On the Delphi TCommandParser class for parsing command-lines and arguments (via: Suggestions for how to define command line parameters – Stack Overflow)
Posted by jpluimers on 2015/05/13
A while ago, I posted [WayBack] the below StackOverflow answer. Recently a friend asked me about command-line parsing in Delphi, so here is the re-run:
Delphi contains a really nice unit called CommandParser with a [WayBack] TCommandParser class that does commandline parsing for you. Since it has [WayBack] virtually no documentation, here are a few things to get started. It works even in Delphi 2007.
I have a HiddenExecutable example at our open source bo repository.
Basically you:
- TComponent that contains the properties you want to expose as commandline parameters (that is
THiddenExecuteSettingsin the HiddenExecuteSettingsUnit - a commandline parser controller. In our case
THiddenExecuteArgumentsin theTHiddenExecuteArgumentsUnit (in retrospect not such a good name) that contains anInitCommandLinemethod that sets up a TCommandParser instance passing it yourTComponent - It then executes a couple of [WayBack] AddSwitch calls to setup the parameters with both abbreviated and full commandline switches (like
handhelp) - ProcessCommandLine method on the
TCommandParserinstance to process the commandline and fill the properties of yourTComponent(in my example, this is done in theProcessCommandLinemethod).
Now comes the fun:
- TCommandParser has a
HelpTextmethod that fully automatically assembles a helptext based upon what you fed it with theAddSwitchmethods. - TCommandParser also has a
SaveOptionsmethod that allows you to save the current settings of your TComponent into a settings file.
The Delphi units you need are these which you can get from the Embarcadero [WayBack] radstudiodemos.sourceforge.net demo repository:
CommandParser in '...\radstudiodemos.sourceforge.net\branches\RadStudio_XE2\Delphi\Database\dbExpress\Utils\CommandParser.pas',
PropertyHelpers in '...\radstudiodemos.sourceforge.net\branches\RadStudio_XE2\Delphi\Database\dbExpress\DbxDataPump\PropertyHelpers.pas',
ParseIds in '...\radstudiodemos.sourceforge.net\branches\RadStudio_XE2\Delphi\Database\dbExpress\DbxDataPump\ParseIds.pas',Edit: [WayBack] John Kaster wrote a nice [WayBack] article on EDN that includes [WayBack] more details on using the TCommandParser.
Note the above mentioned code mostly is on [WayBack] https://bitbucket.org/jeroenp/wiert.me/src/tip/Native/Delphi/Apps/Console/HiddenExecuteConsoleProject
Since Delphi XE7, this unit does not ship with Delphi any more, but it is still at [WayBack] RAD Studio Demo Code / Code / [r2029] /branches/RadStudio_XE6/Object Pascal/Database/dbExpress/Utils/CommandParser.pas.
–jeroen
via: [WayBack] delphi – Suggestions for how to define command line parameters – Stack Overflow.
The Wiert Corner - irregular stream of stuff 
gabr42 said
Or you can use my attribute-based command line parser (completely free): http://www.thedelphigeek.com/2014/12/attribute-based-command-line-parsing.html
jpluimers said
I think remember you wanting to do a redesign for that. Has that already happened?
Note that TCommandParser works in non-Unicode Delphi versions, which – for my current work – is a big plus.
gabr42 said
This is the redesigned version. I’m using it quite a lot. (But, yes, it requires a modern Delphi.)
jpluimers said
Thanks. Good to know it’s there.