Usage Notes

Zebra Workstation Connect 1.1

General Usage

  • When trying to set a shortcut for a running app (by right-clicking on its icon), its shortcut dialog box appears behind any app windows open on the Desktop.
    REMEDY: Minimize foreground apps until the dialog is visible.
  • Some apps after being maximized or minimized cause the background color on the secondary screen to momentarily change to black.
    The background should return to its former color or pattern on its own.
  • Any camera app running on the device will quit when any other app that uses the camera is launched on the secondary screen.
  • Some apps by default do not display the soft input panel (virtual keyboard) on the secondary screen.
  • Mobile apps that run in full-screen mode on the device by default run in full-screen mode on the secondary screen.
  • Apps designed to open only in the primary screen will open there even if launched from the ALL APPS button in the secondary screen. If app interaction is desired on the secondary screen, open the app in primary and select “Move to Desktop” from its icon in the task bar to move it to the secondary screen.
  • App pop-ups and/or sub-menus are sometimes partially obscured by the Desktop task bar when the app is maximized, requiring manual adjustment to the app’s window size or location to view all functions.
  • Zebra recommends avoiding the use of "Application Pinning" (aka kiosk mode) and Split Screen (running apps "side-by-side") on the device when docked.
  • Apps that implement a floating button (aka “toggle head”) feature can be used only on the primary (device) screen.
  • A flickering effect in the secondary screen is seen with some apps that restrict activities to a fixed orientation.
    REMEDY: Press the back button in the task bar.
  • The "Unknown SSID" message is sometimes displayed when hovering the mouse pointer over the Wi-Fi status icon on the desktop screen.
  • Some documents while in "restore mode" do not render properly when moved from the Desktop to the device.
  • Attempting to launch a Settings panel multiple times without interacting with it can sometimes cause the panel to seemingly fail to close, or for pop-ups to appear on the device when expected on the external monitor.
    REMEDY: Close any Settings panel(s) open on the device.
  • Some apps or app windows function properly on the external monitor only when maximized.

Administration

  • No more than one Workstation Connect .apk file may be present on a device at any time.
  • When managed configuration settings are deployed to a docked device, the settings are applied the next time the device is docked.
  • The device user can overwrite admin-configured app shortcuts created on the Desktop. Changes are applied the next time the device is docked.
  • Managed configuration settings for device orientation and screen resolution persist following removal and re-installation of the Zebra Workstation Connect app. All other settings revert to defaults.
  • Persistent managed configuration settings can be cleared only by performing an Enterprise Reset or a Factory Reset.

Audio

  • If audio is desired through the speaker on a docked mobile device, it must be selected manually using the Audio settings panel.
  • Increasing audio volume past a certain level sometimes causes a safety warning to be displayed on the primary (device) screen. Tap "OK" to continue.

Device Locking, App Log-in

  • Zebra recommends disabling Secure Start-up when using Desktop mode (controlled using the DevAdmin CSP).
  • Log-in dialog boxes of apps that require user credentials do not appear on the secondary screen. Such apps can be used in the secondary screen once the credentials are provided on the primary.
  • Once docked, the user can unlock the device only from primary screen; the secondary screen/monitor cannot be used to interact with the device lock screen.
  • When unlocking the device, clicking on an app in the secondary screen moves focus to that app and enables input from an external keyboard.
  • Some applications that require a log-in hide the task bar when opened in the secondary screen if the user is not logged in. To prevent this, log in before launching the app.
  • Some apps with a log-in page in the secondary screen may require more than one click of the title-bar Close button due to cascading activities on the log-in page.
  • Sign-in buttons and other UI elements are sometimes partially obscured by the task bar when the app is moved to or launched in the secondary screen. This requires launching the app in secondary screen in a maximized state or completing the log-in process in the primary screen and relaunching in the secondary.
  • Apps sometimes exhibit an inoperable maximize function from the title bar, and/or minimize and restore from the task bar icon. In such cases, complete the log-in process completely in the primary screen and relaunch in the secondary screen or skip the log-in step, if possible.
  • The default action when pressing the BACK button on the Desktop screen calls the onBackKeyPressed function of the app currently in the foreground. However, app developers can opt for the following BACK button behaviors:
    • Navigate back through recent activities until reaching the root activity, after which it closes the app
    • Minimize the app to the Taskbar
    • Directly close the app by internally calling the finish() method
  • To quit an app, use the Close button on any of the app's activity windows.

Peripherals

  • Barcode scanners connected to the cradle MUST be in SSI mode to function correctly with ZWC. See the Programmer's Reference guide that accompanied the scanner for information about switching modes.
  • To automatically activate a newly connected scanner, the "Auto-switch to default on event" feature must be enabled in DataWedge. Learn more.

Screen Resolution

  • For low screen resolution settings, the secondary screen might omit some shortcuts created on the Desktop. Re-docking the device sometimes allows more icons to be viewed.
  • App borders can sometimes draw beyond the edges of the secondary screen when the screen's resolution is changed, or if device resolution exceeds that of the secondary screen.
  • When connecting to high-resolution monitors, Zebra recommends a pixel density no greater than 320 dpi.

Supported Resolutions and Densities

image Click to enlarge; ESC to exit.

Also See

For more information about ZWC setup, features and usage, please refer to the following guides: