Reference > Command line arguments

Easy Data Transform accepts the following command line arguments:

Argument	Description
<file name>	The .transform file to open at start-up.
-cli	Close the application once any processing on the opened file is complete.
-file <alias>=<location>	Sets the input or output file with the given alias to the location (path) specified. Input Excel files should include the sheet name, e.g. file.xlsx[sheet]. Output Excel files may optionally include a sheet name. The file type should be the same as the original.
-new_window	Don't load the last opened .transform file, even if open previous file at start-up is checked in Preferences.
-verbose	Output additional information to the terminal. Useful for debugging problems.

This allows you to run Easy Data Transform from the Mac Terminal or a script. For example:

To run /Users/andy/Documents/myfile 1.transform with the output with alias output1 output instead to /Users/andy/Documents/data1.csv:

/Applications/EasyDataTransform.app/Contents/MacOS/EasyDataTransform '/Users/andy/Documents/myfile 1.transform' -file 'output1=/Users/andy/Documents/data1.csv' -cli -verbose

To run /Users/andy/Documents/myfile2.transform with the input with alias input1 input instead from sheet sheet1 of /Users/andy/Documents/data 2.xlsx:

/Applications/EasyDataTransform.app/Contents/MacOS/EasyDataTransform /Users/andy/Documents/myfile2.transform -file 'input1=/Users/andy/Documents/data 2.xlsx[sheet1]' -cli -verbose

Use wildcards to transform multiple files in a folder:

for f in in*.csv; do /Applications/EasyDataTransform.app/Contents/MacOS/EasyDataTransform '/Users/andyb/Dropbox/cli/cli.transform' -file cli-in=$f -file cli-out=out-$f -cli -verbose; done

Use file name variables to dynamically change output file names based on input file names.

You can also use the Mac 'open' command:

open /Applications/EasyDataTransform.app --args /Users/andy/Documents/myfile\ 1.transform -file output1=/Users/andy/Documents/data1.csv -cli

open /Applications/EasyDataTransform.app --args /Users/andy/Documents/myfile2.transform -file 'input1=/Users/andy/Documents/data 2.xlsx[sheet1]' -cli

But note that no command line output is shown if you use 'open'.

Put single quotes (') around any arguments with spaces or a backslash (\) in front of each space (as shown in the examples above).

To run from the command line on a schedule, call a script file from a scheduling program, such as launchd.

If you are using wildcards, then it is usually a good idea to output to a different folder to the one that you are inputting from.

Select File>Command Line... to show sample command line text which you can copy and modify. It will also warn you of potential issues.