14.2 macOS
14.2.1 Menu bar icon
A small Ada icon sits in the menu bar. There is no Dock icon and no Quit item; launchd restarts the helper if it stops.
Tooltip: “Ada — no files waiting” or “Ada — {n} file(s) waiting to be classified”.
Menu: - Ada — <machine> • online
(or OFFLINE), greyed out. - When applicable: - “Agent
paused from the console” - “License is not active” - Files
waiting ({n})…, followed by the first 5 files as
file → label (or “No files waiting”). - Classify a
file… - Update policy - Status and
version…
Status window — title “Ada Data Classification”: - Header Running / Offline / Needs attention. - Rows: Server Connection, File Monitoring, AI Classification, Office Add-ins, Web Add-ins, Screen Watermark, Notifications, License, Files Waiting. - Buttons: Update policy, Copy to clipboard.
Pending window — “Ada — Files waiting”: - Columns: File, Suggested label, Folder. - Actions: Classify…, Open folder, Open in Office, Mask.
If the icon is hidden (for example behind the notch), the user can
open Ada Pending Files from Spotlight or
~/Applications.
14.2.2 Label picker and save-time prompt
The picker window, “Ada Data Classification”, contains: - the heading “Classify this file” and “Choose a sensitivity label” - the file name with its icon - one coloured card per label, with the sub-label section “Sub-sensitivities — Please choose a sub-sensitivity” - Apply / Cancel, and an optional ? help button
Errors (for example the file is still open in Office) appear in red inside the window, which stays open.
Lowering a label that requires justification opens a separate “Justification required” dialog (“Type your business justification”, Continue / Cancel).
Office for Mac cannot intercept save. Instead, when macOS save prompt is on (Policy → Rules → General Enforcement), the file agent opens the picker right after an unlabelled Office/PDF file is saved. In this version the picker: - shows “You must choose a label to continue” - has a Later button (ESC also works)
Walking away is audited (label_cancelled). The same file
prompts again at most every 120 seconds.
14.2.3 Finder Quick Action
Right-click a file or folder → Quick Actions → Classify with ADA. - On a file: opens the picker. - On a folder: bulk labelling. The summary reads “Found {n} files in”{folder}” (subfolders included)… No label is lowered…“; then Label / Cancel, then”Folder labeled”.
If the action is missing, enable it under System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions → Finder (section 12.3.3).
14.2.4 Notifications
Ada draws its own pop-ups: - They appear top-right on the screen under the pointer, also over full-screen apps. - Up to 4 stack. They stay 6–16 seconds depending on length; clicking dismisses. - They need no macOS notification permission and are not hidden by Focus.
| Event | Title — body |
|---|---|
| File(s) auto-labelled (grouped over 4 s) | “File classified” — file → label / “{n} files
classified · …” |
| Pending list grew | “Files waiting for classification” — “1 new file is waiting to be classified.” / “{n} new files are waiting to be classified.” |
| Masking needed | “Content to be masked” — “"{file}" contains content that matches a masking rule. Open it in Office and save; masking is applied after your confirmation.” |
| Content warning rule | “Ada” — {file}: {administrator message} |
| Manual classify succeeded | “Classified” — file → label |
| Policy sync from the menu | “Policy updated” / “Policy update failed” |
| Downgrade blocked, higher label required, file open | “Downgrade not allowed” / “Classification” / “This file is currently open. Close it and try again to classify.” |
| Web add-in not yet inserted (once per day per app) | “Enable Ada in {app}” — “In the {app} ribbon click Add-ins →”Ada Data Classification” once; the button stays permanently and the pane opens automatically for labeled documents.” |
| Awareness message | “Ada Data Classification” — the administrator’s text |
Awareness messages follow the same schedule rules as on Windows, and a new one replaces the previous one. Other pop-ups still stack.
14.2.5 Screen watermark
The menu bar helper draws the watermark (same text format and layouts as Windows). - Always mode: covers every screen and needs no permission. - Label mode: one layer over each visible window showing a covered document. It needs the Accessibility permission (section 12.3.3). - The watermark remains visible in screenshots by design. - There is no screen-capture protection on macOS.
14.2.6 File monitoring scope (macOS)
The file agent watches the user’s whole home folder, including Desktop, Documents and Downloads (also when they are synced to iCloud). It needs Full Disk Access.
Excluded: - everything under ~/Library, including
OneDrive in ~/Library/CloudStorage - hidden folders
directly under the home folder - folders named
node_modules, .git, .Trash -
files starting with ~$ or .
Watched extensions and size limits are the same as on Windows.
14.2.7 Office for Mac
Word, Excel and PowerPoint use the web add-in task pane (section 14.3), sideloaded by the agent. The user inserts it once per app through Add-ins → Ada Data Classification; the daily reminder above tells them how. Outlook for Mac gets the add-in from Exchange / Microsoft 365 (section 12.5).
Office for Mac has no save, print or clipboard hooks. Printing and copying are not blocked on Mac.