The Remote Desktop Protocol version 10.0, which is already available in Windows 10 Preview and Windows Server Technical Preview. If you open up the mstsc client you’ll see “Remote Desktop Protocol 10.0 supported”
A new feature of RDP 10.0 client is the option to zoom. If you’ve worked with RDP 8 you might be familiar with the option AutoSize with allowed you to switch between full screen and a sizeable window of you RDP session without having to logoff / logon. In RDP 10 to option to zoom is added.
The zoom option is a solution for a typical problem when using a hiDPI client to connect to an “older” version of Windows, for example Windows7. For example if you would be working in a Windows Surface with 2560x1440 you would generally set if to 150% DPI locally. If you would then open a RDP session to Windows7, that remote session does not automatically adjust its DPI setting to match the local DPI (where Windows 8 does). This results in a DPI of 100% and thus everything within the remote session look very small and less easy to read. With the zoom option to could overcome this. By setting a zoom level the RDP session will be stretched.
To enable the zoom option, click on the RDP icon of your RDP session (switch out of full screen mode). There you have the option to set a fixed zoom percentage.
For example, here is a session towards Windows 7 machine, left is normal more, right is 150% zoom mode.
Now because this is not done on the host side the result will not be crisp & clear. But the idea of this is to be a workable workaround when connecting to older operating systems. When connecting to Windows 8 and beyond, this is not an issue anymore because those session will be able to pick up on the local DPI setting and match that setting in the session.
This is great, but I still miss one feature though. Over high latency connections, you might deliberately choose a lower resolution, and want to scale it to full screen. Eg I have a 4K monitor, but would like to connect to remote in 1920x1080. This is now possible with the new function, but how can I make it zoom in full screen mode?
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI need to embed MSTSACX Activex control in my own window. Is this feature available thru that interface? If yes can you please point me to the relevant documentation.
Thanks,
zooming is pretty ugly, not to mention I have to use the scroll bars to see the bottom of the remote desktop.
ReplyDeleteThis function seems to be broken as of TH2 release. Hope it be fixed ASAP.
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ReplyDeleteThis is shit. It is rediculous they did not think this through. Why not make it possible to set zoom level and make it full screen. I had scrollbars while using zoom level on my 4K laptop screen. Making zoom level even less would give me a small RDP session.
ReplyDeleteEchoing the sentiments above. I bought a Surface Book specifically to serve as a friendly HCI interface to older Windows systems with dismal screens installed in them. However, if I can't cleanly connect to those older systems via RDP, I simply can't do this. Will likely be returning the Surface Book as a result. No point in having a great, hi-dpi screen if I can't use it for my primary intended purpose.
ReplyDeleteI cannot understand how this has not been resolved. I have recently purchased a Dell XPS 13 with hi-res monitor. I cannot use this to RDP to my Windows 7 workstation as the text is too small and the zoom function ineffective. RDP works great on my MacBook however!
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ReplyDeleteIn MSTSC, set the resolution to something like 1280x1024 then connect. Then set the zoom to a value you like (i.e. 150%). You'll then have a good size screen with no scroll bars.
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