Versions Compared

Old Version 5

changes.mady.by.user Natasha Jennings

Saved on

compared with

New Version Current

changes.mady.by.user Sarah McKone

Saved on

Key

  • This line was added.
  • This line was removed.
  • Formatting was changed.

Inside this article

Table of Contents
minLevel2
maxLevel65
outlinefalse
styledefault
typelist
printabletrue

What is AdHocAlert desktop notification?

AdHocAlert desktop notification is one of several channels the University of Waterloo's emergency communication system, powered by Regroup, will use to distribute messages in the event of an emergency. When triggered, the AdHocAlert Desktop Notification software would cause a pop-up window to appear on the user’s desktop screen, displaying the emergency message. AdHocAlert supports Windows and MacOS devices.

Installation guide for MacOS

IST-managed macOS devices

The AdHocAlert desktop notification app is pushed out to all IST-managed macOS devices via Intune. AdhocAlert will be installed the next time the device checks in with Intune but users may choose to force with a check status.

Unmanaged macOS devices

Info

  • To ensure a smooth installation, please connect to the on-campus network (or use the VPN if working remotely). At the end of the day, restart your computer to complete the installation of the AdHocAlert app.

  • If you already have AdHocAlert installed, please quit the app and uninstall it before proceeding with these steps.

  1. Click the following .dmg pkg file link to download the desktop client for MacOSmacOS,

    View file
    nameAdhocAlertuwaterloo-signed-1adhocalert.18.0+6.dmgpkg.zip
    .

  2. Go to where you downloaded the client, e.g., Downloads, and double click on it to extract the file.

    Picture1.pngImage RemovedPicture1.pngImage Added

    Double

  3. click Click Continue on the “AdhocAlert-1.18.0+6.dmg file to open it.

    1. If there’s an error while opening that ‘the application “adhocalertdesktopnotif” can’t be opened then first save a copy of the file to your Documents folder and continue with the below instructions.

  4. From Finder, go to Applications and double click on adhocalertdesknotif and click on Open. Do not access the app via the Launchpad.

  5. When the dialog box appears, move the adhocalertdesktopnotif app icon to the Applications folder icon.

    Picture2.pngImage Removed

  6. Click Open in the dialogue box that appears.

    Picture3.pngImage Removed

  7. The application will open and show up in your computers task tray.

  8. Click on the bell icon, Image Removed, and choose Settings

    Picture4.pngImage Removed

  9. Click on the pencil icon next to each field to enter the required configuration settings below. Check the checkmark icon to save the change for each field.

    1. Zone Code: uwaterloo

    2. Access Token: 6ef75696-387d-43ea-831a-f0ad292daeb6

    3. Server URL: https://admin.adhocalert.com/api/v1/uwaterloo

Info

The Account and Zone fields will automatically show the correct information after the above configuration data is entered and saved, which means all data has been configured correctly. Alternatively, you could then click “Retrieve Configuration Now” to set the Account and Zone fields.

  1. Click on Ok to close the window.

  2. It is recommend that you restart your computer to verify that the AdHocAlert app automatically starts whenever you sign in to the computer.

AdHocAlert will not automatically update to the latest version, this will be a manual process. Note that emergency alerts will continue to be sent to older versions of the tool.

Installation for managed Mac machines

If you are responsible for managing a group of Mac machines, you may use the above file to deploy AdHocAlert desktop notification to a single or large group of managed Mac machines. You will need to enter the confirguration data outlined in Step 9 above.

AdHocAlert will not automatically update to the latest version, this will be a manual process. Note that emergency alerts will continue to be sent to older versions of the tool

  1. Introduction page.

    Picture2.pngImage Added

  2. If prompted, select the destination disk where you want to install the app on, then click Continue.

    Picture3.pngImage Added

  3. On the Installation Type page, click Install.

    Picture4.pngImage Added

  4. Enter the password for the machine when prompted. Administrative privileges will be required to complete the installation. Then click Install Software.

    Picture5.pngImage Added

  5. On the Summary page, click Close.

    Picture6.pngImage Added

  6. You may choose to delete the installer or move to trash on the confirmation page.

    Picture7.pngImage Added

  7. The installation process is now complete and the bell icon, Image Added, will show in the task tray.

Verifying installation

To ensure the AdHocAlert Desktop Notification is installed, look for the icon (bell) in the system tray. 

Supported OS

AdHocAlert is available for all devices using MacOS 11 and above.

Info

Need help?

Please contact ens@uwaterloo.ca for more support.

Tip

Article feedback

If you’d like to share any feedback about this article, please let us know.