For reference, here is the current set of command line arguments recognized by the PixInsight Core application, as of version 1.8.4.1190:
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Usage: PixInsight [<arg_list>] [<url_list>]
<url_list>
is a sequence <url>[ <url_list>]
<url>
is an URL specification to an existing file. Supported file types include
images of any installed image format, Process Set Module files (.xpsm .psm),
script files (.js, .jsh, .scp), project files (.xosm) and plain text files
(.txt, files with no suffix, and a number of source code file types such as
.c, .cpp, .h, etc).
URLs must conform to the URI specification from RFC 3986 (Uniform Resource
Identifier: Generic Syntax). For remote URLs, the HTTP/HTTPS and FTP
protocols are fully supported with optional user authentication.
For local path specifications, file name templates are fully supported via
standard * and ? wildcards.
<arg_list>
is a sequence <arg>[ <arg_list>]
<arg>
is a valid argument specification. Valid arguments are the following:
--startup-script=<file_path>
<file_path> is a path specification to a local script file that will be
executed as part of the startup procedure. By default, all executable
scripts located on the "etc/startup" installation directory are loaded
and executed automatically on startup, unless a script is specified with
this argument, or the --no-startup-scripts argument is used (see below).
--no-startup-scripts
Don't execute any startup scripts.
--no-startup-check-updates
Don't launch the 'check for updates' background process during startup.
--no-startup-gui-messages
Don't show error and warning messages using message boxes and other fancy
graphical interface resources during startup.
--no-splash
Don't show a very nice splash window during startup.
--display=[<host_name>]:<screen_number>
Override the standard DISPLAY environment variable on X11. <screen_number>
is a zero-based screen number valid on the specified (or default) host. Zero
corresponds to the default primary screen. This option is ignored on OS X
and Windows platforms.
--opengl=<impl>
Forces the use of a particular OpenGL implementation. This option can be
useful to troubleshoot OpenGL problems, especially on Windows platforms.
The <impl> argument value must be one of:
raster Use pure raster surfaces on top-level windows. This option
effectively disables the use of OpenGL in the PixInsight core
application.
software Force the use of a software-based OpenGL 2.1 implementation
on Windows. This option has no effect on other platforms.
ES Force the use of an OpenGL ES 2.0 or higher implementation
distributed with the core application on Windows. This option
has no effect on other platforms.
desktop Force the use of desktop OpenGL, even if the host graphics
driver/adapter has been blacklisted, or if the host graphics
hardware is known to cause problems.
-n[=<slot>] | --new-instance[=<slot>]
Create a new instance of the PixInsight Core application. If specified as
a positive integer, <slot> is an application slot in the [1,256] range. If
no slot is specified, the new instance will try to run in the first free
slot available.
-y[=<slot>] | --yield[=<slot>]
Yield execution to an already running instance of the PixInsight Core
application. <slot> is an optional application slot with the same meaning
as for the -n option. Execution is always yielded by default if neither -n
nor -y are specified, and there are one or more running (and alive)
application instances.
--enumerate-instances
Write a report of all the running and crashed application instances (to
stdout on UNIX/Linux platforms, to a message box on Windows), including
process identifiers (PIDs), then exit.
--terminate-instance=<slot>
Unconditionally terminates a running application instance at the specified
<slot>, and exits.
** Warning ** The application will be forced to exit immediately, even if
there are running processes or scripts. No modified data will be saved and
no settings will be stored. Running process won't have any chance to perform
cleanup operations or save working parameters.
-m=<file_path> | --module=<file_path>
<file_path> is a local path specification to a PixInsight module that
will be installed upon startup. This argument can be used multiple
times to define a set of modules that will be installed in the order
they appear on the command line.
-s=<file_path> | --script=<file_path>
<file_path> is a local path specification to a script that will be featured
(if the script provides valid feature preprocessor directives) upon startup.
This argument can be used multiple times to define a ser of scripts that
will be featured in the order they appear on the command line.
-r=<file_path> | --run=<file_path>
<file_path> is a local path specification to a script file that will be
loaded and executed just after the startup procedure. This argument can
be used multiple times to define an ordered set of scripts that will be
executed after the startup script.
--force-exit
After running all scripts specified with -r arguments, exit the application
unconditionally.
** Warning ** No modified data will be saved if this option is specified.
--backup-conf
Write a backup copy of the current PixInsight configuration file on the
user's home directory. The backup file is generated prior to any reset of
configuration settings.
--reset-all
Force a reset of all configuration settings. This includes all user-defined
preferences, pixel readout options, color management settings, and global
RGBWS parameters.
--reset-color-management
Reset color management settings to default values.
--reset-preferences
Reset all user preferences to default settings.
--reset-readout-options
Reset pixel readout options to default settings.
--reset-RGBWS
Reset global RGB Working Space parameters to default values.
--reset-printer
Reset the global printer object to default settings.
--without-printer
Do not initialize the global printer object. Currently this option is
enabled by default on OS X and Windows.
--with-printer
Initialize the global printer object (inverse option to --without-printer).
--default-modules
Reset the set of installed modules to the default standard set. After
scanning the bin installation directory looking for valid PixInsight
modules, the core application will try to install all modules found.
Other modules that could have previously been installed will be discarded.
--default-scripts
Reset the set of featured scripts. After scanning the src/scripts
installation directory looking for scripts, the core application will
create entries for all valid scripts found under the Script menu. Other
scripts that could have previously been featured will be discarded.
--default-favorites
Reset the Favorite Processes category to the factory-default set, which is
version-dependent. The previous selection is lost.
--no-modules
Do not install any modules. Any modules installed during this session will
be discarded. The core application will install the current set of modules
the next time it is executed without this argument.
--no-scripts
Do not feature any scripts. Any scripts featured during this session will
be discarded. The core application will load the current collection of
featured scripts the next time it is executed without this argument.
--uninstall
Run the PixInsight core application in uninstall mode. This is a special
execution mode reserved to erase all PixInsight configuration settings
for the current user. A modal dialog box asks for confirmation before
actually erasing all settings. The uninstall mode can also be triggered
by running the core application with the Ctrl key pressed.
--print-environment
Writes the names and values of all environment variables (to stdout on
UNIX/Linux platforms, to a message box on Windows).
--r[+|-]
Enable/disable recursive directory search for wildcard local file
specifications. Each occurrence of this argument applies to local file
items following it on the command line.
--help
Display this help text and exit.
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