If you choose to access the Desktop via your web browser, which we refer to as Web Desktop, there are some differences compared to the Desktop launcher.
Network Requirements for the SC hosting Web Desktop
The Web Desktop requires constant connection to the web server. The Web Desktop is streamed to the browser using WebSockets. This means that if the connection is lost, the Desktop will not function until the connection is reestablished, which in turn means that any operation attempted in the Web Desktop while disconnected may hang. If the connection is reestablished within 5 minutes, you can continue where you left off in the Web Desktop. If the connection is not reestablished within 5 minutes, the backend process is terminated and unsaved work is lost. You must go back to the login dialog and create a new session to continue using the Web Desktop.
Note that the same applies if you set your computer to sleep mode for longer than 5 minutes.
Using File Chooser Dialogs
For several Desktop features, you must have the option to import a file into or export a file from the Desktop. In the Web Desktop, there is a file chooser integration dialog, which allows you to interact with the server's file system via your browser.
Compared to the Desktop launcher, this changes how to import and export files into the Desktop.
For information on how to use the System Importer and System Exporter in the Web Desktop, see System Importer in Web Desktop and System Exporter in Web Desktop.
Importing a File into the Desktop
- To import a file, select Import. An Open File dialog appears.
- Click Browse to navigate to the file that you want to import.
Example dialog when importing into Web Desktop
- Select a file to import the contents.
Exporting a File from the Desktop
- To export a file, select Export. A Save File dialog appears.
- Name the file. A default name, in the form of <configuration name>.<configuration type>, which you can modify, is provided. For example, myAnalysis.apl is the default name when you export APL code from an Analysis agent named myAnalysis.
Example dialog when exporting APL code from an Analysis agent - Click Save. The file is saved to your local file system.
Using Copy/Paste in the Desktop
The Web Desktop has a built-in clipboard integration, which means that when you use CTRL+C and CTRL+V to copy and paste text, you must press CTRL+C twice. See below:
- Select the text that you want to copy and press CTRL+C. A dialog appears as shown in the image below.
Copy dialog when using CTRL+C in Web Desktop
If you hover your cursor over the Copy to Clipboard button, the current content of the clipboard is displayed. - Press CTRL+C or the Copy to Clipboard button to copy to your local clipboard.
- To then paste into the Desktop. Either press CTRL + V or select the Paste option from the the right-click menu or the toolbar.
Features Unavailable in Web Desktop
The following Desktop features are unavailable:
- Alarm Inspector
Specific Features with Changes in Web Desktop
Desktop features with specific changes are the following:
- System Exporter
- System Importer
- UDR File Editor
- Importing a WSDL file into a WS profile configuration
- Selecting MIB files in the SNMP Collection profile
- Documentation Generator
The information provided in the following subsections describe the differences in how the respective function works when used in the Web Desktop. See the relevant sections in the Desktop user documentation for full descriptions of these functions, but note that such sections are based on using the functions in the Desktop launcher.
This section includes the following subsections: