Command Line for Performing BDE Utilities

This type of command line is available in Database Tour Pro.

This topic describes parameters of Database Tour command line, specific to BDE utilities. It requires BDE installed.

Notes

BDE is an obsolete technology. It is recommended to use it only for supporting old solutions.
BDE uses 32-bit architecture. So, you need 32-bit version of Database Tour to work with it.

You can start with this simple example:

dbtour.exe /BDEUtils /DB=MyAlias /TableName=order.db /pack /RenameTo=orders.db

Here, you pack your order.db table and rename it to orders.db.

Don't want to hand-write switches? See the next section and build the command line easily from Database Tour GUI.

Or keep reading to know to learn all the switches and parameters.

Building Command Line in a Few Clicks

Usage

Command line options and their descriptions

Examples

Building Command Line in a Few Clicks

Advanced users can build the needed command line manually using the specification below.

But if you are a beginner or need to create a command line or action file without learning the details, use the Database Tour Command Line Builder.

Usage

Classic command line format

The command line consists of all needed switches and parameters:

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

Short command line 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 /ActionFile parameter (which points to the action file path) and an optional /silent parameter:

dbtour.exe [/silent] /ActionFile=ActionFileName

Command line options and their descriptions

Main command

/BDEUtils

Tells the application to perform BDE utilities. Required parameter for this command line type.

Control parameters

/silent

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 /ActionFile option, /silent switch must be outside parameters file. Attention! There are no overwrite or other prompts in this mode.

/ActionFile=Value

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, enclose entire parameter in quotes. See example.

Connection to the database

/UseParadoxPasswords=Value

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

/DB=Value

Name of the 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, enclose entire parameter in quotes.

/DBInterface=Value

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

/DBKind=Value

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

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, enclose entire parameter in quotes.

/DBUserName=Value

User name for database. If the user name includes spaces, enclose entire parameter in quotes.

/DBPassword=Value

Password for database. If the password includes spaces, enclose entire parameter in quotes.

Core parameters for BDE utilities

/TableName=Value

Table name, for which BDE utilities must be performed. If the name includes spaces, enclose entire parameter in quotes.

/pack

Pack Paradox or dBase table, specified by /TableName parameter.

/RegenerateIndexes

Regenerate indexes for Paradox or dBase table, specified by /TableName parameter.

/SetPassword=Value

Password, by which Paradox table, specified by /TableName parameter, must be protected.

/PhysicallySortBy=Value

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, enclose entire parameter in quotes.

/SortDescending

Physical sorting, specified by /PhysicallySortBy parameter, must be done in descending order.

/SortSensitive

Physical sorting, specified by /PhysicallySortBy parameter, must be case sensitive.

/RenameTo=Value

New name for Paradox, dBase, or text table, specified by /TableName parameter. If the table name contains spaces, enclose entire parameter in quotes.

/DuplicateAs=Value

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, enclose entire parameter in quotes.

/ChangeLangDriverTo=Value

New language driver for Paradox or dBase table, specified by /TableName parameter.

Logging

/LogFile=Value

Name of the file to write operation log. If the name includes spaces, enclose entire parameter in quotes.

/AppendLog

Append new logs to existing log file keeping its previous content. If this switch is omitted, existing log file will be overwritten.

/OpenLog

Open the log file after finishing. Must be used together with /LogFile parameter.

Behavior switches

/CloseWhenDone

Close the application after successful query execution. This option is ignored in 'silent' mode where the application is closed automatically anyway.

/CloseOnError

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

/minimize

Start the application 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.

Examples

Pack and physically sort a dBase table:

dbtour.exe /BDEUtils /CloseWhenDone /CloseOnError /DB=c:\MyDBFFolder /TableName=customer.dbf /pack /PhysicallySortBy=CustNo

This packs customer.dbf table, sorts it physically by CustNo field, and exits.
Pack, protect by password, and rename a Paradox table:

dbtour.exe /BDEUtils /DB=MyAlias /TableName=order.db /pack /SetPassword=*REMOVE* /RenameTo=orders.db

This packs order.db table, removes its password, and renames it to orders.db.
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
```