Fast User Switching

cogito

cogito

Pragmatic Dualist
Here's a rather novel idea. Is there a way that when I switch users in 10.3 with fast user switching that it wont pause all my processes. For instance, hit login window, but not log out of iChat. Note: Windows XP does this (which I despise) Or switch to root without having iTunes pause? This is a complete pain in the ass because I dont want my roommate to use my admin account when Im gone but still want to be logged onto iChat. Any suggestions? Is this just an absurd idea?
 
I am not using fast user switching, but I thought the programms are running.. As you said: the way winxp handles the processes. You sure they are paused? I mean, itunes makes sense. But if you are running mail or a messenger client, it shouldn't pause or disconnect.
 
I don't think you can do it. Why do you want to be logged into iChat when you're not there? If you want to share the same music library with your roommate then you can just adjust the permissions of your home folder, then your music folder, and point their user account's iTunes at your library. The same works for iPhoto. I guess you could also set up your iChat account with some sort of limited Keychain in their account, so you're on iChat when they are lgged in - this means they have control over your iChat though.
OS X isn't really set up to share resources on the same computer between different user accounts, but workarounds can be had by adjusting permissions.
As for stopping iTunes pausing when you change accounts, I see where you are going with the 'switching to root' idea, but don't see how its doable....
 
MacMuppet said:
OS X isn't really set up to share resources on the same computer between different user accounts, but workarounds can be had by adjusting permissions.
Click to expand...

So its intentional that Apple did this Im assuming... Its really bugging me, if you have any more ideas let me know... possibly could be done through the command line... setting priority? Obviously it cant kill all processes when you switch users, so there has to be a tag somewhere Im assuming...?
 
iChat doesn't allow more than one user (or screen name) to be logged in at one time, so it logs you out when you switch users to prevent this from happening.
 
wont pause all my processes

My Processes being the key words here. You're switching to a different user, they would have different processes.

I know what you want to do, but that defeats the purpose of having different users.
 
I seem to remember reading somewhere that user 'services' would remain activated as long as the user was still logged in, even if another user was the active user.
 
bobw said:
I know what you want to do, but that defeats the purpose of having different users.
Click to expand...

You said it!

So you want to, for example, log in as yourself, start iTunes, and switch to another user while iTunes is still playing ? Just imagine how annoying it would be for all the users if that worked. What if your little brother started to watch a 3 hour DVD and it wouldn't pause when you switched to your user.

So basically, yes this behaviour is by design, and in fact goes even farther than pausing active apps: open iTunes in one user and then switch to another user and try to open iTunes and see what happens...
 
is there now way you could, for instance, keep downloading already selected files with limewire, when switching to another user in the meantime, and then come back a few hours later and find your limewire still working and full finished downloads??

alex.
 
alexandr, I think that would work -- I'm not positive, but I think it will. For example, I can start a download of a large Linux distro, and then use my Fast User Switching menu to return to the login screen without it killing the download. I'm not positive it would work actually switching to a different user, but it definitely works just switching back to the login screen.

I believe it's only certain applications like iTunes, DVD Player, iChat, etc. that quit or log out when you switch to another user.
 
Unless limewire is being used for warez. :) Not saying it is, but it wouldn't hurt to edit the post to just say downloading software.
 
Given, reasons aside why I would want to keep iTunes, iChat, etc active... We still have accomplished almost nothing? Any ideas how to keep them active?
 
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