EXE Command-Line Switches

Your compiled application’s EXE file supports several command-line switches (also known as arguments) that automate specific actions at startup. You can use these in shortcuts or scripts to control how the application behaves when it launches.

Initiates the deactivation process, allowing a user to move their license to another computer.

MYAPP.EXE -deact

Erases all of the application’s secure save files and loads the original workbook. Use with caution, as this action cannot be undone.

MYAPP.EXE -del

Opens the activation dialog box, allowing the user to enter a new activation key. This is useful for replacing an old or expired key.

MYAPP.EXE -enterkey

Opens a file dialog prompting the user to select a save file to load.

MYAPP.EXE -load

Discards any unsaved changes from the last session and loads the original, unmodified workbook. This does not delete any .xlsc save files.

MYAPP.EXE -reset

Forces the application to immediately check for a new version online, based on your “Web Update” settings.

In applications compiled with XLS Padlock 2026.3 or later, if the update information on your server cannot be verified, the application displays “The update information could not be verified, so no update was installed. Please contact the publisher of this application.” and installs nothing. See Authenticated Updates.

MYAPP.EXE -webupdate

You can also launch the application with the full path to a secure save file (.xlsc or .xlsce) as an argument. This will automatically load the specified file at startup without any prompts.

MyApp.exe "D:\My Documents\123.xlsc"