Command Line Options

Directory Compare may be run with optional items in the command line:

Options Meaning
dcp_file_name Read the settings in the .dcp file called dcp_file_name
/s directory_or_zip_file_name Use directory_or_zip_file_name as Source
/t directory_or_zip_file_name Use directory_or_zip_file_name as Target
/f pattern Use pattern as Filter (see File patterns). If this is not included, *.* is assumed.
/u Update all newer files in Source
/y Update all newer files in Source and Target
/m Make Target a mirror (exact copy except for newer items in Target) of Source
/q Quit after performing other actions in command line

(/S, /T, /F, /U, /Y, /M and /Q are also OK.)

If directory_or_zip_file_name or pattern contain spaces, you must enclose them between double quotes. If pattern already contains double quotes they have to be preceeded by \ (see below).

Examples (of course, you may need to include the program path explicitly):

Command line Meaning
dircmp name.dcp Read the settings in the .dcp file and automatically start a Scan
dircmp name.dcp /u Read the settings in the .dcp file, automatically start a Scan and then update all newer files in Source
dircmp name.dcp /u /q Read the settings in the .dcp file, automatically start a Scan, update all newer files in Source, and then quit
dircmp name.dcp /y Read the settings in the .dcp file, automatically start a Scan and then update all newer files in Source and Target
dircmp name.dcp /m /q Read the settings in the .dcp file, automatically start a Scan, update all newer files in Source, erase items of Target missing in Source, and then quit
dircmp /s "dir 1" Use dir 1 as Source (notice the space)
dircmp /t dir /f "\" a*\"/*.bak" Use dir as Target and " a*"/*.bak as Filter
dircmp /s dir1 /t dir2 Use dir1 as Source, dir2 as Target, and automatically start a Scan
dircmp /s dir1 /t dir2 /u Use dir1 as Source, dir2 as Target, automatically start a Scan, and then update all newer files in Source
dircmp /s dir1 /t dir2 /u /q Use dir1 as Source, dir2 as Target, automatically start a Scan, update all newer files in Source, and quit
dircmp /s dir1 /t dir2 /y Use dir1 as Source, dir2 as Target, automatically start a Scan, and then update all newer files in Source and Target
dircmp /s dir1 /t dir2 /y /q Use dir1 as Source, dir2 as Target, automatically start a Scan, update all newer files in Source and Target, and quit

You can get automatic backups in unattended mode by using a command lines in the form
dircmp /s dir1 /t dir2 /y /q
or, if extra items in {\b Target} must be deleted,
dircmp /s dir1 /t dir2 /m /q
in a shortcut in the desktop, or in a batch file (that, for instance, will be executed automatically from the startup menu, or by means of the at command under NT, or as a programmed task under Windows 98).