Using the Unity Touch Sidebar with a Remote Desktop

You can quickly navigate to an application or file in a remote desktop from the Unity Touch sidebar. From this sidebar, you can open files and applications, switch between running applications, and minimize, maximize, restore, or close windows and applications in a remote desktop.

For administrators - The Unity Touch feature is available only if a Horizon administrator has activated it. If users have a floating desktop, users’ favorite applications and files can be saved only if Windows roaming user profiles are configured for the remote desktop. A Horizon administrator can also create a default Favorite Applications list that end users see the first time the sidebar appears. For more information, see "Configuring Unity Touch" in the Horizon Remote Desktop Features and GPOs document.

For end users - The Unity Touch feature is available only if a Horizon administrator has activated it. A Horizon administrator might have also created a default Favorite Applications list. You see this list only the first time you log in to the remote desktop. You can create your own list after you log in.

If the Unity Touch feature is activated, the sidebar appears on the left side of the window when you first connect to a remote desktop.

If the Unity Touch sidebar is closed, a tab appears on the left side of the window. You can swipe this tab to the right to open the sidebar. You can also slide the tab up or down.

From the Unity Touch sidebar, you can perform many actions in a remote desktop.

Table 1. Unity Touch Sidebar Actions for a Remote Desktop

Action	Procedure
Show the sidebar	Swipe the tab to the right. When the sidebar is open, you cannot perform actions on the remote desktop window or the Horizon Client Tools radial menu.
Hide the sidebar	Swipe the tab to the left to close the sidebar. When the sidebar is open, you cannot perform actions on the remote desktop window or the Horizon Client Tools radial menu. You can also touch the remote desktop window, including the Horizon Client Tools radial menu, to hide the sidebar.
Navigate to an application	Tap All Programs and navigate to the application just as you would from the Windows Start menu.
Navigate to a file	Tap My Files to access the User folder, and navigate to the file. My Files includes folders such as My Pictures, My Documents, and Downloads. My Files includes the folders in the user profile (%USERPROFILE% directory). If you relocate the system folder in the %USERPROFILE% directory, the My Files menu can also display content from the relocated folder, whether it is a local relocated folder or a network share folder.
Search for an application or file	Tap in the Search box and type the name of the application or file. To use voice dictation, tap the microphone on the keyboard. To launch an application or file, tap the name of the application or file in the search results. To return to the home view of the sidebar, tap the X to close the Search box.
Open an application or file	Tap the name of the file or application in the sidebar. The application starts and the sidebar closes.
Switch between running applications or open windows	Tap the application name under Running Applications. If more than one file is open for one application, tap the chevron (>) next to the application to expand the list.
Minimize a running application or window	Touch the application name under Running Applications and swipe from right to left. Tap the More button that appears. Tap Minimize.
Maximize a running application or window	Touch the application name under Running Applications and swipe from right to left. Tap the More button that appears. Tap Maximize.
Close a running application or window	Touch the application name under Running Applications and swipe from right to left. Tap the Close button that appears.
Restore a running application or window to its previous size and position	Touch the application name under Running Applications and swipe from right to left. Tap the More button that appears. Tap Restore.
Create a list of favorite applications or files	Search for the application or file, or tap Manage under the Favorite Applications or Favorite Documents list. If the Manage bar is not visible, tap the chevron (>) next to Favorite Applications or Favorite Files. Tap the check box next to the names of your favorites in the search results or in the list of available applications or files. The favorite that you add last appears at the top of your favorites list. Your favorites are remembered across all of your mobile devices so that, for example, you have the same list whether using your smart phone or your tablet.
Remove an application or file from the favorites list	Search for the application or file, or tap Manage under the Favorite Applications or Favorite Documents list. If the Manage bar is not visible, tap the chevron (>) next to Favorite Applications or Favorite Documents. Tap to remove the check mark next to the name of the application or file in the favorites list.
Reorder an application or file in the favorites list	Tap Manage under the Favorite Applications or Favorite Documents list. If the Manage bar is not visible, tap the chevron (>) next to Favorite Applications or Favorite Documents. In the favorites list, touch and hold the handle on the left side of the application or file name and drag the favorite up or down the list.