Running Local Programs From Menu Items

CloudRadial menu items are typically used to link to web-based applications that start with "https://". For general details on how they work, please reference this article. 

• The Use Case for Executing Local Programs with CloudRadial
• Use Case Example
• Creating Your Own Protocol

The Use Case for Executing Local Programs with CloudRadial

Typically, CloudRadial partners choose to use the desktop application to execute local applications. Because the desktop application runs on the end user's computer, it can easily reference protocols handled by that same local computer.

A more uncommon (but still useful) way to achieve this is through CloudRadial's Menu Applications.

These protocols are defined at the local machine level and can be different for every workstation. 

Use Case Example

If your Microsoft Teams is installed locally, you can create a menu item with the following link URL:

msteams://

Typing this link in a browser will open the local version of Microsoft Teams rather than the web version. This works on both Windows and Mac computers.

For Windows, these protocols are defined in the Windows registry. Note that you can define your own protocols. These protocols allow users to run locally installed programs on their computer based on links on the CloudRadial menu.

Creating Your Own Protocol

To create your own protocol, such as "rdpgo", use the registry editor (or define through your RMM) the following keys:

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rdpgo
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rdpgo\shell
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rdpgo\shell\open
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rdpgo\shell\open\command

Then, define the following values (all strings):

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rdpgo\Default - URL:rdpgo Protocol
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rdpgo\URL Protocol - leave blank, just create the value
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rdpgo\shell\open\command\Default - "mstsc.exe" "C:\path-to-location-of-file\Default.rdp"

Once you have created these registry settings, you can define a menu item with the following link URL:

rdpgo://

When the menu item is clicked in CloudRadial, the browser will know to open Remote Desktop on the local computer.