Key mappings in RealVNC client

Question

I am using RealVNC viewer on Windows. I sometimes find it very difficult to shift from VNC to Windows. I have to use F8 -> Minimize and then Alt + Tab. I wish I had more flexibility. Can the following key combinations be somehow enabled?

1. Win + D -> I see my Windows desktop.
2. Alt + Tab switches between VNC and Windows applications.
3. Ctrl + Tab switches between VNC subwindows.

Solution 1

I found two solutions:

1 (from: http://www.realvnc.com/products/viewerplus/1.0/docs/af1069655.html)

Configuring your keyboard

By default, and with the exception of CTRL-ALT-DELETE and the function key used to open the shortcut menu, key presses affect the host computer and not the client. To reverse this behavior for the application-level keys listed below, turn off Pass special keys directly to VNC Server. Note this property is on the Inputs tab.

Affected keys/combinations: WINDOWS (also known as START), PRINT SCREEN, ALT-TAB, ALT-ESCAPE, CTRL-ESCAPE.

2 (from: http://www.physnet.uni-hamburg.de/physnet/vnc/winvncviewer.html)

Keystrokes such as Ctrl-Esc and Alt-Tab may be interpreted at the local (viewer) machine. If you want to send them to the remote machine, you can use the options on the viewer menu to send individual Ctrl-down, Ctrl-up, Alt-down and Alt-up keystrokes. For example, to type Ctrl-Esc on the remote machine, send Ctrl-down using the menu, press Esc, and then send Ctrl-up (or just tap the Ctrl key) to release the Ctrl key at the remote end.

Solution 2

I am running the Gnome Desktop on the VNC Server, so I followed these steps to implement the two solutions recommended by user1403360:

1. Turn off Viewer -> Options -> Inputs -> "Pass special keys directly to VNC Server" (i.e. parameter SendSpecialKeys=FALSE)

   Alt+Tab will now switch between Windows applications

2. In Gnome Desktop -> Preferences -> KeyboardShortcuts, change "Move between windows using a popup window" => Ctrl+Tab

   Ctrl+Tab will now switch between VNC sub-windows