Talk:Command line arguments

From Guild Wars Wiki

Contents 1 Discussion 2 - lootlog 3 - exit 4 the 2nd picture 5 MCE? 6 Replacement of Unskinned Windows with Skinned 7 -image switch 8 -password <string> 9 -update 10 -dx8 11 -Image Problems 12 "-mce" 13 Unknown Command Line Args 13.1 -port 13.2 -sndfastbuf 14 Windows 7 requiring -MCE Proof? 14.1 -mce 15 -perf 16 Location of created files in Windows 7

[edit] Discussion

Nice work on this page, it really came together. --The preceding unsigned comment was added by User:Arcad1a .

Why thank you. Most of the information came from here though. ~ D.L. 08:18, 12 February 2007 (PST)

See Gailes post at Talk:Game updates/20070405#April 5th Update: Sound Issues. As far as I understood correctly, those command line arguments have been added to the game. -- (gem / talk) 04:39, 8 April 2007 (EDT)

I copied them over. Thx for the info. ~ dragon legacy 18:20, 8 April 2007 (EDT)

Maybe a little something about using multiple command lines for the more computer illiterate? I personally wouldn't know proper syntax and if there should be a space between each one and whatnot.--Chukie1188 talk 12 May 2007 (EDT)

Command line is passed to the game by window's standards. Typicially it's an array, seperated by spaces. Usually the program will take anything seperated by a space as seperate argument. ~ dragon legacy 18:42, 12 May 2007 (EDT)

[edit] - lootlog

anyone tested this one? it looks like itcould be usefull for determining droprates, etc ... 147.228.209.168 05:38, 8 May 2007 (EDT)

I tried it out a little, it does not appear to make a log or do anything--Vhalantru 18:42, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

I would not be supriced if you needed the -password command in combination to this command. After all, Anet wouldnt want us to know how they "fixed" the loot distribution. DBZVelena | (Talk page) 08:18, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

Has anyone tried specifying a text file for the log to print to, such as -lootlog "C:\log.txt"? ··· Danny Pew Pew 15:23, 25 August 2009 (UTC)

[edit] - exit

It appears that the exit switch terminates itself. I opened one GW window and opened again with exit and nothing happened to the first. Drake

[edit] the 2nd picture

In Firefox the page is scrumbled since the second picture was added. In this revision there is no problem, so the problem has to do with the picture. Does someone know how to change this without removing the picture? Der moon 08:37, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

Added (just as note): the first picture also shows the -password option, so I reverted it to the old one. Der moon 08:37, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

The problem is that the second picture is screwing up the break clear-all tag. I just did a quick test, and I have two solutions. One is the get rid of one of the dialog images. They're both showing more or less the same thing so it's unnecessary for both to be there. The second solution is to get rid of the all the <br clear="all" /> tags and to get rid of the exclamation marks (and replace it with "Note:" or something). -- ab.er.rant 08:49, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

I implemented the second option. Figured that having one image showing a WinNT dialog and another with a WinXP dialog would be marginally better than having those exclamation marks. -- ab.er.rant 08:53, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

Well I added Windows XP because it's newer than the Windows 2000, or w/e it is and more people are using XP than 2000.--§ Eloc § 21:23, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

The first image isn't Windows NT, it's Windows Vista, which is newer than Windows XP yet currently has fewer users. --Talonz 08:33, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

It shows that I haven't even tried Vista yet :P -- ab.er.rant 02:53, 16 July 2007 (UTC)

You're not missing much, certainly not from a wikiing point of view, continual IE crashes FTL :( --Xasxas256 02:57, 16 July 2007 (UTC)

It's just a matter of time until Vista has overtaken XP. The win2k look makes sure that there are no misunderstandings for users of 2k, me and 98. I think it's ok to have the two pictures posted, but we shouldn't really add more. ~ dragon legacy 08:07, 16 July 2007 (UTC)

I can update the NT picture (the -image one) with a Vista version right now, if people are ok with it. --Albinobird 19:16, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] MCE?

I saw the command line option for MCE, but the description seemed a little vague. I am running MCE, so I was wondering if anyone had a better description of what it does, or an example of when to use it.

No, sorry. If you don't experience any problems with Guild Wars, I'd think it just isn't neccessary. ~ dragon legacy 07:29, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

My computer had this. I'm tired of having to close Windows Media Center after I'm done playing. Is there any way to make it so that Windows Media Center NEVER comes up? I attempted to erase the "-mce" part from my computer, but that didn't work. Than 01:16, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Replacement of Unskinned Windows with Skinned

I don't see the purpose of uploading brand new screenshots with the only difference being that one is the default choice of skin while the other is one that people won't recognize. As for the command line screenshot, the article isn't about describing how the actual command line works (where you typically go Start -> Command Line), but rather how to use command line switches. --Talonz // 23:08, 8 August 2007 (UTC)

Firstly, it's not a skin, it's Windows Aero - the Vista theme. The new screenshots are also higher quality, being PNG and using ClearType, and the command line switches do work when using the "run" menu - indeed, it's a better idea to use the run menu when using the -image switch since the game automatically exits afterwards, so there's no need to edit the shortcut twice. --Santax (talk · contribs) 10:02, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

Like it matters. The new screenshots blend better with the page, just leave it that way. ~ dragon legacy 16:35, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

By the way, I think the "run window" screenshot doesn't actually show how using a shortcut is meant. That was the whole idea behind the first screenshot I've uploaded. I'll edit the paragraph and you adjust what you think needs adjustment. ~ dragon legacy 16:43, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

If you're going to show how to run switches through the command line, then you shouldn't just put a screenshot there and let the reader figure out the rest themselves, but rather describe the differences between both methods. And I still think a Windows XP screenshot is necessary to appeal to the majority of the readers. --Talonz // 17:55, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

Even if it's a horribly compressed jpg, that is, at the end of the day, a thumbnail of a window? :/ --Santax (talk · contribs) 17:57, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

Oh don't go jpg hatin' now. Save it for .gif, the format that requires programmers to purchase an expensive license before they can even allow people to save it as that in their applications. ^_^ But really, at 34kb the Windows XP version isn't that big at all (your .png of the -password switch is 33kb for example). The thumbnail style of the old screenshot can be a non-thumbnail if you give it the size attributes your screenshots have at the moment. --Talonz // 18:13, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

Windows = Windows. We definately don't need any duplicates just to show the same thing on a different skin. Running the thing from the command line is not as common as using the shortcut method, really. Anybody who understood how the shortcut method worked, will definately be able to figure out the command line stuff on their own - the screenshot is really sufficient. For the record, I don't care which windows skin we choose to promote. Now please, keep the article compact, okay? ~ dragon legacy 18:59, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

It seems irrelevant when both are copyright violations as it stands right now. --Lemming 19:03, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

(Reset indent) If Windows = Windows then you shouldn't care if I were to change the Vista screenshot to an XP screenshot, the one that more people currently use. Windows XP should be the standard for showing screenshots, and Vista accommodated for as an extra. Either a Windows XP screenshot or a Windows XP screenshot along with a Vista screenshot. As for the command line, it's not too large a burden to just simply explain when it is more beneficial to use either instead of just tacking on a screenshot leaving it to the reader to figure out. --Talonz // 20:45, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

Changed the formatting and added a note about running the switches through the command line itself... Wasn't that hard. In the end, I just don't think Windows Vista should be the standard for examples. The standard should be the one that appeals to the largest group of users, and at this time, that's Windows XP. That's all I'm saying. --Talonz // 21:08, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

wtb linux window screenshot --The preceding unsigned comment was added by User:62.235.159.53 (talk).

how about ReactOS? More similar to Windows than Linux is. http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/9949/guildwarswikiimagereact.png ReactOS is licensed under GPL v2 according to the installation of 0.3.9-REL which screenshot was taken from. The only image manipulation I did was cropping the window. The icon doesn't show up in ReactOS :( --173.16.83.10 08:47, 27 June 2009 (UTC)

[edit] -image switch

In December 2007 I used the -image switch, and it worked as stated (downloads all content, takes ~6hrs, etc.). I've tried using it in January 2008 and just now, and it doesn't seem to download all the content anymore. If this is just me it's affecting, please feel free to scold me and delete this. But could someone check, please? :) --Darai 06:59, 10 February 2008 (UTC)

Works for me, as late as earlier today. Backsword 07:02, 10 February 2008 (UTC)

It only fills in the data that guildwars doesn't currently have on your computer. As such if you image, then image again right after that. You wont download any files. And after that point you'll only be able to download files after an update. --66.45.173.98 18:22, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

Strangely enoegh, my friend and I both got the same campaigns and bonuskey's, and gw.dat has different filesizes after a full -image update. --84.80.29.30 14:21, 29 April 2008 (UTC)

This probably due to the backup of preferred option in the gw.dat (email, window setting ...) -- MulX 30 avr 2008 19h20 (uTC+2)

No, it is because there is allot of garbage space in there. There can be upwards of a GB of extra gw.dat size depending on how long you have been updating and if you got them all one at a time and when they came out. Prefrences would at a very VERY maximum take up one MB of space, and that is pushing it to an extreme. --Kairu 11:01, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] -password <string>

Do we put our password like <passwordhere> or just passwordhere ? --Shinigami King 20:19, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

No <>, passwordhere :) - anja 20:37, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Well I did that and it says I put in an incorrect password. Oh well, I'm just going to log in like normal. --Shinigami King 00:59, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Does your password have a space or <>|- in it? Any of those characters could break the command line processing.

Yeah, my pass does have a space in it, that makes sense, thanks! --Shinigami King 23:45, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Try putting double quotes around it if it contains 'odd' characters, as in "pass word" 71.111.246.125 20:52, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] -update

Isn't this just -image? Does it really work? - anja 18:30, 24 July 2008 (UTC)

I've got a new laptop with vista home edition on it, I downloaded GW onto it via the internet, installed it, and am now trying to get the -update/-update (suspected) functions to work on it. I've used both the shortcut and run methods of doing this. Could I please get some help on using this on vista? I'm used to XP. --Elven Chaos 02:54, 26 December 2008 (UTC)

Nevermind, I redownloaded with a CD I had and the command line is working again. --Elven Chaos 06:46, 26 December 2008 (UTC)

[edit] -dx8

what if you want to run guild wars on directx9. my friend has window vista and when he plays guild wars, in the graphic window(f12) it says the renderer is direct8. It is suppose to be direct9. Can anyoen help or tell me whats wrong?

It means your hardware (videocard usually) doesn't support DirectX 9. BlazeRick 05:40, 11 September 2008 (UTC)

[edit] -Image Problems

I am currently running Vista Home Premium with all Guild Wars except Factions. The -image command line downloaded the files as it was described to do so, but afterwards I had around 2-9 FPS with all low settings. When I use to have around 30 FPS at all high settings. I could not fix this issue so I had to completely uninstall and reinstall guild wars.

I don't know if this is related, however I run Windows XP on a fairly old laptop, and my FPS doesn't vary if I'm using the highest settings or lowest settings, in fact sometimes it feels like it runs better of higher settings. If not just ignore, oh and don't forget to sign your comments ;) — Cloud Xan 20:30, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Has nothing to do with Vista as far as I know, because I know of 3 people, including myself, who run Vista, use -image every update and have not had such a problem. BlazeRick 13:17, 10 October 2008 (UTC)

I'm running Vista (ultimate) and I always use -image and it always runs on my max of 60fps.- TheRave (talk) 13:19, 10 October 2008 (UTC)

I've had this problem all I did was added -fps 62 to the params works like a charm plus my GPU, CPU and RAM stay low so it may be the client. 66.192.234.74 18:32, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

    My PC Specs:
    CPU: 3.2GHz AMD 64bit / only 24% used
    Ram: 2GB DDR3      / only 412mb used; may be less cause(explorer, system, svhost) processes are running! 
    GPU: 1GB eVGA GeForce GTX280  / only 36% was used

[edit] "-mce"

I downloaded GWs off the site and the shortcut pointed to "C:\Program Files\Guild Wars\Gw.exe" -mce. Got any ideas what the mce might do, if anything. Im running a Dell XPS M1330 with Vista Ultimate if that helps. ╙─ ╠Dogzrdogz╣ talk 20:38, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

-NVM, just for media center compatability...╙─ ╠Dogzrdogz╣ talk

[edit] Unknown Command Line Args

My guesses/tests on what they might be.

[edit] -port

Not sure, but this seems like it could be a port setting, possibly to allow access through firewalls and such.

Test results:

Attempted shortcut: "<install dir>/Guild Wars/gw.exe" -port 7142

Results:

"You need Direct X 8 or higher to run Guild Wars" (I have DX10, game client runs fine without this cmd line arg)

[edit] -sndfastbuf

Possibly forcing the client to heighten the priority of sound buffering or to render faster sound at the cost of quality.

Test results:

Attempted shortcut: "<install dir>/Guild Wars/gw.exe" -sndfastbuf

Results:

No change that I can see/hear.

[edit] Windows 7 requiring -MCE Proof?

[edit] -mce

Start the client with Windows Media Center compatibility, switching the game to full screen and restarts Media Center (if available) after the client is closed. Note: Required for anyone running windows 7 and had launched WMC at some time.

Is there proof of the bolded text? Is it worded improperly? Because I always run GW along side WMC (Both on the computer and through an extender), and this has never been required. --Kairu 03:57, 24 August 2009 (UTC)

Are you on Windows 7? Belar 04:02, 24 August 2009 (UTC)

Indeed. Thats why I am wondering where this information came from. At this very second I am running Guild Wars, WMC through an extender, and using WMC on my computer for music, without the -wmc flag, all on a Windows 7 system, and I am having no problems what so ever. Kairu 04:38, 24 August 2009 (UTC)

Then I'd say go ahead and remove the note. I had thought that was kind of odd, anyways. Belar 04:44, 24 August 2009 (UTC)

[edit] -perf

Does anyone know the in-game command to display this? I want to say it's ctrl + F10 or F11, but I don't remember. It might be worth mentioning - it's similar to the ctrl + shift + H command. ··· Danny Pew Pew 15:21, 25 August 2009 (UTC)

[edit] Location of created files in Windows 7

I'm not sure how to add this in. I was thinking of either modifying current content to reflect Windows 7 findings, or adding a note somewhere.

Anyway, Windows 7 does not allow programs such as GuildWars to create new directories or files in it's install directory. So instead of screenshot/templates/network diagnostic info being written to C:\Program Files\Guild Wars\ (As an example) they are written to C:\Users\Username\Documents\Guild Wars\.

I may not know how for sure, but I know it should be mentioned in many places on the Wiki. --Kairu 22:06, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

Since Guild Wars is designed to run on Windows XP/2000, you can't expect documentation for other operating systems. If you'd like, starting a page for Windows 7-specific information could be helpful. ··· Danny Pew Pew 22:44, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

Actually, I think it can if you run it as administrator, though I haven't tried it. I had trouble with this when I first got Windows 7 after XP as well, so I'll put it somewhere. –Jette 02:54, 30 October 2009 (UTC)

Nope. I don't remember the exact reasons, but it's actually a good idea. Multiple user accounts can have their own templates and screenshots. And as for GW being designed to be run on 2k/XP, that may be true but that doesnt mean that information about the latest operating systems should not be incorporated into Wiki pages. It has evolved over the years. --Kairu 04:57, 30 October 2009 (UTC)

In that case, do you mind if I document similar issues all the various Windows emulators and binary converters for Linux installations? ··· Danny Pew Pew 22:51, 31 October 2009 (UTC)

I see what you are trying to say, but those have inherent issues to begin with. I am talking about a (to be) supported operating system. They have no reason to not support Windows 7, they have most likely just not got around to throwing Windows 7 into the Supported Operating Systems line on the boxes and such. Keep in mind it was released less then a month ago. Should we sit on our hands and wait for them to say "Yes, Guild Wars now officially supports Windows 7, even though we didn't really change anything..." Or should we start the documentation now? Don't we have a GW2 wiki already?..... --Kairu 19:42, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

Guild Wars was never officially supported on Vista, as far as anything goes. Also, what issues are you talking about regarding emus? 74.50.104.2 21:26, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

Vista is on the list of supported operating systems in system requirements, which does mean it is an officially supported operating system: http://www.guildwars.com/support/faq/eyeofthenorth-faq.php

There are always issues with emus, at least all the ones I have used. I can't specifically name one because I have not used one in a long while. But my main point is that we all know Windows 7 is going to be supported, while any emus will most definately not be officially supported. --Kairu 14:03, 5 November 2009 (UTC)

EotN was the first chapter of Guild Wars to support Vista, and considering they never updated the previous chapters to say they support Vista fully, I'm inclined to assume that they wouldn't officially support 7 until they released a new chapter. Unfortunately, the devs have already announced that they won't be releasing any further chapters, which makes that point moot. Unless we're going to start including notes about, at the very least, WINE, I have a tough time seeing 7 being given preferential treatment. 74.50.104.2 20:49, 5 November 2009 (UTC)