Overview
These instructions are for deploying Read&Write for Google Chrome with a customized toolbar with features that can be turned off across a G Suite for Education domain, OU or a Windows network that can be used for restricting features for tests and exams
Please note: Once deployed any features that have been turned offr will be applied to all users on your domain
Steps
Download the Policy Files
Edit the toolbar preferences file to turn off features
File can be deployed through the Google Admin Console or by Windows Group Policy
Files Download
Click the links below to download the the files that are used to deploy Read&Write for Google Chrome with features that you choose to be turned off:
Follow the instructions for either deploying through the Google Admin Console or by Windows Group Policy
Deploying File through the Google Admin Console
Editing the Preferences File
To setup Read&Write for Google Chrome with features removed from the toolbar:
Go to the location where the Preferences Json and Preferences Reg were downloaded
Copy the contents of the thrwpreferences.json file in Notepad or TextEdit (or any basic text editor)
To turn off features, change true to false and then save the thrwpreferences.json file
For example to turn off Prediction, Picture Dictionary, and Web Search, change the value in the editor from true to false
Save the file when finished editing turn the features off from appearing on the toolbar once deployed
Setting Up in the Google Admin Console
Login to the Google Admin Console with your G Suite for Education domain administrator account.
Select Devices > Chrome > Apps & extensions > Overview
Once in Overview click Users & Browsers locate and select Read&Write for Google Chrome™.
Copy the text from the thrwpreferences.json file and paste it into the line Enter a JSON value
Click the X in the upper right corner and that will save the configuration.
It is recommended to remove any previous deployments to ensure that all users receive the updated default settings.
Deploying File via Group Policy
Download the the Preferences Reg file. and save it to a location of your preference
Editing the Registry Preferences File
Navigate to the location where the Policy Files were downloaded and select the thrwpreferences.reg file.
Right click on the thrwpreferences.reg file and choose Open with and open with Notepad (or any text editor)
To turn off features, change the value of any feature from 1 to 0. For example, to disable Prediction, Dictionary, Picture Dictionary, and Web Search, change the value in the editor from 1 to 0
- Save the file when finished
Update the Windows Registry on the target computers to allow Read&Write for Google Chrome to be setup with the custom configuration.
This can be done by running the thrwpreferences.reg file on Windows machines running Read&Write for Google Chrome.
If you have many machines, then we recommend deploying the Registry changes via Microsoft Group Policy. This can be done by deploying the .reg file as a machine login script or by applying the contents of the .reg file as a Group Policy Registry Item.
To reconfigure the toolbar, reset the thrwpreferences.reg file so that all features to be enabled show as =dword:1 and redeploy as above