[Southpawz]

I am LOVING the fast user switching on Panther.

I have one question that I was hoping the Mac geniuses here could help me with. (I'm somewhat of an Apple newbie.)

Previously, I could completely log out of Jaguar using "Apple-Shift-Q". I was able to alias this to a single button on my Logitech keyboard.

Now that we are using Fast User Switching I would like the same single keystroke functionality to take me back to the Login screen instead of logging me out completely. Currently I have to go up to the right hand corner and drag down to "Login Window..." under at the bottom of the Fast User Switching menu.

At the suggestion of a user on another Mac forum, I have set up a Keyboard Shortcut for All Applications by aliasing F1 to "Login Window..." After reboot, the F1 notation shows up next to the "Login Window..." menu pulldown so I know the shortcut is installed.

The problem is, F1 still doesn't work. So I am now

Anyone know of a keystroke combination to achieve the same functionality, or a way to get the Keyboard Shortcut to work for this??

Thanks!

[kcmac]

I would be interested in this as well. Also, is there a way to log out of all accounts at one time?

[gorickey]

Originally posted by kcmac:
I would be interested in this as well. Also, is there a way to log out of all accounts at one time?

I believe you can do this by simply logging out; however, you'll need to supply an admin user name/password to close down the other logged in accounts....

[ratlater]

I'm very interested in a 'Login Window...' keyboard shortcut as well. I tried using the new Keyboard Shortcut prefs, but failed. Any ideas?

-matt

[kcmac]

You only get the option of logging out for the active user in the Apple menu.

Am I missing something?

[MasonMcD]

shift-command (cloverleaf/apple)-Q logs you out, and back to the login screen. Is that what you were looking for?

[ryarber]

Originally posted by kcmac:
You only get the option of logging out for the active user in the Apple menu.

Am I missing something?

I would also like the option to automatically return to login screen (withoug logging out) after a set time of inactivity. I thought this functionality was supposed to be there in earlier builds, but it isn't there in the final panther unless I'm missing it somewhere. Can anyone enlighten me?

[Southpawz]

Originally posted by MasonMcD:
shift-command (cloverleaf/apple)-Q logs you out, and back to the login screen. Is that what you were looking for?

No, I know how to do that, but thank you. I am looking to NOT LOG out, but go back to the Login screen. I'm using Fast User switching,.

[asdasd]

Well i have an process that almost works, but not quite. But it is fun to explain.

The application ( a faceless app) that controls the menu extra is the System UI Server, and it is just a Cocoa app.

So do this:

•_Open system Prefs
• Goto to KeyBoard and Mouse Pane
•_Click on the Keyboard Shortcuts tab
•_Choose the + button at the bottom ( to add a non standard app)
•_A sheet will drop, choose the All Applications popup and choose Other.. ( you can just hit O)
• The Save/Open panel appears
• In the sidebar of that panel choose the root volume
• Tunnel down to /System/Library/CoreServices
• Choose the SystemUIServer
•_For the Menu Title text field add : Login Window... ( 3 dots, not an ellipis)
•_Now focus on the text field in the sheet which is asking you for a command key equivalent. I choose cmd-ctrl-shift-Q because the option modifier is taken already.

•_Logout/Login, or just kill the systemUIServer

Now when you look at the pop down user menu you will see the modifier associated with Login Window...!

But.. the app that catches a keyboard shortcut has to be foreground. It will work if you click on the user menu and hit the modifier, but that is generally useless.

[tdgrmsn]

I gather the OP was referring to the equivalent of CMD-ALT-DEL on Win2k or XP.

In essentially two keystrokes (combo-press, then "enter" to click "Lock Computer") you've locked the screen, and others can log in if they need to.

This would be great - might be a case of NIH (not invented here) [is that the right acronym? that's the idea if not...] How many years did it take for CMD-TAB app switching? (in the OS itself)

[asdasd]

Yes, and if we found a way of getting this event to the user menu in all cases - even if systemUI server were not frontmost - we would have that equivalent.

I agree with you that it should be in the OS, and my bet is that it will be there by 10.3.x - where x is a number greater than 1.

( the point point 1 release is generally just for immediate bug fixes)

[- - e r i k - -]

IANAASG (I am not an AppleScript guru), but shouldn't this UI-script work (follow instructions at http://www.apple.com/applescript/uiscripting/ to enable it.

Code:
on do_menu("SystemUIServer", "Users", "Login Window...")
	try
		-- bring the target application to the front
		tell application "SystemUIServer"
			activate
		end tell
		
		tell application "System Events"
			tell process "SystemUIServer"
				tell menu bar 1
					tell menu bar item "Users"
						tell menu "Users"
							click menu item "Login Window..."
						end tell
					end tell
				end tell
			end tell
		end tell
		
		return true
	on error error_message
		return false
	end try
end do_menu

The script compiles just fine and runs. No error. No result. Hmmm.

[littlegreenspud]

---------------
But.. the app that catches a keyboard shortcut has to be foreground. It will work if you click on the user menu and hit the modifier, but that is generally useless.
---------------


Would the ability to assign keyboard shortcuts with the 'Keyboard & Mouse' Pref pane help with this?

[Southpawz]

Originally posted by littlegreenspud:
---------------
But.. the app that catches a keyboard shortcut has to be foreground. It will work if you click on the user menu and hit the modifier, but that is generally useless.
---------------


Would the ability to assign keyboard shortcuts with the 'Keyboard & Mouse' Pref pane help with this?

No, unfortunately not. I assigned the keyboard shortcut, but the app that uses it has to be the primary app running - so as I understand it, I need to still go up to the corner to the user menu, to bring the app into the foreground. And THEN hit the keyboard shortcut. Which at that point I might as well just drag down and switch to the Login Windows...

Erik - I have never used Apple Script but I am game for trying! I will play with your script tonight. For a N-ASG (non-AppleScriptGuru) you sure did a lot more than I would have ever been able to do. Thanks for posting that.

[brink]

I'd like to know how to do this too. It'd also be nice to be able to switch users without having the User menu cluttering up your menu bar. (You can command-drag it out of the menu bar, but then there's no way to switch users.)

The API for managing fast user switching seems to be in CoreGraphics, but unfortunately it also appears to be private. The User menu is calling CGSCreateLoginSession() when you select the "Login Window..." command, so I'm guessing that that's responsible for suspending the current account and displaying the login window. Another good possibility is that there's a new Apple Event analogous to kAEReallyLogOut that accomplishes the same thing. If someone could figure out how to get one of these methods working, it'd be trivial to write a faceless background application that lets you define a keyboard shortcut for switching to the login window, or switches to it automatically after a certain amount of inactivity.

[Southpawz]

Originally posted by brink:
I'd like to know how to do this too. It'd also be nice to be able to switch users without having the User menu cluttering up your menu bar. (You can command-drag it out of the menu bar, but then there's no way to switch users.)

Brink, you sound like you know way more about this than I ever will. I am asking this same question elsewhere on other forums and trying to piece together the answers I get into something that might help me.

If you make progress on this, can you update and let me know? I plan on updating in all the places I post if I can find a solution.

I would love to have it switch to the Login Window... after X period of inactivity. That would be a serious bonus.

Thanks!

[brink]

Originally posted by Southpawz:
If you make progress on this, can you update and let me know? I plan on updating in all the places I post if I can find a solution.

Will do. Apple will probably add stuff like this eventually, but it would be nice not to have to wait.

[Brass]

Originally posted by - - e r i k - -:
IANAASG (I am not an AppleScript guru), but shouldn't this UI-script work (follow instructions at http://www.apple.com/applescript/uiscripting/ to enable it.

Code:
on do_menu("SystemUIServer", "Users", "Login Window...")
	try
		-- bring the target application to the front
		tell application "SystemUIServer"
			activate
		end tell
		
		tell application "System Events"
			tell process "SystemUIServer"
				tell menu bar 1
					tell menu bar item "Users"
						tell menu "Users"
							click menu item "Login Window..."
						end tell
					end tell
				end tell
			end tell
		end tell
		
		return true
	on error error_message
		return false
	end try
end do_menu

The script compiles just fine and runs. No error. No result. Hmmm.

Of course there's no result... there's no run handler, so running it does nothing!. Also, I'd remove the TRY controls as it makes trouble shooting easier. Add them back in when you've got it working.

Eg,

Code:
on run
	-- bring the target application to the front
	tell application "SystemUIServer"
		activate
	end tell
	
	tell application "System Events"
		tell process "SystemUIServer"
			tell menu bar 1
				tell menu bar item "Users"
					tell menu "Users"
						click menu item "Login Window..."
					end tell
				end tell
			end tell
		end tell
	end tell
end run

This at least runs, but produces an error at the "click" line.

Alternatively, just add a run handler to your script as is...

Code:
on run
    do_menu("SystemUIServer", "Users", "Login Window...")
end run

[sandsl]

I've put together a cocoa background app which does this, its called 'FUSKey'.

Download it here: http://www.tvilike.co.uk/fuskey.zip

FUSKey or Fast User Switch Key, is a simple application which lets you set a global keyboard shortcut to logout of Mac OS X with Fast User Switching.

Requirements: 10.3

Beta quality, so use at your own risk. Let me know if you find any problems, or have any suggestions.

[Rickster]

You can have it lock the screen after a period of inactivity: choose a screen saver and the idle time for when it activates in the Desktop & Screen Saver preference pane, then choose "Require password to wake this computer from sleep or screen saver" in the Security preference pane.

If fast user switching is on, the dialog that appears when you try to wake from the screen saver includes an option to switch users. It's not quite the same as going to the login window, but it's close.

[Southpawz]

Originally posted by sandsl:
I've put together a cocoa background app which does this, its called 'FUSKey'.

Hmm. I d/lded it and tried to run it. It would look like it had launched (you know how the icon sort of makes a motion like it's done something) but nothing would happen. Running 'top' in a terminal window, I would see FUSKey come up for a split second only to be replaced by "Crashdump".

I don't know much beyond that to tell why it's crashing on the system. I'm running Panther & FUS is enabled.

I appreciate you writing & posting it though.

[asdasd]

You may not have linked it properly: Absolute paths abound.


I get, in gdb.

ZeroLink: could not load .o file: /Users/luke/Desktop/FUSKey/build/FUSKey.build/FUSKey.build/Objects-normal/ppc/main.ob
ZeroLink: could not load .o file: /Users/luke/Desktop/FUSKey/build/FUSKey.build/FUSKey.build/Objects-normal/ppc/HotKeyCenter.ob
ZeroLink: could not load .o file: /Users/luke/Desktop/FUSKey/build/FUSKey.build/FUSKey.build/Objects-normal/ppc/KeyBroadcaster.ob
ZeroLink: could not load .o file: /Users/luke/Desktop/FUSKey/build/FUSKey.build/FUSKey.build/Objects-normal/ppc/KeyCombo.ob
ZeroLink: could not load .o file: /Users/luke/Desktop/FUSKey/build/FUSKey.build/FUSKey.build/Objects-normal/ppc/KeyComboPanel.ob
ZeroLink: could not load .o file: /Users/luke/Desktop/FUSKey/build/FUSKey.build/FUSKey.build/Objects-normal/ppc/FUSController.ob
ZeroLink: could not load .o file: /Users/luke/Desktop/FUSKey/build/FUSKey.build/FUSKey.build/Objects-normal/ppc/SBApplication.ob
ZeroLink: unknown symbol '_main'

[kcmac]

We had a weird issue today on our iMac.

The screen was showing the login window. We had 2 users logged in. When we typed in a password it wouldn't take it. We tried all users. No go. (Hair standing on end.)

Did a hard reset. Everything back to normal.

What else was weird that the hard reset didn't shut down the computer. (Held down the off key until the screen turns off.)

When I do this with my PB it shuts down.

Not trying to hijack the thread. Carry on.

[asdasd]

KCmac, you should start a new thread on that, it's interesting ( and a relatively big bug because it forced you to lose unsaved changes in any open session; that is, if you had any apps open and documents unsaved).

Might wanna post it to Apple's supprt site as well.

[sandsl]

Originally posted by asdasd:
ZeroLink: unknown symbol '_main'

Hopefully fixed that now, same link as above.

Like I said, this is a beta and is untested - please continue to test and report problems though.

[asdasd]

Works now.

Good show.

[brink]

Excellent... </Mr. Burns>

[Southpawz]

Annoyingly enough I couldn't get into the forums from my iMac at home. I will probably sneak home during lunch to test it out! Thank you!!

[Southpawz]

Originally posted by Southpawz:
Annoyingly enough I couldn't get into the forums from my iMac at home. I will probably sneak home during lunch to test it out! Thank you!!

Made it home and it works like a charm. Awesome! Thanks!

[sandsl]

Excellent - glad you like it.

[ratlater]

Woohoo...it works!

-matt

[sandsl]

Originally posted by ratlater:
Woohoo...it works!

-matt

I'm just as surprised as you are that it works It was only a quick little app.

[The Mick]

Nice job Luke! Very handy!

[cybergoober]

Originally posted by sandsl:
I've put together a cocoa background app which does this, its called 'FUSKey'.

Download it here: http://www.tvilike.co.uk/fuskey.zip

FUSKey or Fast User Switch Key, is a simple application which lets you set a global keyboard shortcut to logout of Mac OS X with Fast User Switching.

Requirements: 10.3

Beta quality, so use at your own risk. Let me know if you find any problems, or have any suggestions.

Niiiiiiice. Thanx a bunch, mate.

[Judge_Fire]

big thanks indeed

J

[- - e r i k - -]

Fantastic. Now if only the menu would reflect my keybinding (option-command-q).

Hmm... hold on. Didn't I see how to do this earlier? I followed asdasd's instructions. I haven't logged out yet, but I'm sure this in combination with FUSkey will give me what I want

[cybergoober]

I think the coolest part is that you can disable the User.menu and still at least switch to the Login Screen with the shortcut.

Awesome!!

Menu Bar real-estate is primo on the iMac and laptop.

[sandsl]

Originally posted by cybergoober:
I think the coolest part is that you can disable the User.menu and still at least switch to the Login Screen with the shortcut.

Awesome!!

Menu Bar real-estate is primo on the iMac and laptop.

Yeah thats pretty cool

[brianlaughlin]

Originally posted by sandsl:
I've put together a cocoa background app which does this, its called 'FUSKey'.

Download it here: http://www.tvilike.co.uk/fuskey.zip

FUSKey or Fast User Switch Key, is a simple application which lets you set a global keyboard shortcut to logout of Mac OS X with Fast User Switching.

Requirements: 10.3

Beta quality, so use at your own risk. Let me know if you find any problems, or have any suggestions.

I can't get this to work!! not even the other scripts....

Please help me..

Brian

[brianlaughlin]

Originally posted by brianlaughlin:
I can't get this to work!! not even the other scripts....

Please help me..

Brian

Nevermind... I just installed Xcode Tools (Developer Tools) and now it works...

Amazing app, works like a charm!

Brian

[lookmark]

Beautifully done.