-filewaveThis has DEP Notify read in the Filewave log at /var/log/fwcld.log and then update the status line in the DEPNotify window with any downloads, installs or complete installs from the Filewave log. Progress bar will move depending on how many installs or filesets being deployed. Note there is nothing special you need to name your items in Filewave for them to be read. -
Create LaunchAgent to open DEPNotify with argument
-filewave(stage1) -
Create LaunchDaemon and script watching for the DEPNotify process to start.
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When the DEPNotify process starts, curl down the Filewave client and install. -create script (stage1)
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Recommended - Energy saver profile - Mac’s sleep in 15min out of box, disrupting the DEP process. (stage1)
See CHANGELOG.md
- The application is written entirely in Swift of the course of a few weeks. It should be fairly easy for anyone with basic to moderate knowledge of Swift to enhance this as you see fit.
- DEPNotify was specifically designed to show some notifications to a user while the DEP process completes. The goal was to not block the user from experiencing their new machine. If you would like a more elaborate process, please look at projects like SplashBuddy.
- Comments and feature requests about additional functionality are welcome.
- For information, help and otherwise good times, feel more than welcome to visit the #depnotify channel on the MacAdmins Slack, http://macadmins.slack.com