Issues with controlclick and remote desktop sessions

[Ander]

As I mentioned before, when I'm logged into the PC, I can use winActivate and send commands without any problems.

My actual problem is when I am not logged into the PC given that AutoIt cannot manage the GUI the same way.

I tried to use other commands like ControlFocus, yet I got the same outcome.

$remoteDesktopName = "'Cli123456-VM - Remote Desktop Connection"
ControlFocus($remoteDesktopName, "", "[CLASS:OPContainerClass; INSTANCE:1]")
Sleep(500)

My understanding is that when the PC is locked any session is active, therefore AutoIT is unable to manipulate the GUI.

Thanks.

[Earthshine]

I found this on Stack Overflow, says you need to activate the window. 

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/26505329/autoit-controlsend-remote-desktop

 

 I just tested this by

1. Starting a VM

2. RDP to VM

3. Lock said VM

4. From remote client, run the test below, Substitute the correct Title to search for and the correct password in place of Hello1 and you are all set!

 

#include<Array.au3>
OPT("WinTitleMatchMode",2)

$a = WinList("Remote Desktop Connection")

;_ArrayDisplay($A)

ConsoleWrite(UBound($A)& @CRLF)
FOR $N = 1 to $A[0][0]
    $hActiveWindow = WinGetHandle("")

    WinActivate($a[$N][1]) ;comment if using controlfocus
    ;ControlFocus($a[$N][1],"","") ;comment if using winactivate
    ControlSend($a[$N][1],"","","Hello1^+{ENTER}")

    WinActivate($hActiveWindow)
Next

 

This code finds the RDP Sesseion

Next it activates the found RDP session at element $a[$N][1]

Next it sends that found control some keystrokes

Next it activates that TscShell class (RDP window) so the code can execute.

Sorry this took so long to answer. This should do ya.

Edited October 25, 2017 by Earthshine

[Ander]

Hi Earthshine,

Thanks for all your support, unfortunately I could not get the script working.

When I run the script with my local machine locked, the script just sends the enter but it does not Activate the "Remote connection" window, as a result, the script in the remote PC doesn't run either.

Thanks.

[jdelaney]

use paexec to run the script on the remote desktop...then you can use reliable functions.  It will by default run in session 0, which is where services run.  Gui's will still be created, but several functions are not possible to use in that state.

windows can not be in an 'active' state when behind a locked desktop.

https://www.autoitscript.com/wiki/FAQ#Why_doesn.27t_my_script_work_on_a_locked_workstation.3F

Edited October 30, 2017 by jdelaney

[Earthshine]

thanks jdelaney! I may even need this functionality some day.