[CALIBK12] TECH: SHARE: Web OPAC in kiosk mode

[Doyle_Tony]

Since we switched to Destiny I have been playing with Internet Explorer's kiosk mode (displays just the web page in full screen with no tool bars or address bar-- makes it harder for kids to use the computer for other things).  What I wanted was for the OPAC machines to launch the web OPAC automatically on login.  I tried writing a batch file but could not get it to work.  I stumbled on a web document that told how to make changes to an IE shortcut that does the trick.

(Note: this is for Windows machines)

1- Set the home page in Internet Explorer to your web OPAC
2- Browse to C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer
3- Right click on the iexplore.exe icon
4- Click on "Create Shortcut".  A shortcut icon will be created in the same folder.
5- Right click on the new shortcut and choose "Properties"
6- In the "Target" text box add a space and -k to the end of the text (it should read "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" -k)
7- Copy or cut the shortcut and paste it in the "Startup" folder (either for the OPAC login or for all users)

When the machine is logged in the OPAC will launch automatically and will not allow students to enter another web address or click on the desktop to access other programs.  This is not fool-proof, as all of the keyboard shortcuts still work (alt+F4, Ctrl+Alt+Del, and Ctrl+Tab) and any external links in the OPAC are still active.  To exit the OPAC use Alt+F4 to terminate the program.

Tony


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Anthony Doyle, Teacher Librarian
Livingston High School
Livingston, CA
tdoyle at muhsd.k12.ca.us<mailto:tdoyle at muhsd.k12.ca.us>

"More cowbell!."

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