Overview of Remote
Overview of Remote Control

A remote control connection allows a remote PC to connect to a host PC and use the host PC as though the user were at the host site, accessing any file or application on the host PC or the network.

During a remote control session with a host you can:

 Transfer files between the host and remote PCs.

 Synchronize and clone files and folders on the host and remote PC.

 Electronically 'chat' with the host user by typing a conversation on the screen.

 Record the session to a record file for later playback and diagnostics.

 Log session statistics to a log file.

 Create or run script files to automatically perform routine operations.

Before you can begin a remote control session you must first create one or more remote control connection items. Each connection item is a file containing dialing instructions and other settings that the remote PC uses to connect to a particular host. In addition, the host PC you are calling must have the pcAnywhere host waiting for a call.


AutoTransfer overview

An AutoTransfer procedure is a file containing commands to automatically transfer files to the host, receive files from the host, or synchronize files on both host and remote PCs.

The End Session When Finished option allows you to run a large AutoTransfer procedure unattended. When the procedure is done, the connection to the host is terminated automatically.

You can create AutoTransfer procedures using any of the following methods:

  Remote Control connection item - Automated Tasks property page: Allows you to create an AutoTransfer procedure to automatically run when the remote control connection item connects to the host PC.

  Remote online menu or online toolbar: Allows you to create, modify, and run an AutoTransfer procedure during a session with the host PC.

  File Manager: Allows you to view the folders and files on both the remote and host PC, and select the files or folders to be included in the AutoTransfer procedure. In addition to the advantage of displaying the host files for selection, creating a procedure from the file manager window allows you to select more than one file or folder at a time.


Start an AutoTransfer procedure automatically
Starting an AutoTransfer [image] procedure upon connecting

AutoTransfer [image] procedures allow you to automatically transfer folders or files to and from the host PC. Files with duplicate filenames can be automatically synchronized with the newer file overwriting the older file.

The End Session When Finished option allows you to run a large AutoTransfer procedure unattended. When the procedure is done, the connection to the host is terminated automatically.

To automatically run an AutoTransfer procedure upon connection

1	Click Remote Control on the pcAnywhere action bar.

2	Create a remote control connection item or select an existing item.

3	Choose Properties from the drop-down menu.

4	Click the Automated Tasks tab.

5	Check Run Upon Connection.

6	Click AutoTransfer.

7	Choose a procedure to run and click OK.


Automatic FileTransfer

For unattended FileTransfers, be sure to select a file overwrite option that does not require user confirmation. For example, if a duplicate file is detected on the host PC, the procedure will stop and wait for a confirmation to proceed. Choose an overwrite option such as Overwrite Older Files Only.


Improving session performance

There are several options you can set to help improve the performance of a remote control connection:

To select any of these options:

1	Choose Application Options from the Tools menu.

2	Click the Remote Operation tab.

Disable Host's Active Desktop—improves performance by disabling any active desktop settings configured on the host PC.

Set ColorScale [image] —performance is improved when you select a minimum amount of colors.

Optimize Desktop For Remote Control—improves performance by disabling the host PC's wallpaper, screen save, idel power-down options, and by preventing full window dragging.

Reduce Host desktop Area to Match Remote—improves performance by causing the host to reduce it's screen resolution to match the resolution used by the remote PC.


Remote control connection item
To create a remote control connection item

1	Click Remote Control on the action bar

2	Double-click Add Remote Control Item to run the Remote Control Wizard.

3	Follow the on screen instructions to complete the wizard.

Note:  The remote control wizard creates a connection item using pcAnywhere's default settings.To view or modify the default settings, right-click the connection item and choose Properties from the drop-down menu.

 Click the Help button on any property page for detailed information on the available settings.


Make a remote control connection
To make a remote control connection

1	Click Remote Control on the pcAnywhere action bar.

2	Create a remote control connection item, or select an existing connection item.

3	Verify that the host PC is waiting for a call.

4	Double-click the connection item to start the call.

5	[optional] Type your login ID and password.


Automatically log in to the host
To automatically log in to the host PC

On the remote PC:

1	Right-click the remote PC connection item.

2	Choose Properties from the drop-down menu.

3	Click the Settings tab.

4	Type your assigned login name and password

  When you make a connection using this connection item, your login and password are entered automatically at the host PC.


Allow connections to multiple hosts
To allow connections to multiple hosts

On the remote PC:

1	Choose Application Options from the Tools menu.

2	Click the Remote Operation tab.

3	Check the Allow Connection to Multiple Hosts option.

  You can leave this option unchecked and still call multiple hosts by minimizing the first connection and running the pcAnywhere program again.


Call multiple hosts
To call multiple hosts

On the remote PC:

1	Check Allow Connection to Multiple Hosts in the Application Options > Remote Operation property page.

2	Click Remote Control on the pcAnywhere action bar.

3	Double-click the remote PC connection item for the host PC you want to call.

4	You may be prompted for the following:

•	If your connection item does not include the phone number of the host for a modem connection, you are prompted to type a number.

•	If your connection item does not include the name of the host PC for a network connection, a list of network hosts displays, allowing you to choose a host.

5	Click the pcAnywhere remote control icon in the taskbar to switch to the pcAnywhere application.

6	Double-click the remote PC connection item for the next host you want to call.

7	Repeat for each host you want to call.

 If the Allow Connection to Multiple Hosts option is not checked, minimize the first host connection and run pcAnywhere again to call additional hosts.


Optimize the host desktop

Set this option on the remote PC to optimize the performance of a session with any host PC.

This feature:

•	disables the host PC's wallpaper and screen saver.

•	disables idle power-down options on the host.

•	prevents full-window dragging.

  These changes are temporary and are in effect only during the session. After the session ends, all options on the host PC are restored to original settings.

To optimize the host's desktop

On the remote PC:

1	Choose Application Options from the Tools menu.

2	Click the Remote Operation tab.

3	Check Optimize Desktop For Remote Control and Click OK.


Set the remote PC to wait for a call
To have the remote PC wait for a call

On the remote PC:

1	Right-click the remote PC connection item.

2	Choose Wait for Connection from the drop-down menu.

 After the connection is made, the remote PC still acts as a remote, taking control of the host PC and the remote control session.


Add AutoTransfer commands in automated tasks page
To create an AutoTransfer procedure from the Automated Tasks page:

1	Right-click a remote control connection item and choose Properties from the drop-down menu.

2	Click the Automated Tasks tab.

3	Check Run Upon Connection.

4	Click AutoTransfer.

5	Click Properties.

The Add AutoTransfer Command dialog box lists any file transfer commands currently in the procedure.

6	Click Add.

7	Choose the type of transfer:

•	Send to host – sends the folder or file from the remote to the host PC.

•	Receive from host – sends the folder or file from the host to the remote PC.

•	Sync – checks for duplicate filenames and transfers the file with the latest date and time.


Add AutoTransfer commands from the remote online menu
To add AutoTransfer commands from the remote online menu:

1	Make a remote control connection.

2	Do one of the following:

  Choose AutoTransfer from the remote's online menu.

  Click Run AutoTransfer on the remote online toolbar.

The Run AutoTransfer dialog box appears.

3	Do one:

•	Click Properties to add commands to the AutoTransfer procedure displayed in the text box.

•	Click Browse to select a different procedure, then click Properties

•	.Type a name for a new procedure and click Properties.

4	Click Add.

5	Choose the type of transfer:

•	Send to host – sends the folder or file from the remote to the host PC.

•	Receive from host – sends the folder or file from the host to the remote PC.

•	Sync – checks for duplicate filenames and transfers the file with the latest date and time.

6	Type the folder and filename in the Local (remote) and Host folder/file text box and click OK.

Repeat for each command you want to add to the procedure.

  TIP It is more convenient to create and modify AutoTransfer procedures from the pcAnywhere File Manager because folders and files can be selected from a list of files displayed on both the remote and host PC. In addition, you can add more than one folder or file at a time to the procedure.


Add commands from the pcAnywhere File Manager
To add AutoTransfer commands from the File Manager:

1	Make a file transfer connection.

2	Select a folder, a file, or a group of files from the host or remote file list box that you want to add to the AutoTransfer procedure.

3	Do one:

•	Click Add AutoTransfer in the File Manager button bar.

•	Choose Add to AutoTransfer from the File menu.

4	[optional] Click Browse to add commands to a different procedure.

5	Click OK to add displayed files to the selected AutoTransfer procedure.

To view or modify the commands in an AutoTransfer procedure:

1	Choose Close from the File menu to return to a remote control session.

2	Choose Modify AutoTransfer from the File menu.


There are two ways to make a file transfer connection:

 Click Remote Control in the pcAnywhere action bar to make a remote control connection, and choose File Transfer from the online toolbar.

 Click File Transfer in the pcAnywhere action bar to make a connection and automatically run the pcAnywhere File Manager.


Disable the host's Active Desktop

Set this option on the remote PC to optimize the performance of a session with any host PC.

This feature:

•	Disables any Active Desktop settings configured on the Host PC.

  These changes are temporary and are in effect only during the session. After the session ends, all options on the host PC are restored to original settings.

On the remote PC:

1	Choose Application Options from the Tools menu.

2	Click the Remote Operation tab.

3	Check Disable Host's Active Desktop and click OK.