Remote Desktop Protocol settings in Windows Server 2003 and in Windows XP

When you use the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to connect to a remote computer, the Default.rdp file is created on the client computer. This article discusses the connection settings that are stored in the Default.rdp file.

When you use RDP to connect to a remote computer, you can use the Remote Desktop Connection Options dialog box to configure many of the connection settings. To configure these settings, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type mstsc.exe, and then click OK.
2. In the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box, click Options.

You can save *.rdp files with different settings if you connect to multiple remote computers. To save a new configuration, click Save As on the General tab in Options.

Settings that are stored in the Default.rdp file

By default, the Default.rdp file is created in your My Documents folder. The following RDP settings are stored in the Desktop.rdp file:

desktopwidth:i

This setting corresponds to the desktop width that you select on the Display tab in Remote Desktop Connection Options.

Note Microsoft Windows CE-based devices support only full-screen mode.

desktopheight:i

This setting corresponds to the desktop height that you select on the Display tab in Remote Desktop Connection Options.

Note Microsoft Windows CE-based devices support only full-screen mode.

session bpp:i

This setting corresponds to the color depth that you select in Colors on the Display tab in Remote Desktop Connection Options.

Note Microsoft Windows CE-based devices support only full-screen mode.

winposstr:s

This setting corresponds to the window position that you select on the Display tab in Remote Desktop Connection Options.

Note On desktop computers, this setting determines the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box position on the screen. The six numbers represent a string form of the WINDOWPOS structure. For more information about the WINDOWPOS function, visit the following Microsoft Web site:Note Microsoft Windows CE-based devices support only full-screen mode.

auto connect:i

This setting is not used by desktop computers or by Windows CE-based clients.

full address:s

This setting determines the computer that you connect to. The setting corresponds to the entry in the Computer box on the General tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

compression:i

This setting determines whether data is compressed when it is transmitted to the client computer.

keyboardhook:i

This setting determines where Windows key combinations are applied. This setting corresponds to the selection in the Keyboard box on the Local Resources tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

audiomode:i

This setting determines where sounds are played. This setting corresponds to the selection in the Remote computer sound box on the Local Resources tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

redirectdrives:i

This setting determines whether disk drives are automatically connected when you log on to the remote computer. This setting corresponds to the selection in the Disk Drives box on the Local Resources tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

redirectprinters:i

This setting determines whether printers are automatically connected when you log on to the remote computer. This setting corresponds to the selection in the Printers check box on the Local Resources tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

redirectcomports:i

This setting determines whether COM ports are automatically connected when you log on to the remote computer. This setting corresponds to the selection in the Serial Ports box on the Local Resources tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

redirectsmartcards:i

This setting determines whether smart cards are automatically connected when you log on to the remote computer. This setting corresponds to the selection in the Smart cards box on the Local Resources tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

displayconnectionbar:i

This setting determines whether the connection bar is displayed when you log on to the remote computer in full-screen mode. This setting corresponds to the selection in the Display the connection bar when in full screen mode check box on the Display tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

username:s

This setting determines the user name that is displayed in RDP. The setting corresponds to the entry in the User name box on the General tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

domain:s

This setting determines the user name that is displayed in the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box. It corresponds to the entry in the Domain box on the General tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

alternate shell:s

This setting determines whether a program is started automatically when you connect with RDP. The setting corresponds to the entry in the Program path and file name box on the Programs tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

shell working directory:s

This setting is the folder location for the application that is started automatically when you connect with RDP. The setting corresponds to the entry in the Program path and file name box on the Programs tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

disable wallpaper:i

This setting determines whether the desktop background appears when you log on to the remote computer. This setting corresponds to the selection in the Desktop background check box on the Experience tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

disable full window drag:i

This setting determines whether folder contents appear when you drag the folder to a new location. This setting corresponds to the selection in the Show contents of window while dragging check box on the Experience tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

disable menu anims:i

This setting determines how menus and windows appear when you log on to the remote computer. This setting corresponds to the selection in the Menu and window animation check box on the Experience tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

disable themes:i

This setting determines whether themes are permitted when you log on to the remote computer. This setting corresponds to the selection in the Themes check box on the Experience tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

bitmapcachepersistenable:i

This setting determines whether bitmaps are cached on the local computer. This setting corresponds to the selection in the Bitmap caching check box on the Experience tab of Remote Desktop Connection Options.

autoreconnection enabled:i

This setting determines whether a client computer automatically tries to reconnect after being disconnected.