Home | Description | Download | Order
You can perform screen capture operations at the command prompt or from a batch file using the following syntax:
cap.exe /key1 /key2 ... /keyN
Some keys have a value. The value is assigned to the key via inserting an equal sign, as shown here:
/key=value
Keys are not case sensitive; they can be uppercase or lowercase. Some keys have full and shortened forms. This helps to keep the command line compact. If a key or its value is omitted or incorrect, the default value will be used. The keys and default values described below.
Informational keys:
| Full | Short | Meaning |
| /help | /? | Open the help file and ignore the rest of the keys. |
| /version | /v | Show the software version information and ignore the rest of the keys. |
| /log=filename | Save diagnostic information to the log file. The filename parameter specifies the log file name and location. | |
| /keys=filename | Save keys list to the file. The filename parameter specifies the key file name and location. |
Capture region selection keys:
| Key | Short | Meaning |
| /full | /fs | Capture the full screen. |
| /workarea | /wa | Capture the workarea (full screen except the taskbar). |
| /active | /a | Capture the active window. |
| /window=name | /win=name | Capture the window by its name. You should specify the name exactly as it is displayed on the window title. If the name contains spaces or slashes, enclose the name into the quotation marks. Examples: Calculator, "Microsoft Excel - Book1". |
| /client | /cl | Capture the client area of the window, specified by the /active or /win key. |
| /left=n | /l=n | Set the left capture frame coordinate in pixels to n. n value from 0 up to screen width. The default is 0. |
| /top=n | /t=n | The top capture frame coordinate (in pixels). n value from 0 up to screen height. The default is 0. |
| /width=n | /w=n | The capture frame width (in pixels). The default value is the distance between the right screen border and the left capture frame edge. |
| /height=n | /h=n | The capture frame height (in pixels). The default value is the distance between the bottom screen border and the top capture frame edge. |
| /cursor | /cr | Capture the cursor or mouse pointer as well. Switched off by default. |
When using the /l=, /t=, /w= and /h= keys, bear in mind that the screen coordinates begin at the upper lefthand corner of the screen; in other words, (0, 0) is the top left pixel coordinates.
Filename keys:
| Full | Short | Meaning |
| /file=filename | /f=filename | The name by which you wish the screenshot to be saved. If the extension is omitted, it will be determined by the /format key. NOTE: IF NO FILENAME IS ASSIGNED, THE CAPTURE WILL NOT BE SAVED. |
| /date | Add the current date to the filename. | |
| /time | Add the current time to the filename. | |
| /sep=string | Use the string to separate date and time. Use quotation marks to specify spaces as a separator. | |
| /del=string | Use the string to separate the years, months, days, hours, minutes and seconds. Use quotation marks to specify spaces as a separator. |
Series capture keys:
| Full | Short | Meaning |
| /series=n | /s=n | Make n captures in series. Filenames form as the /file key value plus index value. The /index key sets the initial index value. |
| /index=n | /ix=n | Add index to the filename. The n values from 0 up to 999. |
| /interval=n | /i=n | Set the delay between the captures to n milliseconds (e.g. /interval=5000 results 5 seconds interval). |
Image processing keys:
| Full | Short | Meaning |
| /invert | /inv | Invert the captured image. |
| /grayscale | /gs | Convert the captured image colors to grayscale. |
Graphic file format key:
| Full | Short | Meaning |
| /format=value | /fm=value | Set the graphic file format. Use if the /file=filename specified without an extension. Possible values are: |
BMP format specific keys:
| Full | Short | Meaning |
| /bpp=n | Set bits per pixel value. The possible n values are 1, 4, 8, 15, 16, 24, 32. The default is 24. On some systems not all values available. |
JPG format specific keys:
| Full | Short | Meaning |
| /quality=n | /q=n | Set theimage quality. Values from 1 up to 100. The default is 75. |
| /progressive | /pr | Use progressive encoding. Switched off by default. |
GIF format specific keys:
| Full | Short | Meaning |
| /palette=value | /pt=value | Select image palette. The possible values are: |
| /colors=value | /c=value | The number of colors in GIF image palette. Used only with the key /palette=OPTIMIZED. The possible values are 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256. The default is 32. |
| /dithering=value | /d=value | Dithering method. The possible values are: |
| /rle | Use RLE compression algorithm for GIF image. The default is LZW. |
Examples:
cap.exe /full /cursor /file=c:\The first example.jpg - capture the whole screen with the cursor included and save the image in the JPEG format in the c:\The first example.jpg file using the progressive encoding and 75 quality.
cap.exe /t=200 /file=c:\test /format=3 - the screen part located below 200 pixels from the top, without the cursor will be saved in PNG format file c:\test.png.
cap.exe /t=120 /l=220 /w=20 /h=20 /file=c:\test.gif /palette=MONOCHROME /dithering=3 - the square part of the screen with the coordinates (220, 120, 240, 140), without the cursor will be saved in the GIF format file c:\test.gif using the monochrome palette, Sierra dithering and LZW compression.
cap.exe /win=Calculator /file=c:\calc.jpg /index=5 /series=3 /interval=2000 - capture the Calculator window 3 times with the 2 seconds interval between the captures and save the images to the JPG format files c:\calc005.jpg, c:\calc006.jpg and c:\calc007.jpg.
cap.exe /v - show version infotmation.
If the only command line parameter specified is a text file, its content is used as the parameters for the batch mode calls. Every line serves as a parameters set for one screenshot. Use your favorite text editor to prepare the batch.
If one and the same key is specified in the command line more than once, only the first occurrence will have force.
You will immediately receive your registration key via e-mail.
The Personal License is for your personal use. Order it to install and use Capturemation™ on a single computer. If you are going to include Capturemation™ in your software and redestribute it to other users, you must order Unlimited License. One Unlimited License is valid for any number of your software products and any number of installations.
Home | Description | Download | Order