[RESOLVED] VB to create Remote Desktop Connection

[mateo107]

Hi!

I'm looking to make an App that I can use to launch the app MS Remote Desktop Connection.

Specifically, I'd like it to open a connection to the specified server that I want and automatically start the connection.

Does anyone know how I would do this?

I know that if I look at the "save as" file it creates (RDP file) I can get the info. I need to make the connection. So I think this is really a three parter.

Would this be the easiest way to go:

1) Have the program open the RDC App.
2) Create a temp file, with the information I need to create (basically, create a temp RDP file)
3) Open the RDC file
4) After connection is made, delete the temp file.

I bet I could do all of this from runtime, or since windows will automatically open RDP files with the RDC app, I could probably skip step one. So basically, how do I get windows to open an RDP file during runtime?

Thanks!

[RobDog888]

You can shellexecute the rdp and pass the appropriate switches. No file needed.
This is just an example that works but you can dynamically locate the System32 directory and error trap for the supported OS'.

Option Explicit
 
Private Declare Function ShellExecute Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpOperation As String, _
ByVal lpFile As String, ByVal lpParameters As String, ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As Long
 
Private Const SW_HIDE As Long = 0
Private Const SW_SHOWNORMAL As Long = 1
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
    ShellExecute Me.hwnd, "Open", "C:\Windows\System32\mstsc.exe", "/v:MyTerminalServer.MyDomainName.com", "C:\", SW_SHOWNORMAL
End Sub

[mateo107]

Thanks RobDog... got me off to a great start...

here's the code that i ended up wtih:

Shell ("C:\Windows\System32\mstsc.exe C:\temp.rdp")

and my temp.rdp file is as follows:

screen mode id:i:1
desktopwidth:i:1024
desktopheight:i:768
session bpp:i:24
winposstr:s:0,1,0,0,800,600
full address:s:192.168.0.110
compression:i:1
keyboardhook:i:2
audiomode:i:0
redirectdrives:i:0
redirectprinters:i:0
redirectcomports:i:0
redirectsmartcards:i:1
displayconnectionbar:i:1
autoreconnection enabled:i:1
username:s:
domain:s:
alternate shell:s:
shell working directory:s:
disable wallpaper:i:1
disable full window drag:i:1
disable menu anims:i:1
disable themes:i:1
disable cursor setting:i:0
bitmapcachepersistenable:i:0

my only problem is... when it opens the RDC connection, it opens in minimized mode... any ideas on how to fix this?

I've tried to use the /f switch, to no avail... any help would be great! Thanks all!!

[RobDog888]

/f will make it open in fullscreen mode. If you dont want fullscreen then you can use the /w and /h to specify the height and width of the normal sized window.

screen mode id:i:1 should be the window mode in the rdp file.

[blindlizard]

Try this:

Shell ("C:\Windows\System32\mstsc.exe C:\temp.rdp", vbMaximizedFocus)

[mateo107]

thanks! That was it! :-)

[RobDog888]

But the /f didnt work? It worked for me.

[blindlizard]

But the /f didnt work? It worked for me.

You are using ShellExecute with the SW_SHOWNORMAL flag which shows the window. He was using Shell which doesn't show the window by default.

[RobDog888]

Thants right. Now I see said the blind man.