[Brass]

Is there any way to share the address book database between several users on the same Mac OS X computer?

[mikemako]

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer but I'd like to add my similar question. I'm going to experiment with iSync and .mac though, I will post if I find an answer.

my question:

Has anyone yet found a way to share the iTunes library between users? I don't like wasting hard drive space having to re-import the songs to each user. any thoughts?

[Brass]

Originally posted by mikemako:
Has anyone yet found a way to share the iTunes library between users? I don't like wasting hard drive space having to re-import the songs to each user. any thoughts?

This one I can answer. Move your iTunes Music folder to a mutually agreeable location (I've got mine in the "Shared" folder) then change the permissions on it and all it's contents so that it is accessible by all users.

Then in iTunes (for each user) go into preferences, advanced, and tell it the new location of your music folder.

[mikemako]

Awesome!! Thank you so much, I've been trying to figure this out for months.

-M

[thePurpleGiant]

I too have used the shared folder. But there honestly has to be an easy way to keep file permissions, yet still share files between users. I have resorted to just having one login to my computer, like OS 9. Much easier, but customisation can be a problem.

Shared iPhoto and iTunes Library and address book are what I'm after. Also, a way to 'import' files from another user easily.

Eg:

I have a document in my documents folder, someone else is logged in and wants it. What should be able to happen is:

They go to my Home directory, open my documents folder. Told they need a password. I walk over, type in password, and then they can copy it to their folder.

Or when I'm in iTunes, have a preference that says 'Share my music with other users" then "Share with: Everyone, no one, or selected users'

That is what I'd like to see

[kman42]

Originally posted by thePurpleGiant:


Eg:

I have a document in my documents folder, someone else is logged in and wants it. What should be able to happen is:

They go to my Home directory, open my documents folder. Told they need a password. I walk over, type in password, and then they can copy it to their folder.

...

That is what I'd like to see

I am so glad that is not the behavior of OSX. Talk about a security nightmare. Just use the Drop Box, that is what it is there for. Or if you are unix savvy, try su if you are already present in the room to do it.

As to the question of sharing Addresses: This is a big deal and it currently effects a lot of users. Many macs are used in homes and sharing addresses is a common occurence. Apple needs to add the feature to the AB so that I can designate groups of Addresses for sharing with certain local users. You could designate permissions so that you can control read/write privileges.

This is how iCal and AB should work:
1) You should be able to share calendars and addresses with local users. Full read/write permissions should be available (just like for files).

2) You should be able to use your addresses online via .mac (still "Coming soon", but I'm excited)

3) You should be able to use your calendars onloine via .mac (and edit them!)

Note: Number 1 could be accomplished via publish/subscribe and .mac if they just wanted to use a single protocol

I would love to have my mother keep all of the family addresses up-to-date so that I could just subscribe to the addresses from 500 miles away. I'd also like to share a group of addresses and calendars with my wife on our home G4 that we can both edit. I would like to keep a set of calendars and addresses for work private. And I'd like it all sync'd to my iBook and my iPod. Is that too much to ask?

BTW, shouldn't LDAP enable local/remote address book sharing in some way?

Or when I'm in iTunes, have a preference that says 'Share my music with other users" then "Share with: Everyone, no one, or selected users'

Perhaps when we get Rendezvous sharing in iTunes we will get this as well. I imagine that we will need something like what you are suggesting to share on a local network.

kman

[Sam Venning]

LDAP features in Mail and Address Book have got me very interested in the whole LDAP idea. Unfortunately I can't find much information about setting up an LDAP server on Mac OS 10.2. Marc Liyanage's excellent web site tells me that LDAP server software is provided, standard, in Mac OS 10.2. Now I'd like to know how to activate it and configure it. Has anyone come across any information or tutorials?

The only info I've found is at http://www.openldap.org

Note to budding developers: I would pay for software (perhaps even GUI software) to help configure/set-up an LDAP server. Apple, how about about a version of Address Book (Address Book Server?) that can populate an LDAP server residing on the same computer?

[kman42]

Anyone else have comments on this?