Article ID: 010509sab
Last Reviewed: July 7, 2023
The information in this article applies to:
- Pronto for Windows 32 bit releases 5.04 and later on Windows 11 10, 8 and 7.
Target Audience
This article is aimed at:
- IT System Administrators.
- Technical support staff.
Older Windows Versions
Some of the information applies to unsupported Windows versions, Vista, XP, 2000 and NT4.
Summary
The default Pronto for Windows installation gives users read and write access to certain sub-directories under which the application resides, to the registry key under which profile information is saved and to certain support files in the application directory.
These assumptions may not be the case for a restricted user. This application note describes the process that a Power User or System administrator may need to perform before Pronto for Windows will run under a restricted user account.
Registry access for a restricted user
Pronto for Windows is normally configured so each user has their own profile settings, it can alternatively be configured so all users share the same profile settings.
For Pronto Releases 5.57 and later the installation program configures Pronto so profile settings are stored on a per user basis under HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
For Pronto Releases 5.56 and earlier the installation program configured Pronto so profile settings are stored in the common area in the system registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
On Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7 a restricted user can read settings under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE but cannot change them.
Registry Access Option 1 (recommended) : give each user their own set of profile settings
This will already be the case for systems where Pronto 5.57 or later was the first installed version.
Option 1: Procedure (for old installs).
Perform the following steps while logged into the computer as a Power user or Administrator.
- If Pronto for Windows is not already installed then install it using the installation disks.
- Start Pronto for Windows.
- Close Pronto for Windows.
- Finally using REGEDIT.EXE find the key:
“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Ranger\Pronto for Windows\User Info\ProfilePerUser”
and change the value for this key from 0 to 1.
Registry Access Option 2 (not recommended): Allow users full access to a shared set of profile settings
Restricted users of Pronto For Windows can share the same settings, if they are given full access to the appropriate registry key.
Option 2: Precautions.
Sharing one set of settings is only suitable for some non-standard usages. Performing the steps below will will cause the following effects.
- All settings for all users of Pronto for Windows will reset to their defaults.
- Any Scheduled Events created before this change will be lost.
- After this change a Scheduled Event created by one user will run whenever Pronto is running regardless of which user is logged in.
Option 2: Procedure.
Perform the following steps while logged into the computer as a Power user or Administrator.
- Using REGEDIT.EXE or REGEDT32.EXE find the key
“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Ranger\Pronto for Windows”
and set the permissions to allow any restricted users full access. - Finally find the key
“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Ranger\Pronto for Windows\User Info\ProfilePerUser”
and ensure that this value is set to 0.
User data file access for a restricted user
The Pronto for Windows installer creates subdirectories below the application directory to save files created by a user or downloaded from a Logger. The installer sets permissions on these directories to give all users read and write access. Some systems may, however, prevent access to directories below the application.
File Access Option 1 (recommended) : Change the location where Pronto creates and stores user data files
In an installation where each user has their own configuration settings this must be done for each user.
Option 1: Procedure.
- With Pronto running select the Tools – Options menu item, then click on the General tab.
- Click on the button marked File Locations.
- Change the file locations individually or you may click on Set Root and set the directory below which Pronto will create all other directories.
- Click on OK to save changes.
File Access Option 2 (has security implications): Allow restricted users access to the application directory
Option 2: Procedure.
- Using Windows Explorer browse to the location where the application was installed.
- Right click on the folder and click Properties from the pop up menu.
- Click on the tab marked Security (Note: this tab is not present on FAT or FAT32 formatted drives).
- Set the access permissions to allow those users that require it full access.
- Click on OK to save changes.
Support files access for a restricted user
Pronto for Windows requires write access to the following support files, installed, by default, to the application directory:
- Pronto.abk, this is the Logger Address Book.
- PMacros.ini, this stores Pronto Macros created using the Tools – Macros menu item.
- Normal3.pdt, this is the template used for new projects on Windows 10, 8, 7 and Vista, if this file is read only then the Project Fields tab under Tools – Options will not work.
Obsolete, for reference only:
- Normal.pdt, project template on Windows XP, 2000, NT4 and the 9x series.
When Pronto requires access to one of these support files, if the file is no longer in the application directory, Pronto presents a dialog allowing the user to browse to the new location. This location is then stored in the registry for the next time access is required.
Support Files Option 1: Move support files to a shared location
Using Windows Explorer or your preferred file utility simply move each of the files to a location all users have access to.
for example:
(Windows 10, 8, 7 or Vista)
“c:\users\all users\application data\ranger\pronto4w”.
(older Windows versions)
“c:\documents and settings\all users\application data\ranger\pronto4w”.
Support Files Option 2: Give each user their own copy of the support files
This is only possible if each user has their own configuration settings. Bear in mind that each user will have to browse for the location of each of their support files the first time they run Pronto, unless you preset the entry in the registry for each file.
Using Windows Explorer or your preferred file utility simply move each of the files to a location users have access to.
for example:
“c:\users\John Doe\appdata\ranger\pronto4w”.
or
“c:\users\John Doe\Documents\pronto4w”.
or
“C:\ProgramData\ranger\Pronto4w”.
Support Files Option 3 (has security implications): Allow restricted users access to the application directory
See Option 2 under user data file access.