Manage files and apps

You can use Remote Desktop to perform basic file management operations on client computers, including deleting or opening files or apps, emptying the Trash, or repairing file permissions.

Delete items

If you delete an item from a client computer, it is moved to the client’s Trash.

  1. In the Remote Desktop window, select a computer list, then select one or more computers.

  2. Choose Report > File Search.

  3. Find the software you want to delete, using the File Search report.

    For information, see Search for files.

  4. In the File Search report window, select one or more items to delete.

  5. Click Delete Selected in the report window.

  6. Click Delete.

Empty the Trash

Remote Desktop lets you empty the Trash on clients to free up volume space.

Emptying the Trash permanently removes any items you previously deleted on the client.

You can use the System Overview report to see how much volume space you can recover by emptying the Trash. For information, see Create hardware reports.

  1. In the Remote Desktop window, select a computer list. Then select one or more computers.

  2. Choose Manage > Empty Trash.

  3. Click Empty.

Repair file permissions

A client’s system file permissions can be corrupted or changed from their expected values. You can manually repair permissions by returning system and library files to their default settings.

Repair file permissions using the Send UNIX Command in Remote Desktop and the command-line tool diskutil. For information, see the diskutil man page.

  1. In the Remote Desktop window, select a computer list. Then select one or more computers.

  2. Choose Manage > Send UNIX Command.

  3. Enter the following command:

    diskutil repairPermissions /
  4. Click Send.

Open files and folders

You can open existing items (files, folders, and apps) on client computers.

The item on the administrator computer must have the same name, type, permissions, and file creation as the one to be opened on the client computer.

The Open Items command opens files in the app used to create them or in the app assigned to open files with that file’s extension. Folders open in the Finder.

  1. In the Remote Desktop window, select a computer list. Then select one or more computers.

  2. Choose Manage > Open Items.

  3. Select the item by doing one of the following:

    • Click Add Add button and browse for the item on the administrator computer.

    • Drag the item from the administrator computer’s Finder to the Open Items dialog. The Open Items dialog shows the icon and name of the item to open.

  4. Click Open.

Open apps

You can open apps on client computers. If the app is already open, the Open Application command brings it to the front.

The app on the administrator computer must have the same name, type, and permissions as the one to be opened on the client computer.

  1. In the Remote Desktop window, select a computer list. Then select one or more computers.

  2. Choose Manage > Open Application.

    The Open Application dialog shows the apps installed and found in the Applications folder of the administrator’s computer.

  3. Select the app by doing one of the following:

    • Click Add Add button and browse for the app on the administrator computer.

    • Drag the item from the administrator computer’s Finder to the Open Application dialog. The Open Application dialog shows the icon and name of the app to open.

  4. Click Open.

Quit remote apps

You can quit open apps on client computers without logging out the user. Unsaved changes to documents on the client will be lost.

  1. In the Remote Desktop window, select a computer list. Then select one or more computers.

  2. Choose Manage > Send UNIX Command.

  3. Choose Miscellaneous > Quit Application from the Template pop-up menu, then fill in the app’s name.

  4. Click Send.