Communicator's Command Line Options

On Windows platforms you can use command line configuration options to control how Communicator opens, which components open initially, and what the components do when they open. There are also command line options that apply to Communicator on the Unix platform.

Also see the Parameter Definitions and Syntax Rules that follow the Windows and Unix command line options.

Windows 3.1x, 95, NT

Options Syntax

Result	Command	Parameters
Create a dummy profile and launch the Account Setup application (through which the user will create a real account). Applies to version 4.02 or later.	`-new_account`
Run Navigator (3.x) or Communicator (4.x) using a particular initialization file.	`-i`	`[path to initialization file]`
Open Navigator in "kiosk" mode (without menus or buttons). Applies to versions 3.x, or 4.02 or later.	`-k`
Open Navigator in "super-kiosk" mode (borderless, full-screen display that can be further customized with JavaScript). Applies to version 4.02 or later.	`-sk`
Load Java at start-up, while splash screen is displayed. Helpful when running enterprise and kiosk applications. Applies to version 4.02 or later.	`-start_java`
Before Communicator opens, ask the user to fill out a new profile.	`-new_profile`
Before Communicator opens, display the Profile Manager so the user can choose the correct identity.	`-profile_manager`
Run Communicator using a particular user profile.	`-P` (uppercase "P" is required)	`["user's profile name"]` e.g., `-P"profilename"`
Open Navigator regardless of any conflicting preferences.	`-browser`
Open Navigator and display a local HTML document.		`[file_name]`
Open Navigator and use the HTML document at the named URL as a home page.	`-h`	`[URL]`
Open Messenger (displays the Inbox by default).	`-mail`
Open the Inbox in Messenger.	`-inbox`
Open the Message Center and go to the first subscribed discussion group server.	`-news`
Open the Message Center to see all folders.	`-folders`
Open the Address Book.	`-address`
Import an LDIF file into the Address Book. Note that entries that are exact duplicates are not added.	`-import`	`[LDIF_file_name]`
Export the contents of the Address Book as an LDIF file. Only exporting occurs. Exported file automatically gets `.ldif` extension.	`-export`	`[LDIF_file_name]`
Open Page Composer without specifying an HTML document.	`-edit`
Open Page Composer and load a particular HTML document.	`-edit`	`[file_name]`
Open new Message Composition window.	`-compose`
Open new Message Composition window with attachments.	`-compose`	`[@attachments] \| [-attachment]`
Open new Message Composition window, automatically inserting message and attachments.	`-compose`	`[message @attachments] \|` `[message -attachment]`
Run Netcaster. Requires that Netcaster is already installed.	`-netcaster`

Windows 3.1 Differences

Command lines begin with drive:\netscape\navstart rather than the path to netscape.exe.
Command options (arguments) for navstart.exe have to begin with a fully qualified path to netscape.exe. For example, to run Netscape Messenger the command line could be C:\programs\netscape\navstart.exe "c:\programs\netscape\netscape.exe" -mail.
You can have additional options on the same command line following the guidelines described above.

Unix

Options Syntax

Result	Command	Parameters
Display a list of all the command line options, with a brief explanation of each.	`-help`
Open NetHelp at start-up.	`-nethelp`	`[nethelp_URL]`
Bypass the license page that appears at start-up.	`-no-about-splash`
Show the version number and build date.	`-version`
Specify the X server to use.	`-display`	`[dpy]`
Start up iconified.	`-iconic`
Force session management on. Session management is supported by default.	`-session-management`
Force session management off. Session management is supported by default.	`-no-session-management`
Force session management on. Session management is supported on Irix by default. This may be needed on Irix systems that require explicit settings, as with some SGI systems.	`-irix-session-management`
Force session management off. Session management is supported on Irix by default. This may be needed on Irix systems that require explicit settings, as with some SGI systems.	`-no-irix-session-management`
Ignore window geometry saved for session.	`-ignore-geometry-prefs`
Don't save the session's window geometry.	`dont-save-geometry-prefs`
Use a specific server visual.	`-visual`	`[id-or-number]`
Install a private color map.	`-install`
Use the default color map.	`-no-install`
Set the maximum number of colors to allocate for images (when not using `-install`).	`-ncols`	`[N]`
Force 1-bit-deep image display.	`-mono`
Set a specific X resource.	`-xrm`	`[resource-spec]`
Execute a command in an already running Netscape process.	`-remote`	`[remote-command]`
Following a `-remote` command, cause the window to raise to the top.	`-raise`
Following a `-remote` command, do not cause the window to raise to the top.	`-noraise`
Ignore the `alwaysraised`, `alwayslowered`, and `z-lock` attributes of JavaScript `window.open()`.	`-dont-force-window-stacking`
The ID of an X window to which `-remote` commands should be sent (if unspecified, the first window found is used).	`-id`	`[window-id]`
Show only the Component Bar.	`-component-bar`
Position and size the Messenger and Collabra windows.	`-geometry`	`=WxH+X+Y` (the default is `620x950+630+40`)
Open Messenger (displays the Inbox by default).	`-messenger`
Open Messenger (an alternate option that also displays the Inbox by default).	`-mail`
Open the Message Center and go to the first subscribed discussion group server.	`-discussions`
Open the Message Center and go to the first subscribed discussion group server (an alternate option that works the same as `-discussions`).	`-news`
Open Composer and optionally open the document at the specified URL.	`-composer`	`[URL]`
Open Composer and optionally open the document at the specified URL (an alternate option that works the same as `-composer`).	`-edit`	`[URL]`

Parameter Definitions

Note that parameters other than switches are interpreted as files or URLs to be loaded.


Parameter	Definition
`path to initialization file`	The full path to the appropriate initialization file. The default name for this file is `netscape.ini`.
`"user's profile name"`	The individual user's name as it appears in the Profile Manager, bracketed by quotes.
`file_name`	The full path to the HTML document.
`URL`	The URL of the page to display.
`LDIF_file_name`	The full path to the LDIF file.
`message`	The name of a file containing a message, including its full path. The default search location is the `Temp` directory.
`attachments`	The name or names of the attachments or attachment lists, including the full path for each. Lists are preceded with the `@` symbol, individual attachments are preceded with a hyphen. Multiple names are delimited by a vertical bar ( `\|` ), single names are preceded by a hyphen ( `-` ). The default search location is the `Temp` directory.
`nethelp_URL`	The URL of the NetHelp content, usually located in folders below `\nethelp\netscape`.
`dpy`	The name of the Unix X server to use, in the format `machinename:0`.
`id-or-number`	The specific server visual to use.
`N`	The integer for the maximum number of colors to allocate for images.
`resource-spec`	The name of a specific X resource.
`remote-command`	The remote command to execute in an already-running Netscape process. For more information, see Remote Control of Unix Netscape.
`window-id`	The ID of an X window to receive `-remote` commands.

Syntax Rules

File names or paths with spaces have to be enclosed in quotes; for example, "My Documents".
The commands and parameters aren't case sensitive (except for the "-P" option, which must be uppercase).
The hyphen (-) delimits an action type.
Blank spaces ( ) separate actions from parameters and parameters from each other.
The "at" symbol (@) delimits the names of attachment file lists.
The hyphen (-) delimits the names of single attachment files.