Updated on 5/21/2008Some of you might be disappointed to find some key features requested that are missing in the initial release of 2.0. The reason is really just time. I want to get the coolness of 2.0 out and will have to schedule some features for future releases, so here is my current plan (may change without notice)...
2.0 - DONE!
- Everything you see here, plus more, including...
- Passwords encrypted in the user.config file.
- Full RDP 6.0 support.
- Auto-redial
- Limited command line support for scripting
- Plus more!2.1 - DONE!
- RDP 6.1 Support, such as Terminal Services Gateway! (Requires Vista SP1, XP SP3, or Server 2008 for full functionality)
- Remote Computer Information windows will become non-modal (ie, you can continue to use the rest of RD Tabs while it is running) and will become UAC-aware (under Vista).
- "Lighter weight" RDP Control
- Floating tab panes (similar to the floating tabs, but working as a collection of tabs like in the main window). It's like having multiple copies of RD Tabs opened at once!
- Import/Export settings (everything in the Options dialog) to a file
- More command line support (including importing/exporting settings)
- Copy/duplicate existing favorites will finally be added
- Import favorites from a CSV file to allow bulk insert from spreadsheets or other data sources capable of being exported to CSV. In this version, will only support nine fields (display name, computer name, username, password, domain, port, console, security level, and NLA), with the rest falling back to what is in the default connection properties.
- ActiveX dependency discovery and auto-repair. No more "the RDP ActiveX control is not registered." The detection logic is redone and prompts will be available (under XP and Vista) to elevate and register the library on failure AUTOMATICALLY. Note that this is the first step of many to making RD Tabs "portable" (ie, in the future you'll be able to copy it to a thumb drive for use on any PC). Don't expect this feature soon, but it will happen eventually!2.2- The RD Tabs Profile Clean-up Utility will be made a little more user friendly, will clean out RD Tabs helper apps user.config files (such as the Remote Computer Information tool), and will highlight the CURRENT running version of RD Tabs, so you can clearly see which user.config is "live."
- "Docked" Connection Manager (formerly known as "Sidebar Favorites") where you can enable a side bar on the left or right to show you a treeview of favorites, computers in a domain, computers discovered through NetBIOS (aka Network Neighborhood aka My Network Places aka Network Discovery), or the internal MRU list, fully searchable.
- Tab connection status history - you will be able to view the history of connection status messages (the grey or red box above the connection properties) associated with each tab, to make debugging connection problems easier (as in... when did I get that stupid error? I forgot!)
- Remote Computer Information and other tools will be able to be invoked from the Connection Manager.
- Import from Active Directory or NetBIOS browse list into favorites.
- Middle-click closing of a tab will not change the focus away from the active tab (takes a little recoding of some hardwired stuff, so that's why this is delayed until 2.2).
- Screenshot settings - set whether or not to use the screenshot full screen or region mode by default. Adding a SysKey for screenshots, etc.
- Tab sorting (alphabetical, etc.)
- Icons in the "Tabs" menu to show connection state (disconnected, connected, or connecting).
- The tab title bar can be set to automatically scroll the tabs to bring more on screen after a tab is closed or the length of a tab title changes.
- The ability to exit RD Tabs but have it remember the list of tabs (and possitions) currently open so when you restart it, they all reappear.
- PowerShell scripting integration for controlling UI elements. Scripts can be launched manually or at pre-defined events (such as, starting a connection, ending a connection, application launch, etc.).
- Better Windows 7 integration (start menu / task bar).
2.3- Support for a "master password" feature to encrypt passwords in favorites (instead of using the protected computer-generated key). Failure options: clear passwords and continue -or- exit application.
- Support for application settings being stored in the Windows Roaming Profile user.config.
- Support for favorites being stored in the Windows Roaming Profile user.config - passwords can only be retained from computer to computer if a "master password" is used instead of the protected computer generated key.
- The RD Tabs Profile Clean-up Utility will scan both local and roaming locations.
- Multiple alternate Connection Profile Overrides, for quickly assigning an entire set of pre-stored properties to a connection or favorite.
- Global favorites (formerly "RemoteSync" or "Roaming Favorites") - these will be favorites stored outside of RD Tabs internal profile on a remote folder (or local folder) which you can share with other users (on a read/write or read-only basis).
- Global Settings (formerly "RemoteSync" or "Roaming Settings") - allows you to provide a remote file that contains all RD Tabs settings (similar to Global Favorites) so a unified experience can be had by multiple users.
- Group Policy Administrative Template support for RD Tabs specific features.
- If requested, more CSV import options/fields.
- Completed command line support with the ability to script the opening of any favorite or named connection, import/export favorites, and more!
- Screenshot manager - you will be able to take more than one screenshot at a time and store them in a buffer until needed in another program. will also include captions and a few other nice little features.
- Choice between the left and right scroll buttons in the tab title bar or a drop-down menu similar to Visual Studio 2005/2008. The drop-down menu will be similar in function to the Tabs menu, but will only contain tabs in the tab pane you are clicking in.
3.0- Upgrade to .Net Framework 3.5. This is very important because it will dramatically reduce RD Tabs' resource footprint. The COM Remote desktop API is very resource hungry and this is compounded by the fact that the .Net Framework 2.0 exclusively uses heavyweight controls, even for simple things like checkboxes. The 3.5 framework reintroduces "Lightweight" (or window-less) controls back to modern Windows applications via the Windows Presentation Foundation which will allow RD Tabs to work faster, use less memory, and also look better! All of RD Tabs will not change overnight. For this version, I primarily want to lighten the biggest RD Tabs heavyweight: the individual tab. The rest will come later!
- New types of tabs for various utilities.
- Export a favorite to RDP file format for use with Microsoft's RDP client.
- (Maybe) Limited Remote Assistance integration. Even though RD Tabs will not be able to directly embed a remote assistance session in a tab due to how RA works (no library to interface with), you will be able to request or establish a Remote Assistance session with RD Tabs favorites by invoking the RA application from within RD Tabs. Essentially you will be able to click on a computer and say "log on using remote assistance." I'll keep you updated on how/if this is possible. It looks promising, but I'm not 100% sure yet!
4.0- Add additional protocol support, such as VNC.
Keep the suggestions flowing and I'll add them to the road map and keep it updated! Thanks!
