[new release] VJFullscreen terminal services (BETA!)

[vijay555]

Ok guys, I know I've promised this for a while, but sl9 got me thinking that I should just try my WM2003 code, and lo and behold, it works on WM5.

Guys: I'm presenting a beta of fullscreen terminal services.
It works on WM2003 and WM5 in QGVA or VGA, landscape or portrait.

It's a beta. In that, it's got issues and it's not final.
I'm going to add scrollbar hiding and some navigation bits and bobs and some other stuff.

Usage is easy, but this is only for advanced users right now for reasons forthcoming:
Load VJFullscreenTSC. I recommend putting it in your Start Menu or assign it to a hardware button.

On launching you'll see a small (TINY) little indicator in the top left corner: some blue dots. Thing is, this thing overlays on the start button to be discrete, but occassionaly it gets covered over with the start button again and you lose it. If you do, bring up your start menu somehow and if you've got a task manager, switch to VJFullscreenTSC and you should see the little dots.

Ok, launch Terminal services client. (If you choose fullscreen TSC from the VJFullscreenTSC menu, it should launch terminal services automatically).

Login to your server and get into the TSC viewer.

Once you're there, click on VJFullscreenTSC. This should bring up a menu.
Choose Fullscreen TSC and you should be in business. I hope.

Once you're in fullscreen, you don't have the time, so I've stuck time and power on the menu.
Close TSC will allow you to end your TSC session.

Exit exits VJFullscreenTSC.

Ok, that's all hopefully sensible.

Please give feedback. Like I said, scrollbar hiding and navigation stuff to come, this is just a test for you guys to start using. Bells and whistles later.

If you like this software consider making a paypal donation to continue development. http://www.vijay555.com/donate.html

I know it's got issues. Please test to destruction. A backup may be advisable but shouldn't be necessary.

In use:
http://www.vijay555.com/vj/releases/vjfullscreentsc/shot1.jpg

QVGA:
http://www.vijay555.com/vj/screenshots/terminal2.jpg

and the menu:
http://www.vijay555.com/vj/releases/vjfullscreentsc/shot2.jpg

Please download the executable from my website http://www.vijay555.com (www.vijay555.com) and leave feedback here or ideally on my forum (http://vijay555support.host4phpbb.com/index.php)

V

Version Info:
v0.1: Intial test version (20 November 2005)
v0.2: Slightly new version fixing inaccessible SIP on WM2003

[vijay555]

[Updated: 26 Nov - this version no longer required, see first post]

It occurred to me whilst I was sleeping that this might be a bit too fullscreen on WM2003. I was testing on the universal and magician, but I forgot that when I hide the SIP on the magician there's no keyboard.

I'll have to properly redisplay the SIP when required.

If you need to test it, I've knocked up a quick version that may fix the SIP issue, although it hasn't been fully tested because I had to come to work :(

get the exe here (www.vijay555.com/vj/Releases/VJFullscreenTSC/VJFullscreenTSCSIP.exe)

V

[vijay555]

If the above SIP fix version doesn't work for you, consider using my program SIPSwitch (http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=26586&highlight=sipswitch) to load a sip from a shortcut/hardware key.

V

[ei99070]

I like the idea, but had no success on testing... I see the titlebar text changing, but it doesn't show the blue dots :(

[vijay555]

ei99070: as it says in the thread, if you lose the dots after loading the program, it means that the start bar has drawn over the dots. The dots are drawn top left corner, and they're just a stand in for now, they'll be replaced by something more useful later ("navipanel").

If you do lose them, you need to use a task manager like wisbar, magic button, small menu etc, to activate VJFullscreenTSC. This should bring the dots back topmost again.

If this still doesn't work and you're sure you've loaded VJFullscreenTSC, then temporarily exit wisbar etc. I'm not sure what task managers you guys use, but because of where the dots are positioned (over the startbar) various skinning processes could draw over it. As I said, the dots will be replaced later.

Post with any problems and I'll get them sorted. I use SmallMenu and that works well to reactivate it.

V

[ei99070]

Here's a thought: on Win32 API we can make a window on top, can't you make the same with your app? :wink:

I didn't check the API on WM, so this is only a suggestion!

Best regards!

[vijay555]

ei99070: a good thought, which is why it's what I do :D

However, the Start bar (particularly if skinned) can take precedence if it wants to.

As I said, I will replace the dots (I experimented by putting them under the start bar, but it's ugly), so once the beta has been tested ok, I'll work on changing the dots into something useful and not on top of the start bar!
I just needed somewhere that was discrete and wouldn't interfere with use of the client itself.

V

[asci]

Great work, it works! Refreshing is much better than WM05 build in sw. These are my problems/questions:

1- on my JasJar and WM2005, even if I set sw for full screen I can't have it. Any solution?

2- When I try to access to my leading profile, it says there are restrictions. So I have to access with "Guest" profile. How can I solve this? (my pc is working with XP Prof. and WiFi router)

3- I have tried to open a MSWord file (office 2003), but it goes in error becouse of something missing. What could it be? Is there some upgrade I have to do in orther to use MSWord via terminal service?

THX a lot!

[vijay555]

Ok guys, I'm back from Harry Potter. That was good stuff.
I've updated the program a tiny bit, extending the "dots" to slightly extend below the start button. Hence it shold not be able to be obscured.

asci: I don't quite understand - you know I'm not changing the terminal services, well just to patch it so that we can make it fullscreen. It shouldn't change refresh rate, but if it does, great!
However, it's only true function is to make the terminal services client fullscreen. Is it not doing this!?

I'm not sure I understand this about the leading profile. I suggest you try installing the concurrent user patch (http://sig9.com/articles/concurrent-remote-desktop?from=100&comments_per_page=50), which provides the useful feature of staying logged on as one user, and still using remote client on another user.

Question 3, re word: man, this is quite silly, but I've literally never used the terminal services client. I just made the hack, as we say in the UK, "for a laugh". Can't help you about what to do with it...

V

[francorg]

Will there be a way to connect to "/console" sessions or to different ports than 3389?

Thank you

[ei99070]

Will there be a way to connect to "/console" sessions or to different ports than 3389?

I think you are not seeing the whole picture here!! All this app does is make the terminal service client on WM2005 fullscreen! This is NOT a replacement app, but sort of an add-on!

[francorg]

Ok.. but maybe there could be a "console addon" :D

[ei99070]

Ok.. but maybe there could be a "console addon" :D
hehe, true, true... :)

[vijay555]

Guys, I've released a slightly updated v0.2.
It corrects the oversight that WM2003 users lost the sip and couldn't enter any info. :oops:
Hopefully I'll get some work done on this next few days. I've had so little feedback though :(

FYI just checked out the xbox 360 launch on oxford st (I'm not a nerd, I just happened to be in the area. Seriously) Was a real damp squib. Literally. Raining... no screaming hordes. no one mugged on the streets. And only 6 policemen guarding :shock:

V

[thaihugo]

Hello VJ, I tryed your version, but I've seen a small quirk: If I ask to adapt the serveur desktop size to the pocket screen, I get a maximum size of 640x(480 minus top bar and SIP bar)

Do you have a way to hack the response about client screen size to give a 640x480 answer so we get full screen and no scrollbar?

TIA

[vijay555]

thaihugo: the 640x480 screen size is a limitation of the terminal services client. I've had a preliminary look at tricking the client, and will investigate further, but this is not a limitation of my hack, so it's a question to throw out hopefully to the wider community.

As indicated in the first post, the scrollbar hiding option will come shortly.
v0.1 and 0.2 are just a test of the technique I used to make the client window fullscreen. GUI work and additional functionality will be added when I'm satisfied from feedback that the program generally works. In some 2,400 downloads I've had approximately 1 indication that it works, thanks to asci. And I'm not even sure he got it to work. So I'm not working further until I get a bit more verification.

I am aware that there is a black bar at the bottom of the expanded client window. Will be addressed in next release hopefully.

V

[thaihugo]

About feedback, I'm sure people will test it over time. I've actually tested it only today for the first time.

About the screen size, I now this is something comming from the video driver answering the request from the server. We might get it either from the screen size answer, or by tweaking the network packet beiing send. I don't know if somebody can go further.

[simon_darley]

okidoki, gave it a very quick test just by connecting to my local xp machine as ts and it worked "ok".

that big black bar at the bottom is frustrating

the start bar and start button is still off screen, thus defeating most of the full screen benefits

I still founf having scroll bars within scroll bars frustrating, which should go away if the whole thing was full screen, if its going to marginally fall short, smaller tsc bars would be better

by the way, I think its ridiculous that any software developer doesn't test their own software, surely you have some access to ts box or even an xp pro machine.

I have worked with sw developers, and ,y wife is one, and still believe that the public should not be yor ALPHA testers.

I will try again sometime during the week on my ts box at work, currently I cannot get jj to connect a vpn to the sbs at work AND continue to "hold" the connection while I run tsc over the vpn to our dedicated ts box. so will have to wait until I have15mins of free time at work (unlikely)

[vijay555]

Thanks Simon.

I think you entirely missed the point of why I was asking for testing, and why I volunteer my own efforts for the benefits of the "public", being the XDA Dev community.

I myself work in a full time professional non-programming job, and developed this app in my spare time purely for the benefit of the community, since I don't use it at all. Since I have no need for the program, and as you have no time or need for it, please don't test further.

V

[tintoy]

vijay - would you consider open sourcing your code? (not that I can code particually but others might like to contribute)

Nice work btw!

[simon_darley]

Vijay

you are a god like figure to this community and should be respected at all times for your goodwill and unselfish contribtion to this forum and your never ending commitment to improve the quality of these machines.

[vijay555]

<edit>
2006.02.10 - much of this post won't make sense in the light of edits made above. I direct you towards the Chewbacca Defense (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewbacca_Defense) inorder to explain this. Please ignore the irrelevant parts of this post and thread.
</edit>

Guys, I will continue work on this project.

In light of Simon's comments I am not compelled to release anything further here until I consider it final. That could take time, but I felt it better to keep the community involved with development then for it never to see the light of day. As I said, I was asked (http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=29996&start=30) to develop and release this software at the interim stages.

Please give feedback on whether you would rather the beta stage was kept public, and be involved in requesting features etc: the software will always be freeware for non commercial use. My own feeling now is that I would rather not release my own software prior to it being final; however, I program for the thrill of making my own software, and I would like you guys to be able to request features!

I'm afraid that the code won't be made open source at this point because I wanted first to be in a position to present code that did what it was supposed to. I am using a technique that I would not typically use in programming to achieve fullscreen TS, which was why I wanted to be sure that it wasn't just unique to my system. I believe that sl9 is working on this project also (http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=33576&highlight=terminal+services).

I of course test my own code thoroughly before releasing it, but as with the VGA phone dialer (http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=33971&highlight=), which again is software I developed just for the community, since I don't use it, software can behave differently on our systems. Hence public testing. The black bar, for instance, was not visible on my system because I was running a black background. The start button is perfectly visible for me and is not obscured.

Simon, I take your comments very personally. In five months I've posted over 800 posts. They are not all begging to feed my starving children. I give my time for the benefit of the community, and the vast majority of my posts are to help people out of trouble. IF someone feels some tangible benefit, they can either wait for a commercial developer to sell them software to order at £10+ a go, or donate something out of generosity. I'm sure your wife gets paid for her efforts. I don't. I post because I love this community and gain satisfaction from helping people out. As it clearly states on my website,
If you like my software and wish to express your thanks, please make a donation.
The donation is entirely voluntary. If you wish to express your thanks. Feel free not to!

Anyone can request on my forum (http://vijay555support.host4phpbb.com/viewtopic.php?t=8) to have software programmed for them if I can. I do this out of love of programming, in my own time, and not with ANY expectation of financial reward. If you are the type of person that prefers to take with no contemplation of the effort put in to making your life easier, so be it.

And btw, it is possible to help Buzz out (http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=32901&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=vijay), if you wanted to. It's not all about money, spade or no spade.

V

PS I should add: my website costs are over £100 annually for hosting, domain and SQL database, out of my pocket. Donations amount to around £15 for the year. By my reckoning I'm paying you guys to use my software, rich capitalist that I am. This is not about money, XDA Devs never was, as far as I know.

[Mikee4fun]

Is there anyway to get 64k color? Reg hack or something. I know it has to be possible because the citrix client for pocket pc will do it. Just a thought. terminal services with 64k color yay, that would rock.


Mike

[vijay555]

tintoy: thanks for your comments. As indicated above, I don't think there's anything to open source right now. Code is very minimal, and I think
sl9's GPLed code (http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=33576&highlight=terminal+services) is likely to be significantly more polished than I can present right now: I'm still very new to C++.

If anyone is interested though, it works by subclassing the viewer window to take control of its functionality. I've always been weary of
subclassing, and you should be to, which was why I needed to know that the program exhibits no unexpected issues etc.

Mikee4fun: re 64k colour. To quote the show Blackadder,
Very well then. Three other paths are open to you. Three cunning plans to cure thy ailment.
I can think of three possible ways of achieving this, each of which I'm investigating.
1. A registry hack. Easy if it works. I was investigating this yesterday but I got somewhat distracted last night for reasons that might be
apparent, and stopped my research on the point of reaching a conclusion. Will post here if it's possible.
2. Hack or reimplement the Thin Client: an extension of what I'm doing now, but proven unproductive so far. Particularly with WM5 code being signed, I investigated removing the code signing or resigning the client, but I think someone with more experience of this might be able to help. Harder to do,
but seems that there's only so much we can do from the "outside".
3. Write a new TS Client. Way beyond my experience, but you could try the java client (http://properjavardp.sourceforge.net/).

Sigh. I hope someone finds this info helpful.

V

PS I've been asked to try to hack the citrix client to. I'll post if I'm successful, although I could do with a test server to connect to. Anyone?

[thaihugo]

To sign an exe, you need to use this tool, and to have a proper certificate installed in your certificate store. You can then sign any exe to make it run, even after modification. Just run it and follow the steps.

[vijay555]

Guys, I'm having major difficulties posting to the board, so sorry for slow updates.

I've tried the registry hacks, and they're mostly futile as far as I can see. We can change connection port, and perhaps some settings, but from what I've read and experienced, colour depth is fixed.

However, in line with option 3 above, I've had a thought and recompiled cetsc.exe for ARM. It loads on WM5 but is just giving a dialog. If I can get it to load an .rdp, I'll post my findings here. That would be a great result though.

V

[vijay555]

Guys, I'm updating to v0.3
updates: Scrollbar hiding and some navigation control

http://www.vijay555.com/vj/releases/vjfullscreentsc/SH2.jpg

http://www.vijay555.com/vj/releases/vjfullscreentsc/SH1.jpg

When the scrollbars are hidden, use the VJFullScreenTSC menu to navigate around if you're in QVGA.

Issues: the startbutton is unaccessible until you scroll down, so you have to use the menu, scroll down a bit, and then use the start button. This will be corrected shortly.

Available on my website

V

[vijay555]

Check this Acer out. Wow. Come to poppa.

http://forum.palmislife.com/viewthread.php?tid=60061

http://140.116.5.200/~e2492306/pil/tsc/8.jpg

v

[vijay555]

Guys, I've updated a very tiny bit, VJFullscreenTSC 0.4, just for dreamtheater39 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?p=205743#205743).

This version will just hopefully pop up the VJFullScreenTSC menu if you try to load it a second time. Thus, you can perhaps assign it to a hardware key to load up the menu, if you have trouble hitting the menu dots in the top left.

Available on my website.

V

[jpiek]

Vijay

I find your altruistic comments of ... "purely for the benefit of the community"... completely in compatible with the outcome when I arrive at your site which immediately starts to request "donations" via paypal which represents self serving commercial intent to boost your own pockets than "purely for the benefit of the community".


Simon, your an ASS :

A] Find the same tools and response on input from any other freewarewriter. And i don't mean just for their 'own' application, but on about ANY request that's done

B] There's no request for a donation, just a "If you wanna say thank you, you can do it trough paypal"

C] Contributions are not less because of 'no paypal donations', it's not a requirement.

D] Tell me, what have you developed jet for the community ? Haven't seen any SiDar application around anywhere...

Right, thought so !!!!!!!

But hey, what can you expect form someone who is 'on' since Jan 1 2005...


[/b]

[vijay555]

Johan :oops: Shhh. ...
We don't talk about this anymore. :wink:
I just like to keep myself busy writing stuff.

I'm intending to work on the VJFullscreenTSC update this weekend.

V

[simon_darley]

jpiek

I have thought a lot about my comments since I first wrote them.

at the time of writing, I had never seen vjay around before and had seen a few people using the forum to promote their own products or interests by linking to their related websites, plus I was probably just feeling like an ass on the day as you have indicated.

sooo cut bullshit story short, you are right.


VIJAY


I would like to formally and on the public forum rather than a PM, state for the record that I am sorry for my rude and inconsiderate statements that I made.

I have since seen you around many times and your assistance and help to those around less fortunate and less knowledgable should be commended.

so, in summary, i'm sorry vijay. you will find my comments now edited.

cheers

S.

[vijay555]

Simon, many many thanks.

Your comments did frustrate me very much at the time, and although I was still very new to programming (and still am! Always something new to learn and hack), I decided at that point not to share any of my programs or assistance any further.

However, I love this board, and can't help but respond on any queries that I think I can add something useful to. Even I get bored of me sometimes. However, even though we're all just a loose band of geeks, it's that very bond that makes it a fraternity.

So I threw myself back in, and now I'm suffering the consequences. I've got more apps than I can satisfactorily support, when I'm working full time as well, so perhaps people get frustrated. But, if I'm not supporting and bug fixing my apps at this second, I'm writing a new one for tomorrow :)

It's exhausting, but as I've said elsewhere, I love programming for the personal satisfaction. However, what makes it more than one man's perversion is that you guys are here to share it with me!

Ok, it's 20.45 and I'm still in the office after a very long day. Time to go home. And start programming 8)

V

[vijay555]

Guys, I'm posting a pre-beta update.

Hopefully this one has a bit more error checking and fixes the infamous "can't touch the good bits down below" bug. If you've tried it, you know what I mean.

I think it works. Tested on VGA Universal only for now. Further work required but Mrs Vijay555 is calling :( Bad boy...

Speak soon... Forthcoming updates will neaten up GUI etc.

V

v0.45 beta
http://www.vijay555.com/vj/Releases/VJFullscreenTSC/VJFullscreenTSC.exe

[vijay555]

Guys, v0.45 was rubbish. Somehow I managed to delete the relevant fixed code before release. I've released v0.46 on my website, permitting use of the SIP in TSC and proper fullscreen in VGA.

Using onscreen keyboard
http://www.vijay555.com/vj/Releases/VJFullscreenTSC/Screenshot3.jpg

and transcriber with dreamweaver:
http://www.vijay555.com/vj/Releases/VJFullscreenTSC/Screenshot4.jpg

V

[Taz69]

Not sure if this will be of any interest but the TS Client isn't locked to 640x480. After playing aroun with Virtual Display it appears that other screen resolutions work as well.

Also VJTSC plays pretty well with Virtual Display, 800x600 and 1024x768 are both useable on the Universal using VJTSC to free up real estate and Virtual Display to navigate. Even the 'Fit Display' option scales just the required remote display without the additional bars.

The only thing that doesn't work is the overlayed graphic that is used to access the menu, though this isn't a problem because it can still be accessed through the Start menu via the keyboard.

It would be handy if VJTSC saved a small config file as Hiding the SIP and ensuring the screen is scrolled top,left is a little fiddly each time but TS from a Universal with 800x600 and 1024x768 options is now so useful I might have to put up with Virtual Display's failings and buy the damn thing.

The virtual display software that I have been using is Nyditot's Virtual Display 5.02. On the Universal it is pretty picky abut the rom installed. With the orginal Orange MSFP rom it would lock up as soon as you booted, with the latest QTEC rom it seems much better.