If you’ve been working with GPU deployment in your virtual desktop environment (XenDesktop or XenApp), you probably also installed HDX 3D Pro. Leveraging the GPU, you can use more graphic-intensive applications. Some of these graphic-intensive applications sometimes launch in fullscreen mode by default (think of benchmarking tools or videogames). The result of starting an application in fullscreen mode could be the following error:
--------------------------- Citrix HDX 3D Pro Warning! --------------------------- Full Screen Applications are not supported in Citrix HDX 3D Pro. Press Ok to exit. --------------------------- OK ---------------------------
Fixing the issue
The problem with the application is that the resolution of the application is not equal to the session’s resolution. Normally, your display would change resolution and the application is started without issues. However, within a Citrix session, the resolution can’t be changed from inside the session.
Although the message makes you think otherwise, you can run fullscreen applications without problems. The “secret” is that the fullscreen application has to be started in the exact same resolution as the Citrix session. For example, my session is launched in fullscreen mode, so it’s in 1600×900 resolution. If I make sure the application starts with a 1600×900 resolution, I can run the application without problems in fullscreen mode:
How to start an application in a certain resolution depends on the application itself. Some applications can be configured by modifying a configuration file, some applications can be started in a specific resolution by modifying the command line parameters. You will need to do some investigation on how your application can be started. If everything else fails, the alternative may be to start the application in windowed mode.
I hope this article was usefull for you. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email.