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Deploy a License Key to macOS devices using Jamf School and Configuration Profiles

Updated

This article is for schools deploying Goodnotes Education Without Admin Console. Schools using the Admin Console will not need a License Key to deploy the app to Mac. 

IT admins deploying a license key to Macs via Jamf School (rather than iPads) should note that Managed App Configuration only supports iOS/iPadOS, unlike other MDM solutions. For Macs, they would need to use Configuration Profiles instead.

To push a license key to Macs, a Configuration Profile is used instead, which is supported in Goodnotes v6.3.14 or later.

Create a Configuration Profile for macOS

Since Jamf School doesn't have the built-in schema editor, you'll need to build the configuration profile as a file first, then upload it as a Custom Profile.

Step 1: Generate two UUIDs

On any Mac, open Terminal and run this command twice to get two different UUIDs:

 
uuidgen

Keep both values, you'll need them in Step 2. The UUID has no connection to the Mac generating it, the network, the school, or Goodnotes at all. It's just a random unique string, its only purpose is to serve as an identifier the profile can be tracked by.

Step 2: Build the .mobileconfig file

  1. Open a plain text editor (TextEdit in plain text mode, or any code editor).
  2. Paste in the XML template below.
  3. Replace YOUR_LICENSE_KEY with the actual license key.
  4. Replace REPLACE-WITH-UUID-1 with the first UUID from Step 1.
  5. Replace REPLACE-WITH-UUID-2 with the second UUID from Step 1.
  6. Save the file with a .mobileconfig extension, e.g. GoodnotesForMac.mobileconfig.
 
xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>PayloadContent</key>
    <array>
        <dict>
            <key>PayloadContent</key>
            <dict>
                <key>com.goodnotesapp.x</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>Forced</key>
                    <array>
                        <dict>
                            <key>mcx_preference_settings</key>
                            <dict>
                                <key>com.goodnotesapp.x.managed</key>
                                <dict>
                                    <key>LicenseKey</key>
                                    <string>YOUR_LICENSE_KEY</string>
                                </dict>
                            </dict>
                        </dict>
                    </array>
                </dict>
            </dict>
            <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
            <string>Goodnotes Custom Settings</string>
            <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
            <string>com.yourschool.goodnotesmacos.customsettings</string>
            <key>PayloadOrganization</key>
            <string>Your School</string>
            <key>PayloadType</key>
            <string>com.apple.ManagedClient.preferences</string>
            <key>PayloadUUID</key>
            <string>REPLACE-WITH-UUID-1</string>
            <key>PayloadVersion</key>
            <integer>1</integer>
        </dict>
    </array>
    <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
    <string>Goodnotes for macOS</string>
    <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
    <string>com.yourschool.goodnotesmacos</string>
    <key>PayloadOrganization</key>
    <string>Your School</string>
    <key>PayloadType</key>
    <string>Configuration</string>
    <key>PayloadUUID</key>
    <string>REPLACE-WITH-UUID-2</string>
    <key>PayloadVersion</key>
    <integer>1</integer>
</dict>
</plist>

Step 3: Upload the profile to Jamf School

  1. In Jamf School, go to Profiles > Overview.
  2. Click + Create Profile in the upper right.
  3. Choose macOS as the platform, then select Upload Custom Profile, and click Next.
  4. Drag and drop your .mobileconfig file, then click Next.
  5. Give the profile a name, e.g. "Goodnotes for macOS", and a description.
  6. Click Finish.

Step 4: Scope and deploy

  1. Open the new profile and set the scope to the Macs that should receive it.
  2. Click Save. Deployment happens automatically to devices in scope.

If the license key ever needs to change later, edit the file and keep the same PayloadIdentifier and PayloadUUID values, then replace the profile in Jamf School so devices don't end up with an orphaned duplicate.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

—
Reference: Jamf’s own documentation on how to add custom settings for applications on macOS.

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