Running applications

In the Site Bar area of the home page, you choose to run applications in one of the following modes:

Note: If you're accessing the home page using a browser other than Microsoft Edge, the Mode field does not display and applications launch in Browser Mode by default.

  • Browser Mode
  • Windows Mode

Browser Mode

Browser Mode, in which the applications open in a browser window, provides flexibility in that nearly all browsers and nearly all hardware is supported. You can access Sage data from your computer, tablet, phone, or even your smart TV.

However, there are limitations in terms of printing and other features. These limitations are described in the pros and cons section.

If you're running an application in Browser mode and return to the home page to open another application for the same site, the following happens when you open the second application:

  • The existing browser tab might close depending on your browser.
  • A new instance of the browser window opens.
  • Both the app that you were already running and the one that you just opened are running in the same tab.

Note: One application may be completely covering another one. In some cases the application that was most recently opened is hidden behind another one.

You may have unexpected results if you have multiple browser windows open at the same time. Even though the browser is running in separate windows, they are considered one session by the browser application, and conflicts might occur.

Windows Mode

Windows Mode uses a remote desktop protocol (RDP) to connect to the virtual machine (VM) on which your Sage application is installed. This mode mimics the experience of running an application that is installed on your computer. The process of completing tasks such as printing reports and opening multiple windows at the same time is virtually identical regardless of whether the application is locally installed or in the cloud.

However, Windows Mode is supported only on computers running the Windows operating system, and it only works when you log in to the home page using Microsoft Edge version 79 or later or Internet Explorer.

Virtual Machine Access

The Virtual Machine Access button may be available based on the permissions granted to you by your system administrator.

When you click the Virtual Machine Access button, you'll establish a remote desktop connection with the virtual machine on which your Sage application is installed. You will see the Windows Start menu and taskbar, and you can access other applications that are installed on the VM. Depending on the level of access assigned to you by your system administrator, you may be able to install applications and perform other administrative tasks.

If you have more than one monitor connected to your computer, you can use only one or multiple monitors to show the virtual machine. This option is available if :

  • You're using the Microsoft Edge browser or Internet Explorer browser
  • You have Windows mode selected in the Site Bar

Options for using multiple monitors are available on the Settings menu (Settings icon).

If you're using Internet Explorer, you'll have the choice of selecting the Multi Monitor option to use all of your monitors, or you can clear it to use only one monitor.

If you're using Edge and the Multi Monitor option is selected, you can then select Span All Monitors to extend the virtual machine across all monitors. Or you can clear the Span All Monitors option and specify a target monitor and how many monitors you want to use.

For example, if you have four monitors, you can select the second monitor as your target and specify that you want the virtual machine to span two monitors. In this example, the virtual machine would appear on both your second and third monitor.

To span all monitors using the Edge browser:

  1. Click the Settings (Settings icon) button.
  2. Select Multi Monitor. Additional options appear on the menu.
  3. Select Span All Monitors.

When you start the virtual machine, it will span across all of your monitors.

To span some but not all monitors using the Edge browser:

  1. Click the Settings () button .
  2. Select Multi Monitor.
  3. Make sure Span All Monitors is not selected.
  4. In the numeric field next to Target Monitor, enter the monitor to use as your target monitor.

    Note: The monitor that is furthest to your left is monitor 1, the monitor to its immediate right is monitor 2 and so forth.

  5. In the numeric field next to Span Count, enter the number of monitors use for the virtual machine.

For example, if you are using three monitors, and you want to display the virtual machine on two of them beginning with the second one from the left, enter the following: 

Target Monitor = 2

Span Count = 2

This will display the virtual machine on the second and third monitor.

Pros and cons

The table below describes some of the benefits and limitations of the Browser Mode and the Windows Mode.

Browser Mode and Windows Mode benefits and limitations
 

Browser Mode

Windows Mode

Best for

Anytime, anywhere use.

Recreating the desktop experience of locally installed applications

Access

Computers running Windows or macOS, mobile phones and tablets, almost any device that supports a modern browser.

Limited to desktops running Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). Only Windows-based computers are supported.

Printing

Printing is managed through the browser. Reports are created as PDFs and you can print reports to any local printer.

When the RDP connection is made, if printers are connected, the server can print directly to any connected server or local printer. Multi-part forms can be sent to print to multiple printers or to alternate trays.

File access

The data drive connection is made through the portal to exchange files between the virtual machine and your local computer. The file exchange process is similar to using Dropbox or OneDrive.

When the RDP connection is made, if drives are connected, the local system will be able to connect to the virtual machine and vice-versa. Files can be exchanged through Windows File Explorer.

Multi-tasking

The connection to the virtual machine is streamed through the browser so the number of active windows is limited to the screen real estate provided by the browser itself. Expanding the browser to its maximum size will provide more concurrently viewable windows. Finding individual windows can be challenging if there are several of them competing for window real estate.

Each window that opens through the RDP client appears on your local computer's task bar and functions as if it was started from a locally installed application. A small RDP icon in the task bar indicates that the process is running through RDP. Your local computer can then manage each of these windows independently, supporting multiple monitors and allowing you to easily manage multiple windows.