====== Command line options ======

Cartes du Ciel - SkyChart accepts the following options on the command line:

^ Option ^ Parameter ^ Function ^
| %%--config%% | configuration file path | Lets you specify the configuration file to use instead of the \\ default "%LOCALAPPDATA%\skychart\skychart.ini" or "~/.skychart/skychart.ini" |
| %%--loaddef%% | option file path | Same as the LOADDEFAULT [[server_commands|server command]]\\ Use this option to load an extract of the configuration file that temporarily replace some option from skychart.ini. |
| %%--obslist%% | observation list file path| Load the specified observation list |
| %%--unique%% | | Do not launch the program if another instance is already running but instead send the other options to the running instance |
| %%--quit%% | | Use this option in conjunction with %%--unique%% to close the running instance, or to exit immediately. |
| %%--nosplash%% | | Do not show the splash screen on startup |
| %%--daemon%% | | Start the program in background without showing the main window |
| %%--nosave%% | | Do not save options on exit. Useful with %%--loaddef%% option |
| %%--loadmpcorb%% | file_name | Same as the LOADMPCORB [[server_commands|server command]]\\ Use this option to load an asteroid element file. |
^Options affecting the first active chart^^^
| %%--load%% | saved_file_name | Same as the LOAD [[server_commands|server command]]\\ Use this option to load a template with all the chart setting you cannot set here. |
| %%--search%% | object_name | Same as the SEARCH [[server_commands|server command]] |
| %%--setproj%% | ALTAZ/EQUAT/GALACTIC/ECLIPTIC  | Same as the SETPROJ [[server_commands|server command]] |
| %%--setfov%% | 00d00m00s or 00.00 | Same as the SETFOV [[server_commands|server command]] |
| %%--setra%% | RA:00h00m00s or RA:00.00 | Same as the SETRA [[server_commands|server command]] |
| %%--setdec%% | DEC:+00d00m00s or DEC:00.00  | Same as the SETDEC [[server_commands|server command]] |
| %%--setobs%% | LAT:+00d00m00s\\ LON:+000d00m00\\ sALT:000mOBS:name | Same as the SETOBS [[server_commands|server command]] |
| %%--settz%% | Etc/GMT | Same as the SETTZ [[server_commands|server command]] |
| %%--setdate%% | yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss \\ or “yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss” | Same as the SETDATE [[server_commands|server command]] |
| %%--setcat%% | %%"path shortname active min max "%% | Same as the SETCAT [[server_commands|server command]] |
| %%--resize%% | %%"width height "%% | Same as the RESIZE [[server_commands|server command]] |
| %%--dss%% | | Same as the PDSS [[server_commands|server command]] |
| %%--saveimg%% | %%"PNG/JPEG/BMP filename quality"%% | Same as the SAVEIMG [[server_commands|server command]] |
| %%--savecdc3%% | filename  | Same as the SAVE [[server_commands|server command]], can be reloaded with %%--load%% |
| %%--print%% | %%"PRT/PS/BMP PORTRAIT/LANDSCAPE COLOR/BW filepath"%% | Same as the PRINT [[server_commands|server command]] |

Warning, contrary to commands sent by TCP/IP, options and parameters are separated by the %%"="%% sign without any blank space. If the parameter contains spaces it must be enclosed in double quotes %%""%%.

On Unix you can send a signal to the running program with the kill command:

^ Signal ^ Action ^
| 1, HUP | Reload the default chart and options |
| 15, TERM | Gracefully close the program |


===== Automation example using command line =====

Automation is normally done by sending [[server_commands|server commands]] to the [[system#server|TCP/IP connexion]] but in some case it may be simpler to use the command line only.

First star the main instance : \\
%%# skychart --unique%%

Set the image size you want: \\
%%# skychart --unique --resize="1024 768"%%

Then the following command show a chart of Messier 1 without opening a new window:\\
%%# skychart --unique --setfov=3 --setproj=EQUAT --search=M1%%

Save an image with the current chart:\\
%%#skychart --unique --saveimg="PNG /tmp/m1.png"%%

You can now repeat with other objects or FOV. When finished you can close the main window:\\
%%# skychart --unique --quit%%

It is also possible to do all at a time and exit, without displaying anything on the screen, this is useful if you want only one image:\\
%%#skychart --nosplash --daemon --resize="1024 768" --setfov=3 --setproj=EQUAT --search=M1 --saveimg="PNG /tmp/m1.png" --quit%%