4K screens and high DPI

Hi,
Could you post a print screen of what you get. Just to be sure you have enabled the HDPI in RDM?

Regards

This is weird. Now it seems to work...

Where is the HDPI settting. Cant find it in options.

Hello,


The option is Disable display scaling on high DPI settings and this setting is located in File -> Options -> User Interface.

Best regards,

When checked, the RDM GUI is crisp and clear. But then all remote desktops are small.
Unchecked, the RDM GUI is blurry. Remote desktops are big and easy to work with.
See attachment.

Its seems after update the setting was unchecked but still behaved like it was checked.
I have to exit the program for the setting to work.

Is it possible to have the HDPI setting checked but still the remote desktop resize?

Hi,
I will verify what we can do to scale the remote desktops

Regards

Hi,
Are there already solutions or workarounds for this?
The UI is in most cases quiet good with high DPI enabled (some logo's & context menu's aren't yet scaled :-) )
But due to all RDP sessions being scaled at 100% and not the 150% that I've configured on my Surface Pro 4 I've always disabled high DPI and went back to the blurry interface.


Would love to have a workaround implemented for this.
Regards
Jens

This is something that will be fixed in RDM 12 and perhaps before in a patch.

Sorry for the delay

Regards

I'm working with 4k resolution screens, and also waiting for a fix. :wave:

Bump.

Working on it right now :)

Hi,
I've made a beta build with the automatic HDPI scaling for the RDP connection:

http://remotedesktopmanager.com/Home/ThankYou?f=RDMsetupBeta

Regards

Beta installed and tested with unchecked "display scaling on high DPI settings". RDM GUI is crisp clear, but RDP sessions still too small (the RDP resolution in embedded mode is near 4k).

Hi,
You need to connect to a Windows 10 or Windows 2012 R2. For older OS it's not supported in the RDP protocol. What OS do you connect?

Regards

RDM runs on Windows 10, RDP target is Windows Server 2012 R2.

Could you verify the tooltip on the tab page to make sure that it use RDP 8.1?

Yup, there is RDP (8.1)

What scaling percentage do you use? I've found a issue if you use more than 200%

Regards

On my local Windows 10 machine i use 250%.

This explains why. I'm compiling a patch you could try soon.

Remote session to Windows 10 and Server 2012 work and look good. (scaling 150%)

Are you planning on adding Win7 and Server2008?

Unfortunately I don't have a solution for older system.

Microsoft doesn't have a good high DPI solution for software.

Apple is doing a better job. All their software scales without problems. They use a different approach to the problem.

But most of my Remote Desktops are Win 10 and Server 2012 anyways so this will do fine.

Hi,
I have attached patch. I also updated the installation files online but you can overwrite the installation with this zip instead of downloading the whole application. This fix the issue in 250%.

Magnus,

Not sure if this is applicable to your situation, but there is a hotfix for 2008 R2 servers to allow setting DPI in RDP sessions. I've found that it has fixed DPI issues in MSTSC sessions to servers with those OS.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2726399

It works now with the provided DLL file. :)

I'm still having DPI problems with 11.6.6.0. When disable scaling high DPI screens is checked, remote sessions will not allow setting DPI on the server. (see attachment) This works fine in the most recent official version.

If I do not check disable scaling, the RDM application window appears larger than it should, and the remote sessions act as though I am connecting from a computer with a very low resolution monitor. Selecting the custom scaling option is available, however because the perceived resolution is very low, I am only able to increase DPI, which makes the problem worse, as I can only make text and icons larger, which uses us even more screen real estate on an already perceived small screen.

@Chris

Could you post a print screen of RDM when the DPI scaling is disabled?

Regards

I discovered that if I log out and back into my local computer after changing the DPI setting, that the Application window does not appear extra large when scaling is enabled. I believe this issue occurs when I'm docked to 2 external monitors at work, which are not high DPI, then detach my laptop without relaunching RDM.

However, the detected resolution is still too low when disable scaling is unchecked (see attachments).

For clarification. My laptop runs 2560x1440. I don't recall the exact resolution of my dual monitor setup, as I am currently working remotely. On Friday, when I removed my computer from the docking station, disable scaling on high DPI was unchecked. After checking disable scaling on high DPI, I relaunched RDM and discovered that I can no longer adjust the DPI of the remote session (pictured in previous post). Unchecking disable scaling and relaunching RDM (without logging off / on to the computer) resulted in the application window tabs and UI looking larger than normal. After logging off / back on to my computer (disable scaling still unchecked) resulted in the application appearance returning to normal. However, the detected resolution is 1250x604. And while I can adjust the DPI on the remote server, I can only increase it, which takes up more screen space and makes usability worse.

Additional Information.

My dual monitor setup is 1920 x 1080. If I leave disable scaling on high DPI screens checked, RDM looks terrible regardless of whether I log out / back into my computer. Please see the attached screenshot of the navigation pane.

So, I gather that disable scaling must be checked or unchecked, then my user profile logged off / back in, when I move to and from the docking station...

Hi,
I think it per monitor HDPI and it's not supported in RDM. Honnestly, I'm not sure how I could fix this. You can go in Help->Diagnostic and you will see if RDM detect a scaling.

I'm facing the exact same issue with my Surface Book.

If I dock, it's fine on my 1080p UltraSharp monitors (even if I drag it over to the Surface Book screen).

If I undock everything is tiny unless I disable HIGH DPI Scaling on BOTH EXE (I use 64 bit), but then if I dock again, I have to take the flag off. I'm debating about building a script for this, but I figured it would be better to add in knowledge here.

From a fix it standpoint, Microsoft has made many changes to DPI Scaling and applications, but I'm not the expert to say that. I never had issues previous until the past few betas.

I've found that leaving disable DPI scaling checked all of the time has the best results.

However, if I dock or undock the computer, I need to log out / back into the computer, launch RDM, close RDM, log off / back on to the computer, and then relaunch RDM will be proportionally correct.

If I do not perform the steps listed above, I get weird results when I go from docked to undocked or vice versa. However, i get the same results with most programs that I use. Chrome also does not adjust well when I dock or undock.

From what I gather, some programs lock in a DPI scaling setting based on the resolution of the monitor in use at the time I log in. So, if I log in while docked to my dual 1080p monitors, almost all programs retain those DPI settings when I undock, and vice versa. The only programs that I've noticed handle the transition are Microsoft Applications (Office 2016 Pro Plus, Edge Browser, Universal Apps).

I think the only way to fix this would be to get monitors that match the resolution of my laptop.

Are you using a SB as well? I am starting to seriously regret purchasing a high resolution device at this point. It's a beautiful device, but these high resolution issues with Legacy Applications are out of hand.

I am using an HP elitebook 1040 G3 with a native resolution of 2560 x 1440 provided by my employer. I'm happy with the laptop as I travel about 30% of the time, but it makes transitioning to and from my docking station a real pain. And unfortunately, 2560 x 1440 monitors are still running about 3x as expensive as the 1080p ones we buy, so there's not much chance that I can get upgrades any time soon.

I think Windows 10 really shines in High Res touch screen, but i feel your pain re: the legacy apps.

I agree with you. I'm using my 4k monitor with 1080p resolution.

I am using a Surface 4 Pro and have 'Disable display scaling on high DPI settings' ticked. If I don't, the text in RDM is insanely small, even with 175% text size.

2012 R2 servers I connect to look fine and have big DPI and 175% text size. The 2008 R2 machines I connect to have very small text. Almost unreadable. Read through this thread and a few others.....so there is no trickery that RDM can do? I'd even be fine with some blurry text.

This is not my daily driver, so it won't be a huge issue.....but if it was.....I would be in trouble!

Hi,
as far as I know there is nothing we can do. The DPI support was introduced in RDP 8.1 if I remember correctly. The only workaround is to enable the RDM scaling for the whole application but the UI will be fuzzy.

Regards

For me it worked fine with Remote Desktop Manager Free 2.7. But with version 3.0.0 i'm getting just tiny icons and letter. So i can't work with it anymore. I will go back to the 2.7


Regards
Werner

Hi David,

I've had the same issues with the scaling for the Remote Machines. After trying to solve this with all possible settings I've switched back to ver. 2.7.1.0. I really like the Software and it would be greate if you guys could sort that out. I'm only working on HighDPI Monitors, that's why I switched to your product.

Pleasse let me know what to do about that.


Thank you,

Sven

I have the same problem with a surface and win 10.
If for now the my problem could be solved with a previous version.

please give me a link to download.

I can not maintain my server now.

Hi,
I've just tested RDM 3.0 on my surface and it's working fine. Could you verify in File->Options if Disable display scaling is checked. We changed the setting to be On by default but maybe it's off on your machine?

You can post a print screen of Help->Diagnostic if it does not work to verify if the resizing is done.

Regards

I don't have the time to check this. I have De-installed 3.0 and reinstalled 2.7.

I have now some server issues to solve.

Hello,
Thanks for your information and sorry about that problem.
The problem is due to an option check by default with a new installation but not check when you upgrade from 2.7.1 to 3.0. Here are three ways to do it.
First, inside RDM go to FILE, Options, User Interface and please check the box “Disable display scaling on high DPI setting.”

Please see HDPI RDM.jpg
If you can’t see that setting you can add the line in your config files directly. To locate your config files please follow that help https://help.remotedesktopmanager.com/installation_configurationfilelocation.htm
Once you find the right folder please open with a text editor your RemoteDesktopManagerFree.cfg under the line “<CreationDate>2016-11-14T00:00:00-05:00</CreationDate> please add, “
<DisableHDPIAutoScaling>true</DisableHDPIAutoScaling>
Restart your Remote Desktop Manager application and the problem should be solved.

Third way to do it is directly with windows options.
Right Click on your Remote Desktop Manager Free icon on your desktop Go to Properties and in the Compatibility tab check the box disable display scaling on high DPI settings.

Please see HDPI windows. jpg

Best Regards,

The toggle trick works until you go to launch it after docking on a 1080p screen, at which point everything is screwed up. I've literally given up on RDM until Microsoft releases the fix in Windows.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Surface-Book/High-DPI/m-p/30277#M6

I don't have a SB, but I have the same problem as you.

I cannot transition from my 2560x1440 laptop to my 1080p docking station without several steps, which are required to reset the DPI for both the OS and RDM.

As I gather, Windows locks in a DPI upon sign in, and some apps (Windows universal apps for instance) will scale properly if you connect to / disconnect from a docking station. However, a lot of legacy x64 applications will not. They read the OS DPI setting and adhere to that.

In order to get RDM to play well, I leave disable DPI scaling checked, all of the time. Then, after connecting to or disconnecting from my dock, I log off / back onto my computer (sets DPI correctly), launch RDM (for some reason launches at old DPI, usually will not display correctly), close RDM, Log off / back onto computer, Relaunch RDM, voila.

Its a PITA, but it's the only way everything will render correctly.

Other than buying monitors to match the resolution of your SB, I think this is your only option.

Hi guys,
My next project is to make RDM DPI aware per monitor. I think this could resolve your issues. Unfortunately I don't have a timeline.

Regards

Yep, that's what I was doing, but unfortunately that doesn't work in a panic situation (I work for E911) so I had to drop it and start utilizing good ol' MSTC -v on my servers until I get it down.

Thank you David, at least I don't feel like I wasted my money buying the product knowing you'll be working on it. If you need me to beta test it and report changes, let me know. (I'm already on the active beta channel).

@Eric,

If you create an RDP icon on your desktop, does it work well for you ?

If yes, you could import that RDP inside RDM with the Display Mode as external it will user the RDP application integrated with Microsoft. It could be a great way to use it in attempt of the new feature that's David talked about.

Also, I'm not sure if your -v option is the /v:server:port variable ?

Best Regards,

RDP only works properly when I use MSTSC, the UI of DM is wayyyyyyyy too small for me to even try to use it.

Ok Thanks Eric,

So you are having the same problem when you import your MSTSC session you save on your desktop prior ? Because RDM is using MSTSC with Display Mode.

Best Regards,

The session itself isn't the issue for me now, as I found out we could apply a hotfix and up the DPI scaling (the only crappy part about this is that it impacts everyone that logs on).

All of my RDP connections were imported to start.

The issue for me is the incredibly small UI (or if I change the app compt flag, entirely wayyyyyy too big). Using the standard 150% setting that the SB comes with (I would like to use 200%, but I don't want to place myself in that awful situation of display issues).

Not sure if this is related, but after updating from 11.7.6 to 12.0.0 today I receive this

http://imgur.com/a/pH4OE

My setup on my laptop is 4k display at 200% DPI, however I am using RDP, fullscreen, on a 1080p monitor. I have RDP'ed in while logged off (fresh logon) which normally avoids such DPI scaling issues.

Perfect example of what I face

Hi,
Just go in File->Options and Uncheck "Disable Display Scaling for HDPI".

Regards

Thanks, that worked. I'll be interested in the experience when I am not RDP'd too :)

I have a Dell XPS 13 with a 3200 x 1800 High DPI screen. Regardless of the checkboxes mentioned my RDP sessions still pass this resolution through making the resulting workspace so small it is unusable. Screenshot attached.

I just got off the chat with a Support person. I recently upgraded my RDM to 12.0.0.0 and now when I log into my Windows 2012 R2 servers through RDP, I too am having scaling issues. For instance, the Event Viewer is fine but Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio login is almost unreadable it is so tiny. See screenshot Support directed me to download the latest update which contains a fix for High DPI issues such as this but it did not fix my problem. My version is now 12.0.1.0

Any help would be greatly appreciated since this is my primary tool for work.

UPDATE: I tried to go to File / Options in RDM and take the check out of the scaling DPI setting mentioned above and that did not help. I then asked the support staffer to provide an earlier version. I uninstalled 12.0.1.0 and installed 11.7.6.0 and ALL IS WELL!!! I can read everything within my RDP session.

This latest version seems to have fixed my issues.

@Ford Wilkinson

Please make sure to Uncheck in File->Options Disable display scaling for HDPI

Regards

After each update I have to recheck my High DPI setting. Can you fix it so the settings are saved between updates. I think this issue confuses people.

Just double checked by docking, I'm 90% fixed now, I'll have to undock it when I get back and verify.

(I've tried changing that setting multiple times to see the impact).

Just to ease the debugging about this. I just updated my RDM to 12.0.2 and my fonts were too big and looking like in 90's.

I had to uncheck this Options->User Interface->Disable display scaling on high DPI settings

My two 24" monitors are configured in 1920x1080.

I don't know if the option was checked before the upgrade.

Hi,
Indeed we have changed the default value in RDM 12. We now support HDPI directly by default.

Regards

Hi David,

I'm currently running DRM 12.0.2.0 and operating with the following setup; W10 Pro laptop 3200x1800 with 200% dpi and an external display 3840x2160 with 150% dpi. Everything was working great until a recent DRM 11.x upgrade where all the resolutions settings that were previously working went out of wack, that is high screen resolution, no scaling, tiny text etc. I can't recall which 11.x upgrade caused the issues but it was one of the last couple of ones prior to the 12.x upgrade.

I was hoping the DRM 12.x upgrade would fix the issues with the resolution settings but unfortunately this wasn't the case and now the issue is starting to have an impact on productivity. You mentioned previously that the issue was with Microsoft however, I don't recall any Microsoft updates at the time. Are you able to provide any further insight into exactly what Microsoft had changed recently that was now affecting the ability to properly manage the screen resolution settings? Is the issue at the client end or the server end? I only connect to W7 and W2008R2 end points so I don't have any feedback to report on anything else.

What should the Remote Desktop Size and Screen Size Mode be set to? I was after a remote desktop that would scale as well as resize depending on the workspace area. I can't recall now what combination worked in the past but nothing I try now seems to work anymore. I've tried to uncheck the UI option Disable display scaling on high DPI settings as well but it didn't result in the outcome I was looking for.

There was a link provided earlier in the post to a Microsoft KB which had a fix for W7 and W28R which I haven't tried as I wasn't sure exactly what was the issue and why is why now happening. I'm reluctant to simply apply updates to production systems without first understanding more what the root cause of the issue is.

Regards
Dave

Hello,

We've had many issues with HDPI. Please tell us if the following procedures in this help article yield positive results for you; https://help.remotedesktopmanager.com/troubleshooting_hdpiscalingissues.htm

Best regards,

Hello all!

Has this actually ever been solved? I'm still having issues ... Here's my setup:

- Dual 4k monitors, both set to scale 175%
- RDM Enterprise Edition 12.0.8.0
- Connecting mostly to Windows Server 2012 R2

My issues:
- "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings" checked: The GUI, as well as the RDP connections are crystal clear and sharp. The GUI also scales correctly, is the same size just as any other application, and is easy readable. But inside the RDP connection it does not scale correctly, everything is very small and hard to read.

- "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings" unchecked: The GUI, as well as the RDP connections are blurry, NOT sharp. The GUI and the RDP connections scale correctly and are in normal, good readable size, but blurry ...

My desired result:
The GUI as well as the RDP connections should be crystal clear and sharp, as well as the scaling should work for both, the GUI and the RDP connections.

What do I have to change to get the desired result?

Best regards,
Max

I finally ended up choosing the fuzzy GUI as you can't have both apparently. It seems Microsoft's RDP engine will pass the DPI of the connecting computer to the destination but the destination usually doesn't automatically turn the 175% scaling or whatever you are set for on, so icons and text are too tiny to be usable. The fuzzy GUI is what is causing the destination machine to think you are connecting with a lower DPI source machine, hence the legible size icons and text.

Hi,
Indeed the RDP connection does not get the DPI. This was implemented in RDP only for Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016.

I'm not sure we can do anything else.

Regards

For me changing windows setting 'Override high DPI scaling behavior" => System (Enhanced) solved my issue!
RDM doesnt seem to be blurry ; and the RDP session is readable on my 4K monitor.


Note that Remote Desktop Manager has 'scale by window size' which autoscales the RDP session to the window size.