Executing Tasks in a Minimized RDP Window

Automation on a virtual environment is done through visual recognition of elements rather than direct UI object interaction. This means that the RDP window needs to be visible at all times for most UI actions to work. However, interactive tasks can be executed on a remote computer while the Remote Desktop window is minimized. These interactions can be enabled in the background by modifying the Remote Desktop registry settings on all the computers which access the Robot machine via RDP. These settings do not need to be modified on the Robot machine.

The settings are modified in the Windows Registry Editor (administrator rights are required), as follows:

1. Close any opened Remote Desktop sessions.
2. Press Win + R, type “regedit”, and press Enter. The Registry Editor window is displayed.

3. Navigate to the following Registry keys:

   • For the current user:

     • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client (32 bit)
     • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client (64 bit)

   • For all users:

     • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client (32 bit)
     • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client (64 bit)

   • Create a new DWORD value with the RemoteDesktop_SuppressWhenMinimized name.

     4.1. Right-click inside the right panel of the Registry Editor window.

     4.2. Select New >Select DWORD (32-bit) Value. A new registry is added to the right panel.

     4.3. Change the default name to RemoteDesktop_SuppressWhenMinimized.

     
     

     

     
     

     4.4. Double-click RemoteDesktop_SuppressWhenMinimized. The Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value window is displayed.

     4.5. Write 2 in the Value data field.

     4.6. Press OK to save changes.

     
     

     

     
     
4. Close the Registry Editor window.
5. Sign off all users from the Robot machines before executing a job. UI actions can now be automated even when the RDP window gets minimized.