I RDP onto the Qlik Server and created a QVW. Now I open QlikView on my desktop and open the QVW in server and I open the QVW, but unlike when I am signed on the server , from my desktop I cannot change the existing charts. The Properties button does not exist. Is this how it works or is there a way around this?
This is the way it works. You are not able to change a QlikView application when using Open in Server. If you'd like to change the app, you should use Open, not Open in Server.
Note that this has nothing to do with licenses - it's just how Open in Server works.
