This topic lists and describes all of the options that you can use to start the IDE from the command line.
You must precede all options (unless otherwise noted) with either a dash (-) or a slash (/). The options are not case-sensitive. Therefore, the following options are all identical: -d /d -D /D.
You use these options with the IDE startup command: bcb.exe.
For example:
bcb.exe -ns -hm
Starts the IDE with no splash screen and tracks memory allocation.
bcb.exe 杝dc:\test\source 杁 c:\test\myprog.exe -td
Starts the IDE and loads c:\test\myprog.exe into the debugger and used c:\test\source as the location for the source code while debugging. The 杢d and any other argument that appears after the 杁exename debugger option is used as an argument to c:\test\myprog.exe.
General options
Option Description
? Displays help for IDE command-line options.
hm Heap Monitor. Displays information in the IDE title bar regarding the amount of memory allocated using the memory manager. Displays the number of blocks and bytes allocated. Information gets updated when the IDE is idle.
hv Heap Verify. Performs validation of memory allocated using the memory manager. Displays error information in the IDE title bar if errors are found in the heap.
ns No splash screen. Suppresses display of the splash screen during IDE startup.
np No Project. Supresses loading of any desktop files on IDE startup and suppresses creation of a default project.
rregkey Registry key (for experienced users only). Specifies an alternate registry key (in place of C++Builder).
Debugger options
Option Description
dexename Loads the specified executable (exename) into the debugger. Any parameters specified after the exename are used as parameters to the program being debugged and are ignored by the IDE. A space is allowed between the d and the exename.
attach:%1;%2 Performs a debug attach, using %1 as the process ID to attach to and %2 as the event ID for that process. It can be used manually, but is used mostly for Just in Time debugging.
td TDGoodies. Implements several features found in the Turbo Debugger, TD32 (available on Windows only). It must be used with the d option. It causes the CPU and FPU views to stay open when a process terminates. It causes Run|Program Reset to terminate the current process and reload it in the debugger. If there is no current process, Run|Program Reset reloads the last process that terminated. It also causes breakpoints and watches to be saved in the default desktop if desktop saving is on and no project is loaded.
sddirectories Source Directories. Must be used with the d option. The argument is either a single directory or a semicolon delimited list of directories which are used as the Debug Source Path setting (can also be set using the Project|Options|Directories/Conditionals option page). No space is allowed between sd and the directory list argument.
hhostname Hostname. Must be used with the d option. When specified, a remote debug session is initiated using the specified host name as the remote host to debug on. The remote debug server program must be running on the remote host.
l (Lowercase L) Do not execute startup code. Must be used with the d option. Normally, when you specify the d option, the debugger attempts to run the process to either main or WinMain. When l is specified, the process is merely loaded and no startup code is executed.
Project options
Option Description
filename (No preceding dash) The specified filename is loaded in the IDE. It can be a project, project group, or a single file.
b AutoBuild. Must be used with the filename option. When specified, the project or project group is built automatically when the IDE starts. Any hints, errors, or warnings are then saved to a file. Then the IDE exits. This facilitates doing builds in batch mode from a batch file. The Error Level is set to 0 for successful builds and 1 for failed builds. By default, the output file has the same name as the filename specified with the file extension changed to .err. This can be overridden using the o option.
m AutoMake. Same as AutoBuild, but a make is performed rather than a full build.
ooutputfile Output file. Must be used the b or m option. When specified, any hints, warnings, or errors are written to the file specified instead of the default file.