RDP to Windows

sliberty · 11-30-2012, 03:05 PM

I am running Microsoft Office 11's RDC client to Access a Windows machine. I have a wireless keyboard on my Mac. I can't figure out how to send various common Windows keystrokes to the Windows machine in the RDC session. For example, Ctrl-Right would move to the next word, Ctrl-Shift-Right would highlight the next word, etc.

Any pointers would be very helpful.

DeltaMac · 11-30-2012, 03:43 PM

What else have you tried?
Does Command-right arrow, or Command-Shift-right arrow work?

You can change some basic keystrokes in RDC's preferences.

Ah - I now notice you said RDP - so does that mean you are using something other than Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection (RDC)?

sliberty · 11-30-2012, 03:58 PM

Sorry, I should have said RDC, not RDP. It is from Office 2011. I updated the original post.

I have tried every combination I can think of. Command-Right moves one letter at a time, just light Right without Command. Command Shift highlights one letter at a time. I did find out that Fn-Right moves to the end of the line, and Fn-Left moves to the start of the line. That is helpful, but there are other keystrokes of course that I still haven't found.

DeltaMac · 11-30-2012, 04:31 PM

Maybe that will vary depending on what software you want to control on the Windows system.
Are you simply selecting text to copy/paste? Can you select your desired text with other methods, such as a mouse?

sliberty · 11-30-2012, 04:35 PM

These are Windows standard keystrokes, used in all text based programs. Probably OS provided. They should be the same in all apps.

DeltaMac · 12-02-2012, 08:24 PM

Yes, but you are not using Windows, just controlling Windows (from your Mac), so standard keystrokes provided by the OS, would be OS X standard, eh?
In Word for Mac, you can move the cursor to the next word on the right with Option-right arrow.
You can extend a selected item with the word to the right with a Shift-Option-right. Press again to include another word in the selection.
Does that help at all?

sliberty · 12-02-2012, 08:43 PM

DeltaMac,
Actually, with RDC, you are using Windows, but you are controlling it from a Mac keyboard. Windows is running on the remote machine, and will only react to the key codes that it recognizes. So the Mac has to send recognizable key codes to the remote Windows session in order for things to work as needed.

DeltaMac · 12-03-2012, 12:05 PM

Exactly - you are close to correct. You are not booted to Windows - you are controlling Windows, so your shortcut keys will be those on the Mac, to a major extent. There will be some Windows-specific shortcuts, and some will be the same. And - some will be different, because the keyboard provides different codes. It's similar to the reason that some (not all!) Windows keyboards won't send proper key codes for a Mac, such as those used for booting. The reverse is also (sometimes) true.
Anyway, you will have some differences, and it's likely that the help files in RDC (which I don't have) will give some information about which shortcuts are used to control Windows.

11-30-2012, 03:05 PM	#1
sliberty Prospect Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: East Brunswick, NJ Posts: 49	RDC to Windows I am running Microsoft Office 11's RDC client to Access a Windows machine. I have a wireless keyboard on my Mac. I can't figure out how to send various common Windows keystrokes to the Windows machine in the RDC session. For example, Ctrl-Right would move to the next word, Ctrl-Shift-Right would highlight the next word, etc. Any pointers would be very helpful. Last edited by sliberty; 11-30-2012 at 03:59 PM.

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11-30-2012, 03:43 PM	#2
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,957	What else have you tried? Does Command-right arrow, or Command-Shift-right arrow work? You can change some basic keystrokes in RDC's preferences. Ah - I now notice you said RDP - so does that mean you are using something other than Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection (RDC)?

11-30-2012, 03:58 PM	#3
sliberty Prospect Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: East Brunswick, NJ Posts: 49	Sorry, I should have said RDC, not RDP. It is from Office 2011. I updated the original post. I have tried every combination I can think of. Command-Right moves one letter at a time, just light Right without Command. Command Shift highlights one letter at a time. I did find out that Fn-Right moves to the end of the line, and Fn-Left moves to the start of the line. That is helpful, but there are other keystrokes of course that I still haven't found.

11-30-2012, 04:31 PM	#4
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,957	Maybe that will vary depending on what software you want to control on the Windows system. Are you simply selecting text to copy/paste? Can you select your desired text with other methods, such as a mouse?

11-30-2012, 04:35 PM	#5
sliberty Prospect Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: East Brunswick, NJ Posts: 49	These are Windows standard keystrokes, used in all text based programs. Probably OS provided. They should be the same in all apps.

12-02-2012, 08:24 PM	#6
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,957	Yes, but you are not using Windows, just controlling Windows (from your Mac), so standard keystrokes provided by the OS, would be OS X standard, eh? In Word for Mac, you can move the cursor to the next word on the right with Option-right arrow. You can extend a selected item with the word to the right with a Shift-Option-right. Press again to include another word in the selection. Does that help at all?

12-02-2012, 08:43 PM	#7
sliberty Prospect Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: East Brunswick, NJ Posts: 49	DeltaMac, Actually, with RDC, you are using Windows, but you are controlling it from a Mac keyboard. Windows is running on the remote machine, and will only react to the key codes that it recognizes. So the Mac has to send recognizable key codes to the remote Windows session in order for things to work as needed.

12-03-2012, 12:05 PM	#8
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,957	Exactly - you are close to correct. You are not booted to Windows - you are controlling Windows, so your shortcut keys will be those on the Mac, to a major extent. There will be some Windows-specific shortcuts, and some will be the same. And - some will be different, because the keyboard provides different codes. It's similar to the reason that some (not all!) Windows keyboards won't send proper key codes for a Mac, such as those used for booting. The reverse is also (sometimes) true. Anyway, you will have some differences, and it's likely that the help files in RDC (which I don't have) will give some information about which shortcuts are used to control Windows.