Can Apple Configurator organise web clips in to folders or specific locations on the home screen?

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Level 1

1 points

Can Apple Configurator organise web clips in to folders or specific locations on the home screen?

Hello,

I have 150 iPads to set up for a business. Previously I have done this one by one, this of course has been very time consuming. I've been looking for a solution to speed up the process. Apple Configurator has helped me some of the way. I can successfully get it to complete the initial setup and install the single free app the ipads need. I did this by creating a backup of a preconfigured master iPad and "restoring" it to the fresh iPads.

My problem is that there are 40 web clips to be installed on to each iPad, and they must be organised in a specific way. I am quite disappointed that these web clips are not included in the backup of the master ipad (or that they are stored in the backup but Configurator does not apply them to the fresh iPads - whichever it is).

Now I know I can create a profile with the 40 web clips in Configurator, and then apply this profile to the iPads. However this does not help me with an automated process for positioning the web clips exactly where they need to be. I will have to do this myself for each iPad, which will take about 5 minutes per iPad - or over 12 hours for all 150!

Im really hoping there is a simple solution. Thank you in advance.

iPad, iOS 6

Posted on Nov 21, 2013 12:48 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 26, 2013 9:52 AM in response to redwest159

I'd love to know the answer to this as well. It's not crucial, but for the school I'm at, if I make a master backup with a web clip in a certain folder, after a refresh, it is removed from the folder I want it in and it gets dumped on another screen.

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Answer 2

TheSpA

Level 1

0 points

Dec 26, 2013 2:53 PM in response to jeremystrain

Any answer to this question yet?!

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Answer 3

pr3ggas

Level 1

0 points

Feb 2, 2014 8:33 PM in response to redwest159

You can configure one of the devices and then back it up with the apple configurator, then you'll have the options to restore the iPhone / iPad with all the folders and web apps you have configured. I have created several folders with apps and web clips and it works fine.

Cheers

Jason

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Answer 4

Feb 12, 2014 9:59 AM in response to redwest159

Jason,

This is does not work. I just created a backup with my webclips in the right place and applied that backup and they just popped back to random spots.

Anyone else?

Shelley

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Answer 5

jokke

Level 2

179 points

Jul 9, 2014 8:09 PM in response to redwest159

I can't get this to work either. Same result as 'SHE iPad Carts', I will put the web clips in the designated place, then after a back-up the web clips have been moved back to their original location. While this isn't a big deal, it would greatly satisfy my OCD if it could be done...

Cheers

-j-

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Answer 6

jokke

Level 2

179 points

Jul 9, 2014 8:26 PM in response to redwest159

UPDATE:

If you make the web clips on the iPad (through Safari>Add to Home Screen) they will stick to wherever you put them. While that is a work-around it's not as streamlined as using Configurator (you can't add your own icon etc.)

Cheers

-j-

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Answer 7

Jul 17, 2015 12:51 PM in response to jokke

Has anyone found a solution for this through configurator? While this will satisfy my OCD, we have a valid reason to have a webclip in an exact place.

Thanks,

Matt

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Answer 8

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Jul 19, 2015 8:30 AM in response to AthensMatt

Did you do an encrypted backup? Try.

Robert

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Answer 9

Jul 20, 2015 5:29 AM in response to rccharles

Thanks rccharles for your reply. I'm not seeing an option to change my backup from "unencrypted" to encrypted. Is there a setting somewhere I need to change? Sorry, I'm new to configurator.

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Answer 10

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Jul 20, 2015 10:14 AM in response to AthensMatt

All I know is what I read here. 😉

More details about encryption. Try encryption on a test ipad and see what shakes out. I know this is iTunes based, but at least you will see if encryption is the hammer you need.

http://www.theinstructional.com/guides/using-itunes-encrypted-backups

From there, you will need to copy the encrypted backup to configurator workspace. "some assembly required"

Configurator stores most of its data in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.configurator

See how talkative Apple is:

Enterprise

1-866-752-7753

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Answer 11

Jul 21, 2015 11:08 AM in response to rccharles

I did find how to do an encrypted backup (it's in the profile you create). Setup the master iPad the way I wanted it with the WebClip on the first page. Then I made an encrypted backup of it. I then restored that backup on another iPad and it again put the WebClip on the second page.

Next, I tried putting the WebClip in a folder with another app on the first page. Again I made another encrypted backup. I restored this backup on another iPad and once again the WebClip was back on the second page no longer in the folder I created.

I tried both of these processes again without the encryption and neither worked.

So I think for now the answer is this. WebClips CANNOT be restored to the first page of the iPad. Furthermore, Webclips CANNOT be restored into a folder no matter which page. WebClips will ALWAYS be restored to a position on the second, or higher, page and not within any folder.

Hopefully Apple will fix this so Webclips associated with Apps, that need to be visited before running the App, will be able to be grouped together.

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Answer 12

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Jul 21, 2015 11:30 AM in response to AthensMatt

Bummer. Hopefully, I didn't cause you to spin your wheels too much.

Enterprise support:

Call enterprise support (866) 752-7753

*Feedback*

"Use the form below to send us your comments. We read all feedback carefully, but please note that we cannot respond to the comments you submit."

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

Here are the places to report bugs:

Get an account at

http://developer.apple.com/ then submit a bug report to http://bugreporter.apple.com/

Once on the bugreporter page,

-- click on New icon

-- See if you need to attach a log file or log files, clicking on Show instructions for gathering logs. Scroll down to find the area or application that matches the problem.

-- etc.

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