These are the available/deprecated command line arguments in OpenOffice.
(Lastest changes: November 5th 2002)


appserver

Obsolete, not used anymore.


-embedding

Obsolete, not used anymore.


-minimized

This argument only controls the visibility of the intro bitmap during startup. There is no code that minimizes the first window after startup.


-invisible

The office doesn't show the intro bitmap during startup and doesn't open the first default document. After startup there is no visible UI although using the Office API it is possible to open visible documents/dialogs. The only way to shutdown the office is through the Office API or using the task manager / kill command.


-norestore

Don't restart office and restore all opened documents automatically after an exception.


-bean

Obsolete, currently it only controls the creation of the default document. In the past this argument influenced the registration, crash mail and other features.


-server

This argument is like -invisible, additionally the ucb component is configured using the configuration key /org.openoffice.ucb.Configuration/ContentProviders/['Server']/SecondaryKeys/['Office']/ProviderData instead of /org.openoffice.ucb.Configuration/ContentProviders/['Local']/SecondaryKeys/['Office']/ProviderData to support a remote file system. This configuration data is NOT included in OpenOffice so normally you cannot use it. Please use -invisible instead.
There are some limitations for this command line argument. All "open", "print", "print to" commands on the command line are ignored. No default document is opened. After startup there is no visible UI although using the Office API it is possible to open visible documents/dialogs. The only way to shutdown the office is through the Office API or using the task manager / kill command.


-quickstart

Specifies that the quickstarter service should be activated during startup. The office doesn't show the intro bitmap during startup. If you use this option for a 2nd office this command is send to the running office and activates the quickstarter.


-terminate_after_init

The office terminates after it registers some uno services. The office doesn't show the intro bitmap during startup.


-accept=

This command line parameter provides an uno accept string to the office. The accept string is used to create an acceptor thread.
"socket," = Uses the socket implementation to create an acceptor. Currently used by scripting clients to access the StarOffice API.


-userid=

The parameter specifies an user directory which should be used by the office. Overriding the infos from soffice.ini/bootstrap.ini and sversion.ini.


-p ...

"Print" command to print all following files on the default printer. The office doesn't show the intro bitmap during startup.


-pt ...

"Print to" command to specify an additional printer for output. The office doesn't show the intro bitmap during startup.


-o (supported from src642)

Always open files on command line for editing even if they are templates.


-n (supported from src642)

Always create a new document based on the given file (use document as a template).


-nologo (supported from srx643)

The office doesn't show the intro bitmap during startup.


-view ... (supported from srx644)

The documents specified will be loaded in 'read-only' mode. The files will be copied to the temp directory and removed from it when the office is closed.


-nolockcheck (supported from srx644)

Suppress checking for a locked user installation (an unlocked installation will be locked nevertheless).


-headless (supported from srx644)

The headless mode makes it possible to script an Office without any user interface and user interface interaction. It is a special mode used typically by external scripting clients. The Office has no user interface and the lifetime must be controlled by the external scripting client.


-writer/-calc/-draw/-impress/-math/-global/-web (supported from srx644)

These parameters open a new document of the given type:

Additional information:

The intro bitmap is not shown if the office uses the remote vcl library.


-display

Set the DISPLAY environment variable on Unix. This is only supported by the office startup script that should normally be used.