Troubleshooting master_preferences file

[Phylum]

Problem:

Although Chrome installs successfully, and it appears to be correct, the debug.log in %windir%\temp\CR_RANDOM.tmp shows a warning:

WARNING:master_preferences.cc(63)] Failed to parse master prefs file: Line: 1, column: 722, Unexpected token.

Column 722 in my master_preferences file is right after the "r" in: "welcome_page_on_os_upgrade_enabled":false

Chrome works, I believe I'm seeing the behavior I expect to see, but I don't know what it doesn't like

Master Preferences Build Process:

Configure master_preferences file to my linking

{
  "bookmark_bar":{
    "show_on_all_tabs":true
  },
  "browser":{
    "check_default_browser":false,
    "show_home_button":true
  },
  "distribution":{
    "allow_downgrade":true,
    "create_all_shortcuts":false,
    "disable_logging":false,
    "do_not_create_any_shortcuts":true,
    "do_not_create_desktop_shortcut":true,
    "do_not_create_quick_launch_shortcut":true,
    "do_not_create_taskbar_shortcut":false,
    "do_not_launch_chrome":true,
    "do_not_register_for_update_launch":true,
    "make_chrome_default":false,
    "make_chrome_default_for_user":false,
    "msi":true,
    "require_eula":false,
    "suppress_default_browser_prompt_for_version":true,
    "suppress_first_run_bubble":true,
    "suppress_first_run_default_browser_prompt":true,
    "system_level":true,
    "verbose_logging":true,
    "welcome_page_on_os_upgrade_enabled":false,
    "show_welcome_page":false,
    "skip_first_run_ui":true
  },
  "homepage":"http://my.custom.page.org/",
  "homepage_is_newtabpage":false,
  "session":{
    "restore_on_startup":4,
    "startup_urls":[
        "http://my.custom.page.org/"
    ]
  },
  "sync_promo":{
    "show_on_first_run_allowed":false,
    "startup_count":1,
    "user_skipped":true,
    "view_count":1
  }
}

Validate JSON (e.g.: via jslint)

Remove spaces, tabs, crlf's etc. so its on a single line

Re-validate JSON

The master_preferences file is complete.

Deployment Process:

Create MST

Create new MSI property called MASTER_PREFERENCES

Add percent-encoded single-line master_preferences content to MASTER_PREFERENCES MSI property

Modify BuildInstallCommand CustomAction to reference the MSI property (e.g.: /silent /install "[ProductTag]" /installsource enterprisemsi[OptOmahaArgs] /appargs "appguid={8A69D345-D564-463c-AFF1-A69D9E530F96}&installerdata=[MASTER_PREFERENCES]")

Deploy via msiexec calling the transform

Installation is successful (return/exit code is 0)

Chrome is present and it runs, home page is set, no nonsense displayed to user on initial launch etc.

[Julian Pastarmov]

Hi,

Thanks for reporting this! I created a bug to track this issue. https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=686651

Please follow this bug to see progress on this issue. Can you please also upload the minified version of this file that causes the error you described and also which version of Chrome you were trying to install when you saw this. Please provide this information on the bug provided above.

Best,

Julian

[Rahul Miah]

Hi,

Is every option that is on the master preferences available on gpo too. I.e.

  "browser": {

    "show_home_button": true

Or

do_not_create_desktop_shortcut": true

I have loaded in the Google chrome admx and can see that there is a folder called "Google Chrome-Default Settings (users can override) but cannot see the avove option to set.

I'll be really gratefull if you could let me know pls.

[grt]

The available GPO settings are documented at https://sites.google.com/a/chromium.org/dev/administrators/policy-list-3. In particular, ShowHomeButton is available (https://sites.google.com/a/chromium.org/dev/administrators/policy-list-3#ShowHomeButton). do_not_create_desktop_shortcut is not available via GPO, however.