Scaling Remote Desktop to the client window size?

[Blue Max]

Isn't there a way to scale the 'Remote Desktop' host desktop to the window
size on the remote client? We would like the host desktop to automatically
shrink-to-fit the window on our remote client computer, much like the option
available in 'Remote Assistance'. So far, our only option is to view the
host desktop at full-size in a smaller remote client window with scroll bars
that allow us to scroll to different areas of the host desktop. Is there
not an option that forces the host desktop to shrink-to-fit the clent
'Remote Desktop' window?

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Isn't there a way to scale the 'Remote Desktop' host desktop to the window
size on the remote client? We would like the host desktop to automatically
shrink-to-fit the window on our remote client computer, much like the option
available in 'Remote Assistance'. So far, our only option is to view the
host desktop at full-size in a smaller remote client window with scroll bars
that allow us to scroll to different areas of the host desktop. Is there
not an option that forces the host desktop to shrink-to-fit the clent
'Remote Desktop' window?

Why don't you change the screen size settings before connecting?
Have a look at those settings.

In fact, I've tried to achieve just what you're trying to get
rid of and couldn't do it, at least not easily. Note that the
..rdp files are editable text files. Sometimes it helps to dig a
little into them.

Hans-Georg

 

[Blue Max]

Thank you for the suggstions, Hans-George. We have changed the screen size
settings on the 'Options > Display' tab, as you suggest, but the changes do
not provide us with any substantive advantages. In fact it has several
disadvantages:

1) It does not scale the desktop, it only forces it into a smaller space.
2) It creates a jumbled mess of the icons on the host desktop (trying to
fit them in a smaller client window).
3) You don't get the scroll bars you normally have if you simply resize a
full-screen window.
4) You cannot dynamically resize the selected window size.

Hopefully, we have overlooked a better solution, but if not, we hope that
Microsoft will consider incorporating this feature as included in other
Micosoft products.

Thanks again.

******************

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Thank you for the suggstions, Hans-George. We have changed the screen size
settings on the 'Options > Display' tab, as you suggest, but the changes do
not provide us with any substantive advantages. In fact it has several
disadvantages:

1) It does not scale the desktop, it only forces it into a smaller space.
2) It creates a jumbled mess of the icons on the host desktop (trying to
fit them in a smaller client window).
3) You don't get the scroll bars you normally have if you simply resize a
full-screen window.
4) You cannot dynamically resize the selected window size.

Hopefully, we have overlooked a better solution, but if not, we hope that
Microsoft will consider incorporating this feature as included in other
Micosoft products.

Have you tried Remote Assistance? I haven't actually tried it
from a small to a big screen, but it may have screen rescaling
or scroll bars.

It is part of the Help and Support Center. If you haven't used
it before, use it to let the novice send an invitation to the
expert, because that's the easiest way to start it.

If you can't get it to work, check http://winhlp.com/node/287 .

If Remote Assistance doesn't solve your problem, your next best
bet is probably VNC. Just in case, does anybody else here have a
recommendation for RealVNC or UltraVNC? I've tried all those
some time ago, but am not using them any more.

Hans-Georg

 

[Blue Max]

Thank you for the suggestions. We have also tried Remote Assistance, but
it is really difficult to connect, especially when offering help. Not sure
what the difficulty is, but we seem to face challenge after challenge in
connecting with Remote Assistance. Odd, given how easy Microsoft makes it
sound to establish a connection? What we would really like is a persistent
invitation that would let us to immediately link to the computers we support
with one double-click and a password. The problem is that Microsoft Vista
has made it so difficult to understand, find, modify, and manage
invitations. Including the fact they have eliminated the voice link during
a connection. It seems they consistently shoot themselves in the foot with
great ideas that never work well.

Thanks,
Blue

********************

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Thank you for the suggestions. We have also tried Remote Assistance, but
it is really difficult to connect, especially when offering help. Not sure
what the difficulty is, but we seem to face challenge after challenge in
connecting with Remote Assistance. Odd, given how easy Microsoft makes it
sound to establish a connection? What we would really like is a persistent
invitation that would let us to immediately link to the computers we support
with one double-click and a password. The problem is that Microsoft Vista
has made it so difficult to understand, find, modify, and manage
invitations. Including the fact they have eliminated the voice link during
a connection. It seems they consistently shoot themselves in the foot with
great ideas that never work well.

Blue,

yes, you could say that.

I guess you may end up being happier with an independent
solution, of which there are many. UltraVNC would be one to try.

The disadvantage is that they seem to work entirely based on
pixels, unlike Remote Desktop, which works on a higher graphics
interface level. This means that VNC is slower or needs more
bandwidth. But reliability is your first concern, so you have to
try it, or one of its competitors, anyway.

Hans-Georg

 

[Blue Max]

Thanks, Hans-Georg. I appreciate the help. It is interesting that I can
connect between my home computer and office computer (both directions) using
Remote Desktop with no problems at all, but I cannot seem to connect using
Remote Assistance. I assume that remote assistance is using the same ports
through the firewalls as Remote Desktop so should work? I have the Remote
Assistance options enabled on both machines, but it still indicates that the
connection cannot be established. This happens both when offering help or
when executing an invitation from the other machine. Any troubleshooting
suggestions on why this might be?

Thanks

*******

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Thanks, Hans-Georg. I appreciate the help. It is interesting that I can
connect between my home computer and office computer (both directions) using
Remote Desktop with no problems at all, but I cannot seem to connect using
Remote Assistance. I assume that remote assistance is using the same ports
through the firewalls as Remote Desktop so should work? I have the Remote
Assistance options enabled on both machines, but it still indicates that the
connection cannot be established. This happens both when offering help or
when executing an invitation from the other machine. Any troubleshooting
suggestions on why this might be?

Offering assistance is more difficult. It requires the File and
Printer Sharing exception in the firewall, as well as an
exception for TCP port 135.

I believe none of this is needed for a Remote Assistance
invitation, which should need only TCP port 3389, like Remote
Desktop, open on the novice machine, the one that sends the
invitation.

But I have also seen at least one computer where it didn't work
and I couldn't find out why. Sorry.

Hans-Georg

 

[Blue Max]

Thank you for your assistance.

*****************

Offering assistance is more difficult. It requires the File and
Printer Sharing exception in the firewall, as well as an
exception for TCP port 135.

I believe none of this is needed for a Remote Assistance
invitation, which should need only TCP port 3389, like Remote
Desktop, open on the novice machine, the one that sends the
invitation.

But I have also seen at least one computer where it didn't work
and I couldn't find out why. Sorry.

Hans-Georg