OSXFAQ Mac OS X Tip-of-the-Day  

When a new user is created using System Preferences, pane Accounts, that user has a default directory structure and set of files. This is not hard-coded, but is created by copying the directory structure from:

/System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj/

(or appropriate localisation).

If you want to change this, for example add a default set of files, simply change the above directory and it will be reflected in all newly created users.

Create a default setup for new users. Create a new user and logon. Arrange the home directory as you wish. In particular, run various applications to set up their preferences. Log off and back on to an administrator account. Copy the newly created user's home directory to the default template. First, save the old one:

sudo mv /System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj /System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj.old

Then copy the new one:

sudo cp -R /Users/new-user-short-name /System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj

Enjoy !! :-)

Panther 10.3.8

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