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C#/.NET Command Line Argument Parser Reloaded

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4.86/5 (32 votes)
28 Sep 2020CPOL3 min read 105.8K   1.9K   128   27
Easy to use yet powerful command line argument parser which also creates usage and parameter information for the user.

Introduction

Many programs use command line arguments. Each time parsing has to be done in the same way. There are other projects which facilitate the parsing process. For example, C#/.NET Command Line Arguments Parser does a great job, however it lacks verification of the passed and parsed arguments. C# command-line option parser can do that, however using it is quite complicated. CLAParser is a compromise of both: It is easy to use and uses regular expressions for parsing and validating which makes it quite powerful. Further more, it supports i18n and it creates information for correct command line usage for the user.

Naming Conventions

  • Arguments: Everything passed on argument line to program separated by spaces, or grouped by quotes, e.g.
    program.exe argument1 /argument2 
    	--argument3 .!§$argument4´ß2! "argument5 with spaces"
  • Parameter: All arguments that start with / or -, e.g.
    program.exe /parameter1 -parameter2
  • Values: Every argument that is not a parameter, e.g.
    program.exe value1 value2 /my_param  'v a l u e 3'

In the last example, value1 and value2 are values without parameters, whereas v a l u e 3 belongs to parameter my_param. (Note that the single quotes which hold 'v a l u e 3' together are removed by CLAParser.)

Using the Code

  1. Copy CLAParser files to your project folder and include them in C# project (CmdLineArgumentParser.cs, CmdLineArgumentParserRes.resx, and optionally further resx-files).

    project explorer

  2. Create a CLAParser instance by calling the constructor.
    C#
    CLAParser.CLAParser CmdLine = new CLAParser.CLAParser("CLAParserTest");
    The argument must be the default namespace. (This is necessary so that CLAParser can find its resx-files.)
  3. Use CmdLine.Parameter() function to define known parameters.
    C#
    CmdLine.Parameter(CLAParser.CLAParser.ParamAllowType.Optional,
        "", CLAParser.CLAParser.ValueType.String,
        "Path to file that is to be loaded on starting the program.");
    CmdLine.Parameter(CLAParser.CLAParser.ParamAllowType.Optional,
        "output", CLAParser.CLAParser.ValueType.OptionalString,
        "Write output to file, if no file specified default file output.txt is used.");
    CmdLine.Parameter(CLAParser.CLAParser.ParamAllowType.Required, "add",
        CLAParser.CLAParser.ValueType.MultipleInts,
        "Do a mathematical addition of number given integers.");
  4. Start parsing by calling function CmdLine.Parse(). Raised exceptions can be passed directly to the user. They indicate the reason for the problem. Further, show user correct syntax and information about the parameters using CmdLine.GetUsage() and CmdLine.GetParameterInfo().
    C#
    try
    {
        CmdLine.Parse();
    }
    catch (CLAParser.CLAParser.CmdLineArgumentException Ex)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(Ex.Message);
        Console.WriteLine(CmdLine.GetUsage());
        Console.WriteLine(CmdLine.GetParameterInfo());
    }
  5. If arguments are correct and all required arguments are defined, no exception is raised and values of all parameters can be accessed by the dictionary interface. Optional parameters which are not defined by the user are indicated by null values. A value without parameter can be accessed by the empty string ("").
    C#
    if(CmdLine[""] != null)
    {
        value = CmdLine[""];
        ...
    }
    if(CmdLine["parameter"] != null)
    {
        value = CmdLine["parameter"];
        ...
    }

Points of Interest

  • Update: Using the obsolete function Parse(string[] Arguments) with args as parameter quotes (") must be escaped (\") to be recognized correctly. It is recommended to use function Parse() instead!
  • Function FindMismatchReasonInRegex() helps in analyzing why a search string does not match a regular expression and indicates where the problem probably is located.
  • CLAParser is internationalized, i.e. new languages can easily be defined by creating new resx-files (localization).
  • Using the enumerator, all arguments can be traversed, e.g.:
    C#
    IEnumerator e = CmdLine.GetEnumerator();
    while (e.MoveNext())
    {
        DictionaryEntry arg = (DictionaryEntry)e.Current;
        Console.WriteLine(arg.Key + "=" + arg.Value);
    }
  • For a complete overview of CLAParser's capabilities, have a look at the attached code files.

History

  • 2010-02-24
    • Initial release
  • 2010-04-05
    • CmdLineArgumentParser.cs:574 -> from "...Parameters == false)" to "...Parameters == true)"
  • 2011-01-06
    • Corrected error in regular expression which made it impossible to use more than one quoted value
    • Added internal function GetRawCommandlineArgs() proposed by vermis0. Together with it comes function Parse() which makes function Parse(string[] Arguments) obsolete. Now the quotes of quoted values (e.g. "value with spaces") do not need to be escaped anymore!
  • 2011-01-07
    • Corrected error in regular expression which made it impossible to use a value without parameter containing minus (-) or slash (/).
    • Made behaviour with (first) value without parameter more consistent. Instead of setting AllowValuesWithoutParameter, use function Parameter() with ParameterName=="".
    • Fixed error with case sensitivity of parameter. Now everything is case insensitive.
  • 2011-09-09
    • Corrected problem reported by Hautzendorfer concerning single parameters not being processed correctly
  • 2014-07-09
    • Corrected problem reported by Gray John concerning multiple boolean parameters not being processed correctly
  • 2015-11-07
    • Corrected problem detecting values without parameters
    • Added tests
  • 2017-08-24
    • Enhance formatting if help text for parameter contains line break (\n)
    • Added GetAdditionalParameters() for nested usage of CLAParser
  • 2020-09-29
    • Fix typos
    • Fix compiler and code rule warnings
    • Allow negative integers to be passed without quotes

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


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Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Member 1370414330-Sep-20 0:31
Member 1370414330-Sep-20 0:31 
Praise+5 this does almost everything I wanted from a command line parser Pin
honey the codewitch29-Sep-20 8:47
mvahoney the codewitch29-Sep-20 8:47 
QuestionI keep getting Internal Exception: MissingManifestResourceException: Pin
Member 1391221830-Nov-18 7:37
Member 1391221830-Nov-18 7:37 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
VivianMC10-Nov-15 22:51
VivianMC10-Nov-15 22:51 
Nice work, thank you for publishing it, it saved me some time that's for sure Smile | :)
BugProblem with multiple Bool parms Pin
Dubious Geezer5-Mar-14 8:58
Dubious Geezer5-Mar-14 8:58 
AnswerRe: Problem with multiple Bool parms Pin
Yet another user9-Jul-14 4:12
Yet another user9-Jul-14 4:12 
SuggestionSimple Command Line Arguments Parser Pin
Member 14778522-Mar-12 5:31
Member 14778522-Mar-12 5:31 
QuestionSomething more Functional Pin
Alois Kraus9-Sep-11 12:26
Alois Kraus9-Sep-11 12:26 
AnswerRe: Something more Functional Pin
Yet another user9-Sep-11 23:47
Yet another user9-Sep-11 23:47 
GeneralRe: Something more Functional Pin
Alois Kraus9-Sep-11 23:58
Alois Kraus9-Sep-11 23:58 
GeneralIsn't there a problem ... Pin
Hautzendorfer23-May-11 9:54
professionalHautzendorfer23-May-11 9:54 
AnswerRe: Isn't there a problem ... Pin
Yet another user9-Sep-11 2:55
Yet another user9-Sep-11 2:55 
QuestionFxCop Compliance Pin
Dave Hary8-Jan-11 8:13
Dave Hary8-Jan-11 8:13 
AnswerRe: FxCop Compliance PinPopular
leppie9-Jan-11 23:04
leppie9-Jan-11 23:04 
GeneralRe: FxCop Compliance Pin
PIEBALDconsult21-Sep-13 10:04
mvePIEBALDconsult21-Sep-13 10:04 
AnswerRe: FxCop Compliance Pin
Yet another user9-Sep-11 2:59
Yet another user9-Sep-11 2:59 
GeneralSuggestion on using Environment.CommandLine Pin
vermis06-Dec-10 9:53
vermis06-Dec-10 9:53 
GeneralRe: Suggestion on using Environment.CommandLine Pin
Yet another user6-Jan-11 3:11
Yet another user6-Jan-11 3:11 
GeneralWorks great Pin
ssm629716-Jul-10 6:21
ssm629716-Jul-10 6:21 
QuestionWhat about... Pin
kornman005-Mar-10 5:40
kornman005-Mar-10 5:40 
AnswerRe: What about... Pin
MarkLTX5-Mar-10 6:33
MarkLTX5-Mar-10 6:33 
GeneralRe: What about... Pin
kornman005-Mar-10 7:16
kornman005-Mar-10 7:16 
GeneralRe: What about... Pin
Yet another user5-Apr-10 3:09
Yet another user5-Apr-10 3:09 
GeneralI like what you have done, but alas someone beat you to it Pin
Sacha Barber5-Mar-10 1:18
Sacha Barber5-Mar-10 1:18 
GeneralRe: I like what you have done, but alas someone beat you to it Pin
Yet another user5-Apr-10 3:16
Yet another user5-Apr-10 3:16 

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