Command-Line Parameters

LinkCAD can be invoked from the command line for batch processing and automation.

linkcad.exe [options] [file]

Input / Output

Option	Short	Description
--import <file>	-i	Input file path
--export <file>	-o	Output file path
--input-format <fmt>		Input format (DXF, GDS, CIF, ACIS, etc.)
--output-format <fmt>		Output format (DXF, GDS, CIF, ACIS, etc.)

Processing

Option	Short	Description
--layer-map <file>		Layer mapping file
--config <file>	-c	Configuration/command file
--top-cell <pattern>		Top cell pattern for selection
--apply-tool <tools>		Apply tool(s); semicolon-separated
--apply-layer-map		Apply layer map during processing
--batch-combine		Combine files in batch mode
--units <int>	-u	Display units (1–1 000 000)

Control

Option	Short	Description
--quit	-q	Exit when finished processing
--exit		Exit immediately (testing only)
--console		Enable console output
--trace		Enable TRACE-level logging
--save-settings		Save settings on exit (default)
--no-save-settings		Do not save settings on exit
--load-defaults		Reset to default settings before processing

Python

Option	Description
--python-script <file>	Run a Python script and exit (headless)
--python-cmd <code>	Execute Python code and exit
--python-interactive	Start interactive Python console (with GUI)

Information

Option	Description
--help	Show help text
--help-all	Show help text including all dynamic options

Dynamic Options

Format-specific options can be set on the command line using their internal key names. Use --help-all to list all available options. Common prefixes:

Prefix	Area
DxfIn* / DxfOut*	DXF import/export
GdsIn* / GdsOut*	GDSII import/export
CifIn* / CifOut*	CIF import/export
GbrIn* / GbrOut*	Gerber import/export
PsIn* / PsOut*	PostScript/PDF import/export
RasterIn*	Bitmap import
AcisIn*	ACIS import
AnfOut* / TetinOut*	ANF / TetGen export
AsciiIn*	ASCII import
Tool*	Drawing tool parameters
Lv*	Viewer settings

See each format page for the full list of available keys.

Drawing Tool Options

These Tool* keys control drawing tool behaviour when invoked via --apply-tool or set in command files.

Arc & Curve Precision

Key	Type	Description
ToolArcPrecUnits	int	Precision mode — -1=facets, or unit enum (see Units)
ToolArcPrecValue	int	Arc approximation value

Shape Conversion

Key	Type	Description
ToolConvertArcs	flag	Convert arcs to polylines
ToolConvertCircles	flag	Convert circles to polygons
ToolConvertDonuts	flag	Convert donuts
ToolConvertDonutsStyle	int	Donut style — 0=single outline, 1=two halves
ToolConvertSplines	flag	Convert splines to polylines
ToolConvertText	flag	Convert text to polygons
ToolConvertZeroWidthClosedPolylines	flag	Convert closed zero-width polylines to polygons independently of wide polylines
ToolConvertWires	flag	Convert wires to polygons

Polygon Handling

Key	Type	Description
ToolCloseOpenPolygons	flag	Close open polygons
ToolAddWidthToPolygons	flag	Add width to zero-width polylines
ToolEraseZeroWidthPolylines	flag	Erase zero-width polylines
ToolMergeZeroWidthPolylines	flag	Merge zero-width polylines
ToolJoinOpenPolygons	flag	Join open polygons
ToolAllowPolylineSpanning	flag	Allow polyline spanning
ToolEvenOddFill	flag	Use even-odd fill rule
ToolForceManhattan	flag	Force Manhattan geometry
ToolSelectionOutlineOnly	flag	Select outline only
ToolSelectionPercentage	int	Selection tolerance percentage

Holes & Sanitize

Key	Type	Description
ToolHolesMode	int	Hole processing — 0=link, 1=split, 2=extract
ToolHolesModeLink	flag	Link holes
ToolHolesModeOmitLink	flag	Extract holes as separate polygons; legacy UI label: Omit cut-lines in re-entrant polygons. See Merge Hole Output Modes
ToolKeepInternalEdges	flag	Keep original inner boundaries during Merge Shapes

Tolerance & Width

Key	Type	Description
ToolPolyToleranceUnits	int	Tolerance unit enum (see Units)
ToolPolyToleranceValue	int	Polygon tolerance value
ToolPolyWidthUnits	int	Width unit enum (see Units)
ToolPolyWidthValue	int	Width value
ToolErrorMargin	float	Error margin multiplier

Quasi-Circle Detection

Key	Type	Description
ToolQuasiCircleMinFacets	int	Minimum facets for detection

Crop

Key	Type	Description
ToolCropX0	float	Crop region X0
ToolCropX1	float	Crop region X1
ToolCropY0	float	Crop region Y0
ToolCropY1	float	Crop region Y1

Etch Compensation

Key	Type	Description
ToolEtchMerge	flag	Merge after etch
ToolEtchNegaPosi	flag	Negative-positive conversion
ToolEtchPitchUm	float	Pitch in microns
ToolEtchRangeUm	float	Range in microns
ToolEtchResultLayerMax	int	Max result layer
ToolEtchResultLayerMin	int	Min result layer

Misc

Key	Type	Description
ToolAutoFlatten	flag	Auto-flatten hierarchy
ToolDontExplode	flag	Merge Shapes option Only merge polygons; legacy UI label: Don’t explode complex shapes

Viewer Options

These Lv* keys control the viewer display. They can be set on the command line or in command files.

Key	Type	Description
LvDrawFilled	flag	Draw filled polygons
LvBackgroundColor	int	Background — 0=black, 1=white
LvBlendFunction	int	Blend mode — 0=opaque, 1=translucent, 2=hatched
LvHiliteBrokenPlines	flag	Highlight broken polylines
LvAccellerate	flag	Enable OpenGL acceleration

Common Cross-Format Options

Key	Type	Description
TextLineWidthRel	float	Text line width as fraction of font size

Units Enum Reference {: #units }

Many options take an integer unit value. The following table lists all supported unit codes:

Value	Unit
0	Nanometer
1	Micron
2	Mil
3	Point
4	Millimeter
5	Centimeter
6	Inch
7	Meter
8	Feet
9	Picometer

Examples

Convert GDS to DXF

linkcad.exe --import chip.gds --export chip.dxf --quit

Batch convert with a command file

linkcad.exe --config gds_to_dxf.lsn -i design.gds -o design.dxf -q

Run a Python script headless

linkcad.exe --python-script process.py --console

Apply tools during conversion

linkcad.exe -i input.gds -o output.gds --apply-tool "Merge;SanitizePolygons" -q

Use a command file

linkcad.exe --config my_settings.lsn --console -q

Legacy Options

The following options are deprecated but still accepted for backward compatibility:

Legacy	Modern Equivalent
--LcImportFile	--import
--LcExportFile	--export
--LcImportFormat	--input-format
--LcExportFormat	--output-format
--LcLayerMap	--layer-map
--LcCommandFile	--config
--LcTopCellPattern	--top-cell
--LcDisplayUnits	--units
--LcSaveSettings	--save-settings
--LcExitWhenFinished	--quit
--LcExitImmediately	--exit
--LcConsoleMode	--console
--LcBatchCombineFiles	--batch-combine
--LcApplyLayerMap	--apply-layer-map
--ToolApply	--apply-tool
--LcLoadDefaults	--load-defaults