Prevent saving files to the desktop

A simple Folder Action script that detects new files and deletes them (or, more gently, moves them to another location) might take care of it. Not foolproof, especially if he's an adept user, but if that were the case I wouldn't expect him to be doing this... 🙂

Since each user should have their own accounts, controlled by a password, why does it matter? You shouldn't be seeing it. Alternatively, if they're all using the same account, you've set it up for zero privacy or security.

If the concern is based on the idea of the computer acting up or running
slower with a pile of stuff stored on the desktop instead of in a user folder,
you can suggest the user put an alias to a folder on the desktop that is
in the user's folder (does same thing) and have him/her drag or drop items
on or into the alias icon instead of dropping them randomly on desktop.

This can help, to clean up the desktop and later the user can sort it out
by additional folders (and by name, etc) by simple access, via alias.

And some applications can have a preference set to put downloads on the
desktop (browsers do this, or options can be chosen) so the user can set
the path to a chosen location for items otherwise left on the desktop itself.

For some items in my computer (single user/two accounts) I have alias of
folders on desktop to drag/drop stuff into; and on the hard disk drive, I have
a folder where the original folders are nested. And among those is another
folder that I have dragged into the Dock, for additional Apps that I do not
want in the Dock by themselves to fill up space; this has App Aliases in it.

{With more than one user on a computer, the original folders for that user's
over-flow should remain within his/her account; so they won't be on the
computer's hard disk drive, since ownership issues may arise elsewhere.}

So, the most I have on a desktop (unless moving images manually between
a camera and computer or other devices, on desktop) is four or five; this
number includes the hard disk drive icon for the Mac.

For undecided items, I have a folder named 'almost Trash' where I can dump
stuff in and then later highlight one then select all, to clear the folder to Trash.

The user should know that the system does not like clutter on the Desktop
and it also is easier to organize stuff into named folders, each nested into
another; and not necessarily rely on the Dock's 'Document' folder for extras.

I seldom use default Dock folders in Leopard 10.5.8; the OS chooses to put
stuff in there by default. There are some features (or lack of) I prefer in Tiger.
In Jaguar, I started nesting folders and put a linked folder in the Dock. Kinda
like an OS 9.2.2 & before trick, but not as elegant.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Once the job info is forwarded to the Server, does the worker trash
the content from the desktop, or is he/she supposed to maintain a
backup and/or interactive update of the works-in-progress in the
computer where the work orders are expected to be done...?

The original of whatever files worked on by the user will still be on
his/her desktop (in their desktop file, too; in the User account) even
if the item was dragged to the Network, since it represents another
drive; so you are losing part of the audience and sympathy there.

You may be able to have an Automator kind of script that may move
items, and put items in a saved folder after moving a copy into the
Network or other Shared public folder for others on the local network
to view, edit, copy and further share; and repeat the process.

Many businesses manage to track documents and save changes to
shared documents; some using apps that are installed in a central
processing location, and others who have standalone computers or
word processing stations, of varying complexity.

If the user is expected to trash his/her original after making the Mac
copy it into the Network, there's probably a simple way to do that.
Wonder if a smart folder idea may do two/three things at once? Or
if any of that process is necessary at all, with more streamlined ideas
out there which may make it obsolete...

I'm glad to not be such a conformist; though free-thinking has its cost.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

SOLUTION:

Benahan wrote:

Does anyone know how I might prevent users saving to the desktop? I have one user that insists on saving files there despite being told not to. Short of shooting him I'm not sure what the next step is.

I had a staff member like this. Drove me crazy, especially since it was such a hassle when her hard drive failed. I solved it by simply selecting the desktop foder, clicked "Get Info", then to sharing permissions and changed her access to "Read Only." Since she didn't have administrative rights to the machine, she couldn't change it back.

PROBLEM SOLVED.