You can run standalones by typing specific commands in a command prompt window or a shell, or you can run them from commands saved in a C-shell file or batch file.
For most standalones, the usage is displayed when you type the command name without options. For certain standalones, you must type the standalone's name followed by the -h or -help option to display the usage, such as imf_copy -help.
These are the typographical conventions used to describe the usage (syntax) of the standalones.
A dash (-) followed by one or more letters (as in -z) indicates an option name.
For example, -z usually means zoom, -s usually means sequence, -v usually means verbose mode, etc. The available options are listed and explained in the description of each standalone.
Angle brackets(< >) indicate a parameter for which you must substitute a name or value.
For example, <filename> means that you must type the name of the file you want to use. When entering a parameter, do not type the angle brackets.
Unless otherwise specified, do not include the extension (such as .pic, .lin, .hrc, .mi, etc.) when specifying file names.
Commands and parameters that are not enclosed in angle brackets must be typed exactly as they appear.
Strings are quoted within double quotes: this includes all names. The double quotes protect names from interpretation by the shell or command prompt window.
Brackets ([ ]) indicate an option along with its input. Do not type the brackets.
For example, [-z <fact>] means that if you use the -z option (zoom), you must also specify its <fact> (zooming factor).
A vertical bar (|) separates exclusive options.
For example, the usage for -face includes front|back|both. This means that you must specify only one of these three options for defining which face of the object is to be rendered. When specifying an option, do not type the vertical bar.
Braces ({ }) enclose a group of possible values related to an option. When entering parameters, do not type the braces.
Ellipses (...) indicates that the option or group of options can be repeated.
Options and inputs appearing on the same command line must be separated by spaces.
Commands should be entered as a single line in a shell or command prompt window, or in a C-shell file.
Because SOFTIMAGE .pic files are often used for rendered images and conversion to and from movie files (and so on), they can be used for image sequences; for example, a series of eight .pic files named foo would have the file names foo.1.pic, foo.2.pic, foo.3.pic, and so on. The Softimage browser and standalones automatically recognize existing sequential .pic files, and will generate the frame numbers when creating them.
The browser displays sequential .pic files as a folder, in the form of name [first, last]. For example, the eight foo images would be displayed as a folder with the name foo.[1, 8].
Most standalones that load or save image sequences do not require the full file name; providing the base name and the start and end frame numbers is enough for the standalone to correctly identify or create the proper file names.
