Available parameters
Link
Applies to entire series. ArmA 2 specific switches are noted.
Display Options
-x= Numeric, used to set resolution width
-y= Numeric, used to set resolution height
-window Displays ArmA windowed instead of full screen
(can be used in conjunction with -x/-y: -window -x=800 -y=600)
-nosplash Disables intro and splash screens
Misc.
-maxmem= Limit memory allocation (in MB). 2047 is hardcoded maximum at the moment (Arma2 1.01 final, anything higher
falls back to 2047).
-init= Run scripting command once in the main menu (useful to start a certain
(test) mission of choice automatically. Add to command line:
-init=playMission["","M04Saboteur.Sara"] (see also playMission)
(Mission has to reside in the gamedir\Missions folder, NOT the user directory.)
-world= Select a world loaded by default, e.g. -world=Sara
-world=empty (for faster game loading.. no island and no menu animation loaded (1.05))
/secuexp Starts Securom Support (for Troubleshooting)
-world can also be used to load a mission directly in the editor:
-world=intro "d:\games\arma\users\myUser\missions\myMission.intro\mission.sqm"
-noland Starts ArmA with no world. (Used for Bulldozer)
-buldozer Start ArmA in Buldozer mode.
-generateshaders Use unknown. (Possibly for use with Buldozer)
-download Use unknown. (Possibly set auto download of missing Mod pbo's from
server.)
-disableProgramDrawing Use unknown. (Possibly for use with Buldozer)
-useProgramDrawing Use unknown. (Possibly for use with Buldozer)
-gamertag= Use unknown.
-dsound Use DirectX sound.
-openal Use OpenAl sound.
-nosound No sound output.
-vm108 (1.09)Mimic the 1.08 version virtual address space handling
(Uses more virtual space, but can be handy if you know 1.08 was stable
for you, and 1.09 for some reason is not)
-noPause (1.09)Allow the game running even when its window does not have a focus.
-noFilePatching (a2 1.00) Ensures that only PBOs are loaded - and NO unpacked data.
For more info see CMA:DevelopmentSetup.
-winxp use it in Vista/Windows 7 to enable multi-GPU support (Arma2)
-noCB turns off multicore drawing, slow down rendering but may resolve visual glitches (Arma2)
-cpuCount=X change X to a number less or equal than numbers of available cores. This will override auto detection
(Arma2).
Modifications
-mod= Allows the use of sub-folders for different mods, separated by semi-colons.
Under Linux multiple folders arguments need the following separation syntax: -mod=mod1\;mod2\;mod3
-cfg= Selects a config file like the Server Basic Config file. Prcessed at startup.
-config= Selects a config file like the Server Config File. Processed after startup.
Config file for server specific settings like admin password and mission selection.
-profiles= Location of user-profile folder.
-BEpath= Set BattlEye path (see [1]) Default is C:\Documents and Settings\[user Name]\Local Settings\Application Data\ArmA\BattlEye
Network Options
-port= Port to host dedicated server on.
-password= Password to join dedicated server.
-ranking= Used to generate a ranking file. -ranking=<filename>
-host Start a non-dedicated host.
-server Start a dedicated server (not needed for a special dedicated server exe).
-pid= File to write the server's PID (process ID) to. The file is removed automatically when the exe is
stopped. Only works when started as a dedicated server.
-connect= Client-side, server to connect to.
-name= Client-side, User name.
-netlog Enables ArmA multiplayer network traffic logging
config
The option -config allows you to specify a specific server.cfg file.
profiles
-profiles is a startup option allowing you to choose an alternate location for the user profile files, such as downloaded missions and .cfg files.
The windows user account would need permissions to write to the folder of choice.
An example might be like this:
"C:\Program Files\Bohemia Interactive\ArmA\ArmA.exe" -profiles=C:\ArmA\Profiles
or
"C:\Program Files\Bohemia Interactive\ArmA\ArmA.exe" -profiles=Profiles
would store all your profiles/configs/downloaded content into your ROOT ArmA folder under the folder name "Profiles"
ranking
-ranking is a startup option allowing you to output ranking info or othewise know as player stats.
The windows user account would need permissions to write to the folder of choice.
An example might be like this:
"C:\Program Files\Bohemia Interactive\ArmA\ArmA.exe" -ranking=C:\ArmA\ranking.log
nosplash
-nosplash is a startup option that allows you to bypass the splash screens on startup of Operation Flashpoint and Armed Assault.
Note: Real speed-up gained with this is likely to be negligible with Armed Assault, as the loading screens are handled in parallel with the game data being loaded, and the loading itself takes quite long thanks to the amount of data needed.
cpuCount
-cpuCount= is the way to limit number of CPUs/cores available. The best way to simulate dual core on quad core is to use -cpuCount=2 when you run the game and then change the affinity to 2 cores to make sure additional cores can never be used when some over-scheduling happens. It might be also possible to set the affinity in the OS before you launch the process, that would work as well.
