Dec 07
When using tsclient, a remote desktop/terminal services/vnc client, if you connect in full screen mode to a server it can be difficult to disconnect or switch to another application because there is no ‘control bar’ at the top.
To toggle full screen mode, use the key combination Ctrl+Alt+Enter.
January 12th, 2006 at 9:04 am
Hello Steven,
I wanted to let you know that your tip for the full screen scwitch in tsclient was exactly what I was looking for.
I am fortunate to be a Linux server admin and use Debian as my desktop within a fortune 1000 company.
Matter of fact the team I am on manage a very large 5.7K node Red Hat based in house developed grid environment and we are all using Linux (Debian, Gentoo, Ubuntu, Mepis) on our desktops.
Well I wanted to give you feed back that your post has helped someone more effectivily use tsclient.
Steve Lewis
Little Rock, AR
January 12th, 2006 at 9:14 am
Thanks – glad it helped! Sounds like you have an exciting job.
March 28th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
You rock – you’d think this info would be somewhere obvious.
August 16th, 2006 at 10:12 pm
House now completely void of microsoft but I need to connect to work. Thank -you!!
August 18th, 2006 at 2:13 am
That’s what I was looking for. Thanks!
August 19th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
Thank you for posting this. I was googling for awhile now trying to figure out how to break out of my remote windows session short of having to disconnect every time I wanted to reference something on my linux computer!
September 7th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
Thanks for posting!
March 6th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Hey, this is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing!
March 8th, 2007 at 7:17 am
Saved me. I’m stuck in full screen right now and couldn’t “get out”.
March 14th, 2007 at 2:31 am
I was looking for this tip on google. Thanks for the tip!
June 1st, 2007 at 7:36 am
Thanks so much for blogging this, is there a way to disable “Terminal Server Client Error” when you close the session or log out?
June 2nd, 2007 at 5:45 pm
nice! thank you;
I wonder why this tools doens’t have a little text that explains this command.
June 5th, 2007 at 7:30 am
Thanks! Who needs software manuals when you have google tech bloggers?
June 14th, 2007 at 6:59 am
oh man, thank you very much you really saved my time ……. God Bless you
August 14th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Hmmm. That key combination doesn’t exit full-screen mode in Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty) connected to a Windows XP TightVNC server. Any suggestions to make it work?
August 16th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Thanks Steve!
I was trapped inside a Terminal Services window myself…
–Mike–
October 16th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Thanks
I am using SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop with XGL graphics effects. I am running VMWare server with a Windoze desktop for work applications. I use tsclient to connect to the VM as VMWare does not like full screen mode with XGL enabled.
I just installed SLED 10 SP1 onto a bigger HDD and noticed this version of tsclient starts with the window border when run in full screen mode so wondered how I got the bottom of the TS window back (task bar etc), I forgot about this key combination.
It is good to have tsclient in full screen with no border and then I can flip to another viewport (XGL) to run other applications.
Brent
October 17th, 2007 at 9:06 am
Doesn’t work!
On gutsy that combination doesn’t work. I have to Disconnect in order to exit tsclient.
Is there another way to do it?
October 27th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
There is a bug report for this in Gutsy:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/ source/tsclient/ bug/152615
In the mean time I just go to
start > programs > terminal services manager
and use it to disconnect myself, it sucks but works
November 8th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Instead of using TS manager, can’t you just go start > disconnect (big yellow button)?
And, Ctrl-Alt-Enter doesn’t work on Gutsy for me either.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
I found a way to use this combination in Gutsy with Compiz. Press ctrl-alt-enter, then QUICKLY press ctrl-alt-(arrow left or right). If you’ve got the Compiz ‘Rotate Cube’ plugin setup, this will switch you to your next desktop and out of your tsclient session.
January 13th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
As many others, I did lots of Google searches before finding the answer I was looking for in your blog… Thanks!
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I found a way how to enable “exit fullscreen” key combination for rdesktop when compiz is active. It was in “compiz setting manager”. There is plugin – “Workarounds”, which was enabled in my case. Among settings of this plugin there is option – “Legacy Fullscreen support”. It was enabled, and when I disabled it fullscreen in rdesktop began to work properly, that is, pressing “CTRL ALT ENTER” exits/enters fullscreen mode. Since tsclient uses rdesktop when it connects to windows hosts, this should work for it too.
January 24th, 2008 at 6:45 am
Alex, how do I love thee. Let me count the ways… Thanks for the awesome tip! That’s been bugging me for months!
January 29th, 2008 at 1:28 am
Yeah, awesome find Alex – this one was driving me nuts, fortunately Google got me here pretty quickly!
February 17th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I’m using Ubuntu Gutsy 7.10 64bit. Ctrl-Alt-Enter makes the screen flash but does not exit full screen mode. I’m actually posting from the box I made an RDP connection to. Some advice on exiting full screen mode would be appreciated. I would like to some less forceful than ctrl-alt-bs.
February 25th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Finally! I won’t have to log off every time to use a different program. !!!
June 19th, 2008 at 6:23 am
go to the “Performance” tab and make sure the “attach to console” and “allow window manager key bindings” options are checked, use ctrl+alt+left/right to switch desktop
July 14th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
DAMM! It make my Ubuntu Hardy reboot after press ctrl-alt-enter.
July 15th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Tried *everything* suggested above on my Ubuntu Hardy (8.04) with Compiz to no avail: Ctrl-Alt-Enter still refuses to work, the compiz cube rotation doesn’t work (as it usually does) via Ctrl-Alt-r/l arrow, and I have to use Ctrl-Alt-Bs or kill manually the process from a terminal to get out of it
July 19th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Thanks so much, I just moved from kubuntu to ubuntu and have never used this client, it’s perfect!
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
“Tried *everything* suggested above on my Ubuntu Hardy (8.04) with Compiz to no avail: Ctrl-Alt-Enter still refuses to work, the compiz cube rotation doesn’t work (as it usually does) via Ctrl-Alt-r/l arrow, and I have to use Ctrl-Alt-Bs or kill manually the process from a terminal to get out of it
”
Weird, I did what this post said:
“I found a way how to enable “exit fullscreen” key combination for rdesktop when compiz is active. It was in “compiz setting manager”. There is plugin – “Workarounds”, which was enabled in my case. Among settings of this plugin there is option – “Legacy Fullscreen support”. It was enabled, and when I disabled it fullscreen in rdesktop began to work properly, that is, pressing “CTRL ALT ENTER” exits/enters fullscreen mode. Since tsclient uses rdesktop when it connects to windows hosts, this should work for it too.”
and it works perfectly.
August 31st, 2008 at 7:08 am
I tried and if I connect via rdp all is OK, I can toggle the full screen with ctr+alt+enter editing the workaround of the compiz, but when I connect via VNC it is imposible, all the key combinations goes to the server, and they don’t do nothing in the client I am using.
Sorry about my bad English
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Thanks it worked for me on Hardy… Anyway to gracefully close the connection ?
September 4th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Ok, solved my problem, if you want to toggle the fullscreen in tsclient with a rdp conection, yo have to use the ctr+alt+enter, an configure he workarounds of the compiz, but if you are conecting by vnc, you have to use F8
September 11th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Thanks to Alex for the solution of the tsclient full-screen toggle. Excellent work!
September 17th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Alex, thanks. “Disabling Legacy Fullscreen” support was the right thing.
October 17th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Enter works for me.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Thanks, I thought I was stuck
November 5th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Alex your a champ worked form me too with disabling the legacy fullscreen on Ubuntu 8.10 tsclient
November 16th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Thanks for the compiz tip. Disabling Legacy Fullscreen support worked. I had no clue what compiz was, though. Simple way to install it from terminal:
sudo aptitude install compizconfig-settings-manager
Access it from System > Preferences
November 26th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
ctrl+alt+enter them tab to switch between applications (do not release key) so when you decide which application you want to stay release ctrl, alt and leave enter pushed then relase enter.
November 27th, 2008 at 2:57 am
in linux Open SUSE 11.0 from the terminal
run the command rdesktop -Kf “ip address”
to exit full screen after login use Alt+Ctrl+Enter then the LInux taskbar appears you can minimize then the remote Desktop.
I hope this is helpfull
December 13th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Alex, you’re a freaking legend. This fix works on Ubuntu Intrepid – I can finally use Compiz!
Thankas again!
February 11th, 2009 at 7:45 am
ctrl+alt+ent works now !!
Thanks to John Bäckstrand
March 11th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I run ubuntu ultimate 2.0 and with rdp connexion in full screen, nothing works to toggle from full screen to non full screen. Ctrl-Alt-Enter only flash my local desktop for less than 1 sec.
Is there a way to correct this behavior?
Thank’s
March 25th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Now to re-post this on all the forums I visited before finding this, asking the very same question…
April 4th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
im using HH 8.04, the tips from Alex work fine for me…..
install compiz, use sudo apt-get compizconfig-settings-manager, then acces it from System > Preferences > Advanced Desktop Effects Settings, then input on the search textfield “Workaround” w/ quot…. and there’s goes the Alex’s tips….
regards…..
April 19th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Here is what I did to make it work…
System -> Preferences -> Appearance -> Visual Effects – Set to NONE.
April 26th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Thanks, this really save a lot of time…. but where is the top bar link MSTSC on Windows ???
September 9th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
I am remoted in using tsclient right now and stuck in full screen and your blog did just the trick
thanks!!
September 18th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Thanks, this page was my first Google hit and it worked. Ctrl+Alt+Enter is what I was looking for.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:07 am
[...] vía Posted by rubensa Filed in Recetas, Ubuntu Leave a Comment » [...]
May 25th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
After 3 years this tip still rocks.
Tanks a lot!!!! I was tired of using Alt-Shift-F1 and the ps aux , the kill.
I pride meself on being a Linux/Unix pro, your tip just goes to show how much I still need to learn.
July 12th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Many thanks to Kimmo (from 2 years ago!)
Ctl-Shift-Alt-Enter works for me on Ubuntu 10.04 with Terminal Server Client to toggle between full-screen and windowed session
October 28th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
thanks man.
i’m trying to escape from terminal session more than 15 minutes
November 28th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Thank you ! may the source be with you!
November 29th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
[...] to Steve Eppler for [...]
December 14th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Hmm, when I did this, it exited fullscreen on tsclient, but then I found myself at the login screen of Ubuntu and when I logged in, it acted as if I was starting a new session, as in, none of my windows were still open. The only thing I can think of that happened was that I pressed CTRL+ALT+DELETE while looking at Windows in the remote desktop. When I did that in Windows, it brought up the expected dialog, thus I thought it was intercepted by Windows and not interpreted by Ubuntu, but perhaps the keys were recognized by both Windows and Ubuntu?
Also, note that I had to use the Enter key near the shift button. The enter key on my number pad didn’t work.
January 12th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Thanks! I was just looking for this!
January 24th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
awesome, thank you!
February 18th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Thanks for the tip! Ctrl-Alt-Enter…who knew?
February 26th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Thanks – this is what I needed to know
April 2nd, 2011 at 5:27 am
Thanks!
April 5th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Very helpful.
Even the official website is gone
June 27th, 2011 at 12:09 am
[...] http://www.steveneppler.com Esta entrada fue publicada en Linux. Guarda el enlace permanente. ← Pitivi o [...]
June 27th, 2011 at 10:39 am
Great! I wonder why they don’t have this explained in the GUI.
August 8th, 2011 at 7:31 am
Thank you! Very useful tip!
Going further… anybody knows how to switch from remote desktop to another “local” desktop (under gnome 2.32 – compiz enabled), without exiting full screen mode? Trying with ctrl-alt-arrows just gives me the same full screen of the remote server.
Thanks again!
August 25th, 2011 at 3:32 am
Alex big thanx man!u help me from 2008 =)))
f*ucking Compize Manager.
October 3rd, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Having Numlock on prevents ctrl alt enter from working
check with xev
its a different keypress with numlock (well it is on my laptop)
October 26th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Thank you!
this saved my evening ^^
October 30th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Thanks! Just what I was looking for…
December 6th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
Thanks!