Netscape Command Line Parameters

Keywords: 	  Netscape Command Line Parameters

The following text contains all the command-line parameters for starting Netscape Navigator and other Netscape Communicator programs. This information is useful for someone trying to control Netscape programs with WinBatch. The information is available in the Netscape Help, but having it formatted and easily available saves time.


COMMAND-LINE OPTIONS FOR STARTING NETSCAPE (as of 11/01/98)

These are the command-line options for starting Netscape Navigator and other
Netscape Communicator programs. They are taken from Communicator version 4.05.
To find this information in your copy of Communicator, select the Navigator
icon in the help window, and use FIND to search for "command-line options"

You can control which components open initially, and their subsequent actions,
by using command line configuration options.

To edit a command line option, open the Properties dialog of a Netscape
application icon or shortcut (on Windows 95, also click the Shortcut tab). On
the Command or Target line, you can add one or more options, separated by a
space.

For example, to open Collabra, use the command line:
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Program\netscape.exe -news.

To specify a particular home page upon launch, substitute its URL for the
Netscape home page in the command line:
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Program\netscape.exe -h http://home.netscape.com/

  -address (open the Address Book)

  -browser (open Navigator regardless of any conflicting preferences)

  -compose (open Composer)

  -compose [@attachments] | [-attachment] (open Composer with attachments)

  -compose [message @attachments] | [message -attachment] | [message] |
  [@attachments] | [-attachments] (open Composer, automatically inserting
  message and attachments, if supplied)

  -edit (open Composer, with a blank page)

  -edit [filename] (open Composer and display the specified HTML page)

  [filename] (open Navigator and display a local HTML page)

  -folders (open the Message Center window to see all folders)

  -h [URL] (open Navigator with the specified home page)

  -i [.ini_file_name] (specifies the custom .ini file to use upon launch)

  -inbox (open Messenger's Inbox)

  -k (open in kiosk mode, displaying the browser without menus and other
  user-interface features)

  -mail (open Messenger)

  -new_account (used in Internet Access dial-up editions and requiring a
  special MUC.DLL, creates a dummy profile and launches the Account Setup
  appliction; the dummy profile will be overwritten with a real one that's
  created during the Account Setup process)

  -news (open the Message Center window and select the first subscribed
  discussion group)

  -new_profile (before Communicator opens, ask the user to fill out a new
  profile)

  -P ["user's profile name"] (run Communicator using a particular user's
  profile (profile.cfg file)

  -profile_manager (before Communicator opens, display the Profile Manager so
  the user can choose the correct identity)

  -sk (open in super-kiosk mode, displaying a resizable browser without menus
  and other user-interface features; developers can use this "canvas" mode
  with JavaScript to expand control over the appearance and features of the
  browser window.)

  -start_java (starts Java support while the Communicator splash screen is up,
  providing smooth application launch)

Parameter Definitions

  message: The name of a message file, including its full path. The default
  search location is the temp directory.

  attachments: The name of an attachments list file, including its full path.
  The default search location is the temp directory.

  filename: The full path to the HTML document. URL: The URL of the page to
  display.

  "user's profile name": The individual user's name as it appears in the
  Profile Manager.

Syntax Rules

  File names or paths with spaces have to be enclosed in quotes. For example,
  "my file name".

  Commands and parameters aren't case sensitive (except for the -P command,
  which must be capitalized).

  The hyphen (-) delimits a command.

  Blank spaces ( ) separate commands from parameters, and parameters from each
  other, except when delimited by quotes.

  The at symbol (@) delimits the name of an attachment list file.

  The hyphen (-) delimits the name of a single attachment file.

Windows 3.1 Differences

  Must be run from the same directory as netscape.exe.

  Command lines begin with drive:\netscape\navstart rather than the path to
  netscape.exe.

  Command options (arguments) for navstart.exe are the same as for
  netscape.exe. For example, to run Messenger, the command line could be
  C:\Program Files\Netscape\Program\navstart.exe -mail

Article ID:   W13353

Filename:   Netscape Command Line Parameters.txt

File Created: 1999:04:15:16:53:28

Last Updated: 1999:04:15:16:53:28

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Netscape Command Line Parameters