Can't edit the shortcut -intro:off

[sucram17 739]

Hi Im sure there are a thread like this already. But let me ask anyway. The problem is that my shortcut will not let me add -intro:off to the target line. It says that the name of the target is not correct (but in swedish). In fact I cant add anything to the target line. Please help.

 

sucram17.

[rsc204 21,866]

Try making a new shortcut, by going to the Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps directory. Hold Shift+CTRL and drag SimCity 4.exe to your desktop. This creates a new shortcut, now using this you should be able to modify the target line.

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

Hi sucram17,

Just to clarify, the correct format for a command line parameter is:

"<Game location>" <Paremeter>

For example, with intro off:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -intro:off

It's important this is done after the final quote, as any options aren't part of the game's location. It's just a command which gives the game an instruction.

Then if you'd like, other parameters can be added following a space. Each must begin with a hyphen (-).
E.g.

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -intro:off -CPUcount:1 -d:directx

[sucram17 739]

30 minutes ago, Cyclone Boom said:

Hi sucram17,

Just to clarify, the correct format for a command line parameter is:

"<Game location>" <Paremeter>

For example, with intro off:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -intro:off

It's important this is done after the final quote, as any options aren't part of the game's location. It's just a command which gives the game an instruction.

Then if you'd like, other parameters can be added following a space. Each must begin with a hyphen (-).
E.g.

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -intro:off -CPUcount:1 -d:directx

So, there has to be a space before i write intro off? thanks for the help.

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

Yes, that's right, one space after the end quote mark.

[sucram17 739]

1 hour ago, Cyclone Boom said:

Yes, that's right, one space after the end quote mark.

oh thank you for the help man. will test it tomorrow.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Just a note about the syntax of command lines.  Seems many people have never been exposed to this concept and if you are going to use command line options you need to know slightly more than somewhat so here goes.

<command line> ::= <command> [<options>]*

Now for many, this is so much Greek or Arabic, but to computer sweats like me this is clear as a bell.  It says:

The nonterminal symbol <command line> is made up from (::=) the nonterminal symbol <command> and the optional ( [ ] ) nonterminal symbol <options> which may appear zero or more times ( * ).  Whew, what a mouthful, and now you know why someone invented this shorthand called BNF which stands for Backus-Naur Form.  Let the full discussion of Messrs. Backus and Naur remain in the realm of the CS201 course.  Let's just use their neat invention with a few more explanations.

Now about the repeat symbol ( * ) which means zero or more.  If it was a plus sign ( + ) it would mean one or more times.  If there was no repeat symbol the meaning is that there is only one option allowed, but there can be several options available.

Now a nonterminal symbol is always enclosed in corner brackets ( < > ).  A terminal symbol will be either a number or a string in bold type.  If it is a string that contains syntax delimiters such as spaces, then the string must be enclosed in quotes.

A <command line> always has a <command> which is usually a string that tells the operating shell where to find the program.  In Windows terms this is a "complete path name" which means the last symbol on the string is the program name and everything in front of that is a list with separators of the folders that contain the program.  So, on my machine, for SC4 this is:

 "C:/Program Files (x86)/Maxis/SimCity 4 Deluxe/Apps/SimCity 4.exe"

Because I am on a different file system than windows, my separator for names is slash (/).  If you are on windows, your separator is backslash (\).  It is left to the reader as an exercise ....

Now each element on a <command line> that is a terminal symbol must be considered to be like the word of a sentence.  These are usually separated by spaces, so space is a separator for <command line> elements.  The complete pathname above contains four spaces so it must be in quotes.  It means also that next parameter on the <command line> must have its own unquoted separator (a space) before it starts.  This is how the shell program finds it.

So, to use command line options you need to understand that each one is a word separated by spaces.

Now to make life more difficult, <options> can have two parts.  So we take your grammar even further:

<options> ::= <option>[<option indicator><value>]

In SC4, the <option indicator> ::= :

<value> can be a string or a set of numbers.  And there can be exceptions like the -r option to set screen resolution.

Under the usual POSIX rules that existed at the time SC4 was written, it was customary to start all options with a hyphen ( - ), and so it is.  Here is my full command line:

"C:/Program Files (x86)/Maxis/SimCity 4 Deluxe/Apps/SimCity 4.exe"  -intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -d:directx  -CPUCount:1 -f

Sorry for the small type but this must fit on one line.  This says:

Run the program SimCity 4.exe with the introductory movies turned off, custom resolution turned on, resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels with 32 bit colour (1080p), using directx graphics, one core, and full screen.

Further reading.  You may have to join SC4Devotion to read this.  Registration there is free.