This topic describes the usage of the Database Tour command line. You can use it to specify actions, which must be performed by the application when it starts.

Before you start...

Advanced users can build the needed command line manually using specifications from the topics below. But if you are a beginner or just need to quickly create a command line with basic possibilities, you can use Database Tour command line builder. The command line builder lets you build the command line in useful visual mode. To create a command line using the command line builder, choose Tools | Build Command Line menu.

Important notes:

1. Command line syntax. You must precede all options (unless otherwise noted) with a slash (/). The options are case insensitive.

2. Ancillary characters in specification. In the specifications from the topics below, the switches and parameters or their parts, enclosed in square brackets [], are optional, and the switches and parameters, enclosed in arrow brackets <>, are required. Symbol | separates exclusive switches (which cannot be used together) or possible values for some switches. Attention! It is strongly not recommended to use these characters inside parameters of your command line.

3. Special highlighting in specification. In the specifications from the topics below, possible values for some parameters or explanation of the values are color-highlighted. Switches and parameter names are highlighted by bold font.

4. File names in parameters. It is recommended to use full file names in all parameters where file names are used.

5. Quotes in parameters. Command line may include quotes if they surround parameters containing spaces. But if your command line parameter value contains quote characters inside it, either use the action file or replace each quote character with <quot> character combination.

6. Environment variables. In the command line and some of the files it refers to (SQL files or field and table mappings files), it is possible to use environment variables.

It is possible to use command line to perform the following operations:

 Open a Single File (opening a database file)

 Export / Import Data (exporting and importing data; available only in Database Tour Pro)

 Open a Database (opening databases, opening reports, executing queries etc.; available only in Database Tour Pro)

 Batch Operations with Text Fields (operations with data in text fields; available only in Database Tour Pro)

 BDE Utilities (packing tables, changing language drivers etc.; requires BDE installed; available only in Database Tour Pro)

 Encrypt / Decrypt a File (encrypting or decrypting a file)

See also

 Example of a .bat File

 Command Line Generation