-o <settings file>

(Windows only) The -o switch allows you to specify a "settings file" other than the default (default.ash). An A-Shell "settings file" contains the options that are otherwise configurable via the Settings menu items (e.g. color definitions.) To make changes to those settings permanent, you can use the File menu Save Settings As dialog to save a new copy of the default settings file (default.ash) or create a separate settings file of a different name. In the latter case, you would need to use the -o switch to specify the alternate settings file's name.

If only a filespec (with no directory) is given, then the directory is assumed to be the same directory as miame.ini was located in. And if no extension is given, ".ash" is assumed.

This switch was previously –w, which is still supported but –o is preferred in order to avoid confusion with the –w switch of vue.

If the full filespec of the settings file contains spaces, then you must enclose it in quotes. For example: -o "c:\My Documents\my ashell settings.ash"

History

2006 July, A-Shell 4.9.961:  The -o <settings file> specification may now contain embedded %env% variables. For example, when sharing a single %MIAME% directory between multiple users that may want to have independent settings without having to change the settings file name, you could use a standard -o value or something like:

-o "%USERPROFILE%\Application Data\A-Shell\myapp.ash"

If the specified file is not found, A-Shell will also look for it in the %MIAME% directory, and that isn't found either, it will look for %miame%\default.ash. Regardless of which (if any) is found, when the user uses the Settings...Save option to save the settings, they will be written to the location specified by the -o switch. The effect of this is that users may start out sharing their window settings, but as they customize them, they start using their own private settings.