
Command line usage
******************

PortaBase can be used from a Linux/UNIX terminal or DOS prompt to
import or export data without needing to go through the graphical
interface.  This can be particularly useful if you want to write
scripts that automatically generate, update, or otherwise manipulate
PortaBase data files.  Run "portabase -h" for usage instructions; in
summary, you can do the following:

"portabase *file*"
   Launch PortaBase and immediately open the named PortaBase data
   file.

"portabase fromxml *xmlfile pobfile*"
   Create a new PortaBase data file at *pobfile* from the PortaBase-
   format XML file located at *xmlfile*.

"portabase fromcsv *csvfile pobfile*"
   Add rows to the existing PortaBase data file at *pobfile* from the
   CSV file located at *csvfile*.

"portabase frommobiledb *mdbfile pobfile*"
   Create a new PortaBase data file at *pobfile* from the MobileDB
   file located at *mdbfile*.

"portabase toxml *pobfile xmlfile*"
   Create a new XML file at *xmlfile* from the PortaBase data file
   located at *pobfile*.

"portabase tocsv *pobfile csvfile*"
   Create a new CSV file at *csvfile* from rows in the PortaBase data
   file located at *pobfile*.

"portabase tohtml *pobfile htmlfile*"
   Create a new HTML file at *htmlfile* from rows in the PortaBase
   data file located at *pobfile*.

To extract data from, add rows to, or create an encrypted file, type
"-p *password*" immediately after the conversion command (before the
other options described below).

The following options can be used between "toxml", "tocsv", or
"tohtml" and the PortaBase file to export from:

-v view

Apply the named view before exporting.

-s sorting

Apply the named sorting before exporting.

-f filter

Apply the named filter before exporting.

For more information about the PortaBase XML format and tools for
doing useful things with it, see the PortaBase homepage
(http://portabase.sourceforge.net).
