This blog has a new home at https://blog.steveendow.com/. Future posts will be published there.
Update: For those experiencing Remote Desktop difficulties with high DPI screens, Nathan Hayden from BKD has a helpful workaround available at: http://dynamicsinsights.com/2018/10/05/remote-desktop-high-dpi-dynamics-gp/
Modern Windows laptops and desktops with high-resolution or 4K displays often encounter display issues with some software. These “high DPI” screens can make text appear minuscule at full resolution. To counteract this, Windows uses “scaling” to enlarge text and graphics for readability and usability. While the technical aspects are complex, the goal is straightforward: making the system functional.
Windows 10 typically suggests a 200% scaling level for optimal viewing on high DPI displays. However, a 175% scaling might be preferable for maximizing screen real estate.
Scaling is generally effective, and many applications function seamlessly. Issues become apparent when an application isn’t designed to be “high DPI aware” or compatible. In such cases, display elements appear distorted, as exemplified by SugarSync in the example below.
While inconvenient, these inconsistencies are manageable. Dynamics GP 2015 initially seemed to display correctly on a Surface Pro 4. However, recent usage revealed an odd mix of font sizes, a problem also encountered by a colleague.
The menu fonts appear oversized while the left pane text is too small. SQL Server Management Studio 2014 exhibits similar issues on high DPI displays. A search for a solution led to this insightful post:
The author’s grasp of Windows’ high DPI settings led to a clever fix: modifying the scaling method for specific applications using a manifest file. While the technical details remain unclear, the solution proved effective. Importing a registry key and saving the Ssms.exe.manifest file resolved the display issues in SSMS 2014.
Although bitmap scaling at 175% might result in a slightly blurry display, it greatly enhances usability. Adjusting the scaling to 150% or 200% could help if the blurriness is bothersome.
Encouraged by the success with SSMS, the question arose: Could this method work for Dynamics GP?
(Full credit for this solution goes to Gianluca Sartori and his article)
Creating a Dynamics.exe.manifest file yielded impressive results. Dynamics GP launched and displayed correctly, without any font size discrepancies.
Capitalizing on this success, a manifest file was created for SugarSync, successfully resolving its scaling issues. The existing SugarSync manifest file was edited to incorporate the additional settings from the SSMS 2014 example.
While the specific settings within the manifest file remain a mystery, its versatility is apparent, having been successfully applied across three different applications.
Those interested in attempting this fix are advised to proceed cautiously. If you lack experience with registry editing or troubleshooting potential system errors, seek assistance from an expert.
Save the following text as a file named “Scaling.reg”:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SideBySide]
“PreferExternalManifest”=dword:00000001
Double-click the created “reg” file to import it into the Windows registry on the machine running Dynamics GP.
Next, save the following text as a file named “Dynamics.exe.manifest”:
false
Place the newly created Dynamics.exe.manifest file in the same directory as the Dynamics.exe file within the GP application folder.
Testing this solution to see if it resolves the small font issues in various GP scenarios would be beneficial. Feedback on its effectiveness is welcomed.
UPDATE: It appears that GP 2013 and GP 2015 have different scaling behaviors. GP 2013 exhibits a unique set of font size issues, displaying extremely small window fonts. The Dynamics.exe.manifest file corrected these issues as well.
Before:
After implementing the manifest file:
The difference is remarkable.
Steve Endow, a Microsoft MVP for Dynamics GP and a Dynamics GP Certified IT Professional based in Los Angeles, is the proprietor of Precipio Services, specializing in Dynamics GP integrations, customizations, and automation solutions.
Connect with him onGoogle+andTwitter
http://www.precipioservices.com
