Working with Remote Desktop applications or Citrix

When using PhraseExpander in an app via a remote desktop session, you might need to tweak PhraseExpander settings a bit if things are not working as expected.

A remote session adds an extra layer that can introduce delay and prevent PhraseExpander from working as expected.

Here we discuss the solutions for the most common problems.

Where to install PhraseExpander

You can use one of these two setups:

• On both your local and your remote machine. This gives you the most flexibility: PhraseExpander works as if you were sitting at the remote computer. To keep the local copy from interfering, on your local machine turn off Detect commands, or add the Remote Desktop program (mstsc.exe) to the exclusion list in File → Options → Advanced. To keep your templates the same on both machines, see Share your templates between your home and office machines.
• Only on your local machine. Log in to the remote computer and type your abbreviations: simple text insertion works. PhraseExpander cannot see which application is active on the remote machine, so some macros don't work (for example, focusing a window) and formatted text is not available. This setup is handy when you connect to many remote machines where PhraseExpander is not installed.

Keystrokes are not detected in the remote session

1

If you are connecting via Remote Desktop, make sure the Remote session window is not set as full screen. When in full screen, Windows is not sending the keystrokes.

2

If you are using Citrix, make sure PhraseExpander is running in the same session of the target application