# Command Line Switches

_Updated June 2025_

Below is a list of the A-Shell startup command switches, followed by extended descriptions where needed. Note that if A-Shell/Windows is launched with no command line arguments, and there is no [Command Line File](commandlinefile.md) defined, it will repeat the command line from the previous launch.

| **Switch** | **Action** | **Switch** | **Action** |
|------|------|------|------|
| [ateonly](ate-only.md) | Causes A-Shell to abort if not being launched from an ATE connection. |  |  |
| b | [Buffer Name](buffername.md): Change name of screen snapshot buffer | n | Suppress the A-Shell splash/license/welcome screen |
| ba | [Buffer and Snapshot](bufferandsnapshot.md): Activate snapshots, append  | nc | Removes the caption bar, creating a caption-less window |
| bc | [Overwrite Buffer File](overwritebufferfile.md): activate auto-snapshot | nm | [No Menu](nomenu.md): Hides the A-Shell menu bar |
| cgi | [Common Gateway Interface](commongatewayint.md) (web programming) | noclx | Disables search for .clx and .cl files. Must be 1st argument |
| cgifast | [FastCGI](fastcgi.md): Higher performance variation of cgi | [notheme](notheme.md) | Disables the Windows "Theme" functions. |
| d | Display [Device Name](devicename.md) | nrs | Removes the resizing border of the main window |
| debug | Set Debug mode; equivalent to SET DEBUG on startup | ntts | Same as OPTIONS=[NTTS](ntts.md) in miame.ini, but much more convenient in situations where you need the feature for just a couple of sessions such as for services |
| devate | [Use ATE Device ID](useatedeviceid.md) causes A-Shell to use the ATE device ID as session device name. | o | Specify alternate [Settings File](settings_file.md) |
| dpm | Activates [DPI Per Monitor Awareness](dpi_per_monitor.md) mode | q | [Quiet Mode](quietmode.md) |
| e | For A-Shell [Exit](exitcls.md) | r | Specify amount of [Memory](memorysize.md) |
| erz | Specifies an [Ersatz File](ersatz_file.md) of device definitions | s | Was 'standalone mode'; no longer applicable. |
| fastcgi | Alias for "cgifast" | silo | 'silo mode' for use within or to simulate Docker single-process environment |
| g | Specify [Alternate Icon](alternateicon.md) | t | [Background Task](backgroundtask.md) |
| h | [Ignore Hangup Signal](ignorehangupsignal.md) | td | Use specific [Terminal Driver](terminaldrivercls.md) |
| hd | [Hangup Delay](hangupdelay.md)  | trace | Debugging [Trace Mode](tracemodecls.md) |
| hei | [Hangup Error Immediately](hanguperrorimmediately.md) | ua | [Unattended Mode](unattendedmode.md) |
| hetcki | [Hangup Error on Tcki](hanguperrorontcki.md) | uo | [Override User Name](overrideusername.md) |
| hp | [Hangup Parent](hangupparent.md) | v | [Version](version.md) |
| i | [Specify Ini File](specifyinifile.md) | w | Deprecated though still supported; use -o |
| j | Force the use of specified [Jobname](jobname.md) | wp | Override the default [Window Position](window-position.md) |
| k | Prompt for security key | wpx | Enhanced version of -wp; see [Window Position](window-position.md) |
| m | [Maximize](maximizecls.md): Force window to remain maximized | z | [Invisible](invisible.md) operations |
| min | [Minimize](minimizecls.md): Force window to start minimized | zi | [Invisible with Icon](invisiblewithicon.md) |
| mntsys | [Mount System Device](mountsystemdevice.md)  | zt | Same as -z, except that task appears in task list  |
| mx | [Remove Menu Buttons](removemenubuttons.md) from title bar | 2 | [Child Session](childsession.md) |




**See Also**

•	[MX\_CLFLAGS](mx_clflags.md)

**History**

2025 October, A-Shell 7.0.1780:  Add fastcgi as an alias for cgifast.

2019 September, A-Shell 6.5.1666:  Add dpm.

2018 July, A-Shell 6.5.1639:  Add ntts.

2016 February, A-Shell 1506:  Add mntsys and noclx.

2013 December, A-Shell 1371:  Add nc and nrs.