This topic describes parameters of Database Tour command line, specific to BDE utilities. This type of command line can be used only in Database Tour Pro. It requires BDE installed.

Note: BDE is an obsolete technology. It is recommended to use it only for supporting old solutions.

Common rules for writing command lines are described here.

Before you start...

Advanced users can build the needed command line manually using the specification below. But if you are a beginner or just need to create a command line for simple operation, you can save your time using Database Tour command line builder. To generate a command line, choose 'Tools | Build Command Line | BDE Utilities...' menu. In 'Build Command Line' window, specify needed options and click OK. A new window will appear with the command line generated. Copy it, correct it if it is needed, and use in Database Tour calls from your own applications, .bat files etc.

Usage

Command line options and their descriptions

Examples

Usage

Classic command line format.

The command line consists of all needed switches and parameters:

dbtour.exe /Parameter1 /Parameter2 /... /ParameterN

Short format.

This format is more flexible as it allows you to keep all command line parameters in a separate action file. The command line consists of the /ParamsFile parameter (which points to the action file path) and an optional /silent parameter:

dbtour.exe [/silent] /ActionFile=ActionFileName

Command line options and their descriptions

</BDEUtils>

Tells the application to perform BDE utilities.

[/silent]

This switch will run the application in 'silent' mode, without any windows (except purchase reminder when the application is used without registration after the end of the test period). When using /ParamsFile option, /silent switch must be outside parameters file. Attention! There are no overwrite or other prompts in this mode.

[/ActionFile=Value]

Specifies the name of the action file, which contains command line parameters, one parameter per line. Lines with a semicolon at the beginning are ignored as comments. Blank lines are allowed. When using this option, there should not be other command line parameters in the command line except /silent switch. If the file name includes spaces, entire parameter must be enclosed in quotes. See example 3.

[/UseParadoxPasswords]

Semicolon separated list of passwords for Paradox tables (if password protected Paradox tables will be used during the process).

[/DB=Value]

Specifies the name of the target database (a database, in which BDE utilities must be performed). This can be a file name, folder name, ODBC DSN, or BDE alias name. If the name includes spaces, entire parameter must be enclosed in quotes.

[/DBInterface=Value]

Specifies database interface (database engine) used to connect the target database. Possible values: BDE.

[/DBKind=Value]

Specifies target database kind. Possible values: FOLDER, FILE, DSN. If not specified, the application will try to detect it automatically.

Instead of using this parameter, it is possible to use a prefix specifying the database kind (file, folder, DSN) in the /DB parameter. The prefix must be enclosed in arrow brackets <>. Possible values: <FILE>, <FOLDER>, <DSN>. It is recommended to enclose the entire parameter in quotes in such cases.

[/DBDriver=Value]

Specifies source database driver (or database type). Examples of possible values: ACCESS, DBASE, INTERBASE, FIREBIRD, ORACLE, SQL SERVER, etc. If not specified, the application will try to detect it automatically. If the driver name includes spaces, entire parameter must be enclosed in quotes.

[/DBUserName=Value]

Specifies user name for source database. If the user name includes spaces, entire parameter must be enclosed in quotes.

[/DBPassword=Value]

Specifies password for source database. If the password includes spaces, entire parameter must be enclosed in quotes.

[/TableName=Value]

Specifies a table name, for which BDE utilities must be performed. If the name includes spaces, entire parameter must be enclosed in quotes.

[/CloseWhenDone]

Forces the application to close itself after successful query execution. This option is ignored in 'silent' mode where the application is closed automatically anyway.

[/CloseOnError]

Forces the application to close itself when error occurs during the command line execution. This option is ignored in 'silent' mode where the application is closed automatically anyway.

[/minimize]

Application starts in minimized mode. It is restored to normal mode on error or after ending execution (if /CloseWhenDone switch is not used). This option is ignored in 'silent' mode where the application runs without any windows.

[/LogFile=Value]

Specifies the name of the file to write operation log. If the name includes spaces, entire parameter must be enclosed in quotes.

[/AppendLog]

Specifies that log of the operations should be written from the end of the log file with saving the previous file content. If this switch is omitted, existing log file will be fully overwritten.

[/pack]

Tells the application to pack Paradox or dBase table, specified by /TableName parameter.

[/RegenerateIndexes]

Tells the application to regenerate indexes for Paradox or dBase table, specified by /TableName parameter.

[/SetPassword=Value]

Specifies a password, by which Paradox table, specified by /TableName parameter, must be protected.

[/PhysicallySortBy=Value]

Specifies field name, by which the application must physically sort Paradox or dBase table, specified by /TableName parameter. Indexed Paradox table cannot be physically resorted. If the field name contains spaces, entire parameter must be enclosed in quotes.

[/SortDescending]

Specifies that the physical sorting, specified by /PhysicallySortBy parameter, must be done in descending order.

[/SortSensitive]

Specifies that the physical sorting, specified by /PhysicallySortBy parameter, must be case sensitive.

[/RenameTo=Value]

Specifies new name for Paradox, dBase, or text table, specified by /TableName parameter. If the table name contains spaces, entire parameter must be enclosed in quotes.

[/DuplicateAs=Value]

Specifies a name for new copy of a table, specified by /TableName parameter. If the table is a local table (Paradox, dBase, FoxPro, or text), all family files are also duplicated. If the new table name contains spaces, entire parameter must be enclosed in quotes.

[/ChangeLangDriverTo=Value]

Specifies a new language driver for Paradox or dBase table, specified by /TableName parameter.

Examples

1. Pack and physically sort a dBase table
dbtour.exe /BDEUtils /CloseWhenDone /CloseOnError /DB=c:\MyDBFFolder /TableName=customer.dbf /pack /PhysicallySortBy=CustNo

2. Pack, protect by password, and rename a Paradox table
dbtour.exe /BDEUtils /DB=MyAlias /TableName=order.db /pack /SetPassword=*REMOVE* /RenameTo=orders.db

3. The same as the previous one but using an action file
dbtour.exe "/ActionFile=C:\My Portfolio\DBTourStartParameters.txt"

The contents of C:\My Portfolio\DBTourStartParameters.txt file should be like the following:

;action
/BDEUtils

;options

/pack
/SetPassword=*REMOVE*
/RenameTo=orders.db

;target definition
/DB=MyAlias
/TableName=order.db