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The power of /span
The truth is, there is a /span switch which can do exactly that... open a new session to a remote Terminal Server or computer with RDP enabled, and cause the new session to fill all the monitor space on your desktop. To get going, all you need to do is go to Start, Run and enter mstsc /span. When you press OK, you will be presented with the typical connection dialog, where you connect as normal.
If you want to use the switch in a shortcut, I suggest you implement it as follows:
For the /span switch to work, the MSTsc.exe help guide states that:
However, I can confirm that my 3 monitors are not the same height, and the switch still works perfectly fine for me.
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A Custom Resolution
If the /span switch just doesn't cut it for you, and for some reason (perhaps you have a large monitor) you want a window to open at a non-standard screen resolution, then there are commands which can help you, too. The /w and /h switches allow you to set a precise number of pixels which the session should be in width and in height. You can either use the switch on-demand by entering mstsc /w:xxx /h:xxx at a command prompt (where xxx represents the number of pixels) and then connect as usual, or you can make use of the switches in a shortcut. The target of such a shortcut should read:
(Where xxx in the above represents the number of pixels wide and the number of pixels tall the session should be.
I hope this helps; please post a comment to let me know if it does.
-Matt
by: DanRollins on 2008-11-22 at 14:24:17ID: 401
Thanks! This is very useful. I'd like to add:
mstsc /?
displays a syntax summary for the Remote Desktop Connection app. But it does not mention an option that I've found to be useful:
/console
When used on the mstsc command line, you will be able to see the window that includes tray icons and U/I windows that are produced by System Services that allow "Interact with desktop"; that is you can see the desktop as it would appear if you were actually sitting at the remote computer. There are few System Services that interact with the desktop, but if you need to administer one remotely, you will find the /console option to be very useful.