WGM: is it possible to disable Word 2008 spell check with WGM?

Question

We have users that will use their macbooks to an exam where the teacher asks if htere is a possiblity to disable the spell check in Word.
Thanks for any help i can get ...
OSX server 10.5.6

Answer 1

Yes, this should be possible.
Applications store preferences in .plist files, which is basically all WGM does - controls plist files.
You'll want to first identify which attributes with com.microsoft.Word.plist you want to control via WGM (to disable spell check).
You may want to have Property List Editor installed (from developer tools - now on system administrator tools too) and open up /Users/yourusername/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.Word.plist make a not of its settings. Then open word and change the settings necessary to turn off spell check. Then take a look at the plist file a minute afterward, you should notice some settings have changed. I think the setting may be "2008\Options\Options:AutoSpell", but you'll have to double-check.
Once you know the setting, make a note of it and what the value should be to disable spell check.
Now, open WGM and click a user, group, computer, or computer list object you want to control the spell check to. Click the preferences pane, then click 'DETAILS' (not Overview - which is default).
Now click the PLUS button and browse for the com.microsoft.word.plist from your home folder. You may want to select 'ALWAYS' instead of 'OFTEN' as well. Then click 'ADD'.
Once the plist is added to the list, double click it to edit it (you do not need property list editor for this part), and delete all of the attributes you do not need to control, you just want to leave the 1 or 2 attributes that toggle spell check to be off.
This should take care of it.