# pcb-rnd - user manual

## 4. User Invocation (running pcb-rnd)

pcb-rnd is typically run by invoking it from the shell after installation

`pcb-rnd [options]` or `pcb-rnd [options] path`

When a path is provided, it is either a board file or a subcircuit which will be automatically opened for editing. When invoked with a path referring to a non-existing file, pcb-rnd assumes a new board is to be created and saved using the file name provided as path. This makes it very easy to make new boards from the command line.

The list of available options can be acquired by running

`pcb-rnd --help`

The most commonly used option is to export a file: `pcb-rnd -x format [format_options] path`

For example a photo-realistic png export pwr.png from the board saved in pwr.lht can be exported as: `pcb-rnd --export png --dpi 600 --photo-mode pwr.lht`

Listing exporter-specific options is possible running pcb-rnd --help exporter, e.g.: `pcb-rnd --help png`

Another typical application of options is to select the user interface to start pcb-rnd with (as pcb-rnd normally comes with multiple UIs compiled in):

    pcb-rnd --gui batch
    pcb-rnd --gui gtk2_gdk
    pcb-rnd --gui gtk2_gl
    pcb-rnd --gui lesstif

The most notable UI is the batch UI: it reads the standard input for action commands, executes them and quits on EOF. This allows pcb-rnd to be run as a UNIX filter (just like a sed, awk or perl), loading, manipulating and saving boards, without starting a GUI.