When running the CatTools Service there may be some issues in viewing the CatTools Service user interface.
Default install of CatTools Service (Local System account):
By default the CatTools Service is installed to the Local System account with the setting 'Allow service to interact with desktop' set on so you can see the service user interface when you are physically logged in at the server console.
If you are using Terminal Services/Remote Desktop (RDP) to access the server/machine remotely you may not be able to see the CatTools Service interface. However, Microsoft have a /console switch for starting RDP connections which will force the session to log you in as if you were on the console.
To run a Remote Desktop session using the /console switch, open the "Run" dialog using the "Start" button on the Windows taskbar then type in the command 'mstsc /console'. You will then see the usual Remote Desktop Connection dialog box where you enter the IP address or host address for the server/machine where CatTools in installed to, and any login credentials.
If you are accessing your CatTools server/machine via a saved .RDP file rather then using the Start --> Run dialog and need to be able to access the Service Interface, you will need to create a shortcut to your .RDP file in order to include the /console switch.
Create a shortcut to the .RDP file (right-click on the file) open the shortcut properties and edit the 'Target' field by adding '%SystemRoot%\System32\mstsc.exe /console' to the beginning of the target path. Your target should now look something like this:
%SystemRoot%\System32\mstsc.exe /console "C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Desktop\rdps\CatTools_Server.RDP
Clicking on this new shortcut will send you to that server always in console mode.
See your windows help for more details.
For issues arising when using other remote desktop software, see the topic Remote Desktop Systems in the Troubleshooting chapter.
Custom install of CatTools Service:
When CatTools is installed to run under a different account other than the default Local System account (i.e. using the "Install As" button in the CatTools Manager application), the option to interact with the desktop is not available therefore the service user interface cannot be displayed on the console.
The CatTools Manager application allows you to manage the CatTools Service (start/stop) and provides a "Remote Access" button to run CatTools in Standard Mode (application mode) when it is not possible to access the service user interface.