How to Use Virtual Applications with Citrix Web Receiver

Overview

This is a step-by-step guide on how to use virtual applications with Citrix Web Receiver.

This article is divided into the following sections:

Web Receiver

Saving Files To Your Local Machine

Printing Files To Your Local Printer

Opening Files From Your Local Machine

Copying And Pasting Data Into A Citrix Application

Instructions

Web Receiver 

1. This option allows you to access Citrix applications through an up-to-date web browser such as Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. It requires a web browser that uses the HTML5 technology. Essentially, just make sure you have the latest version of your web browser. For the best user experience, we recommend using the latest version of Chrome.
2. To get started, point your web browser to https://citrixapps.oswego.edu, log in with your Laker NetID, and click on an application to run it. Please note that if you are physically in a campus computer lab, the software is already available through the applications listed on the machine, for example, the Start Menu on PCs or the Applications folder on a Mac. Therefore, the web address will not function.

3. Once you log in you will see a list of applications. Select the application you would like to use. It will launch in a new tab or window.

Saving Files to Your Local Machine

1. As mentioned above, all of the virtual applications run on a server and are streamed to your device. In order to save files to your local device, you will need to make sure you select the option called "Save To My Device" in the pull-down menu of the application you are using. For example, in SPSS, it looks like the following:

2. Once you select this option and save it, the document will be saved to the Downloads folder of your browser.

Printing Files to Your Local Printer

1. Citrix provides printing to your local printer through a PDF conversion process. When you go to print from the application you are using, select the option called "Win32 Printer: Citrix PDF Printer..."  For example, in SPSS, choose the following option from the drop-down menu:

2. When you have selected this option, the following window will display to convert the document to PDF format. This will convert the document to PDF and open it in a new tab/window of your browser. You will then need to select Print from your PDF viewer to print it to your local printer.

Opening Files From Your Local Machine

1. To open files on your local machine that were created using a Citrix application, you will need to upload the file to the Citrix server and open it from there. 
2. First login to Citrix and open up the application you want to use, such as SPSS.
3. Once the application has launched, you will need to upload your file. Select the Citrix menu from the top of the page. You can move this icon around, so it may be on the side or bottom of the page if you have moved it. In its collapsed state, the icon looks like the following:

When you click on the lines, it will expand to the following:

4. Click on the icon with the cloud and arrow pointing up. In the image above, it is the fourth icon from the left. This is the upload file icon.

5. In the window that opens, locate the file from your local machine that you want to upload to the Citrix server and click the "Open" button.

6. The following window will then appear asking where you want to save it on the server. Select the "Desktop."

7. Next, select "Open" from the application you are using.  For example, in SPSS, you would select "Open" from the "File" menu. Then under the "Look in:" drop down menu, select "Desktop." Locate the file and click the "Open" button. You can now work with your data.

Copying and Pasting Data into a Citrix Application 

1. There may be a time in which you want to copy data from a file on your local device to a Citrix application.  For example, you may want to copy some statistical data from an Excel spreadsheet into SPSS. In order to accomplish this, you first have to copy your local data to the Citrix clipboard.
2. First, launch the Citrix application you want to copy data to such as SPSS.
3. Select the Citrix menu from the top of the page. You can move this icon around, so it may be on the side or bottom of the page if you have moved it.  In it's collapsed state, the icon looks like the following:

When you click on the lines, it will expand to the following:

4. Select the icon with the clipboard. In the image above, it is the fifth icon from the left.

5. The following window will open. Click the mouse on the white center part of the window and paste your data into it.  Then click "Update."

6. Then, in the application, make sure your mouse is positioned at the spot you want to paste your data, then select Paste from the application (usually under the File menu).  

Need Help?

Need additional information or assistance? Contact CTS.