Running Cobra with Command Line Parameters

You can use command line parameters that can be passed to Cobra applications and Cobra API.

Common Parameters

This table lists the command line parameters that can be passed to Cobra applications.

Parameter Description Application Syntax Example
configfolder Use this parameter to launch Cobra application and specify the location of the Config.dat file and IdeaBlade.Ibconfig file if Cobra is not installed in the default installation location.

When you pass this parameter to Cobra or to any tool, you must specify the same location of the Config.dat file or the IdeaBlade.Ibconfig file. When you use this parameter to start Cobra, you must also use this parameter in other Cobra applications (EXE applications) that support this parameter to make sure you are pointing to the same database.

By default, the Datasources.dat and the Config.dat files are found in the same location. In cases when the Datasources.dat file does not reside together with the Config.dat file, you must transfer the Datasources.dat file to the same location where the Config.dat file resides. Otherwise, you will be prompted to navigate to the location of the Datasources.dat file. This location will be saved in the Config.dat file.

Attention: For more information on these files, refer to the Config.dat and Datasources.dat topics in the Data Tool Help System.
Cobra "<Cobra Installation Location>\DeltekCobra.exe" /configfolder:"<Target folder>

where <Target folder> is the location of the Config.dat or IdeaBlade.Ibconfig file

"C:\Program Files\Deltek\Cobra\DeltekCobra.exe" /configfolder:C:\my cobra config
Database Upgrade Wizard "<Cobra Installation Location>\Support\Utilities\DeltekCobra8xDatabaseUpgradeWizard.exe" /configfolder:<Target folder>

where <Target folder> is the location of the Config.dat or IdeaBlade.Ibconfig file

"C:\Program Files\Deltek\Cobra\Support\Utilities\DeltekCobra83DatabaseUpgradeWizard.exe" /configfolder:C:\my cobra config
Data Tool "<Cobra Installation Location>\DataTool.exe" /configfolder:<Target folder>

where <Target folder> is the location of the Config.dat or IdeaBlade.Ibconfig file

"C:\Program Files\Deltek\Cobra\DataTool.exe" /configfolder:C:\my cobra config
API "<Cobra Installation Location>\Cobra.API.exe" configfolder:<Target folder>

where <Target folder> is the location of the Config.dat or IdeaBlade.Ibconfig file

"C:\Program Files\Deltek\Cobra\Cobra.API.exe" configfolder:C:\my cobra config

API-Specific Parameters

This table lists the command line parameters that you can pass to the Cobra API.

Parameter Description Syntax Example
user You use this parameter to specify the Cobra user and password using this parameter . This parameter is required unless when Cobra is configured to use Windows Authentication. "<Cobra Installation Location>\Cobra.API.exe" user:<username>\<password> "C:\Program Files\Deltek\Cobra\Cobra.API.exe" user:SYSADMIN\password
script You use this parameter to specify the script file that contains the processes. This parameter is required. "<Cobra Installation Location>\Cobra.API.exe" script:<fully qualified path of the script file> "C:\Program Files\Deltek\Cobra\Cobra.API.exe" script:C:\CobraAPIScripts\batch.txt"
logfile You use this parameter to specify a different filename for the API log file. If omitted, the log file filename will be Batch.Api.log.

This parameter does not support a fully qualified path. You can specify the log filename and the file will be created in the <Logged In User>\My Documents\Deltek\Cobra\Logs folder of the workstation where the Cobra API is running.

"<Cobra Installation Location>\Cobra.API.exe" logfile:<log file filename> "C:\Program Files\Deltek\Cobra\Cobra.API.exe" logfile:BatchProcess.log
datasource You use this parameter to specify the data source to which the API would run the processes. If omitted, the API will use the last data source that was logged onto Cobra.
Note: If you omit the quotes in the datasource parameter, the application uses the IdeaBlade.Ibconfig or Config.dat file in the application's folder. The location of the Datasources.dat file is defined inside the Config.dat file. If the location of the Datasources.dat file is not specified in the Config.dat file, you must move the Datasources.dat file within the same folder where the Config.dat file is located.
"<Cobra Installation Location>\Cobra.API.exe" data source:<name of data source>
Note: The <name of the data source> must be an existing data source.
"C:\Program Files\Deltek\Cobra\Cobra.API.exe" data source:DB2
Attention: For more information on the Config.dat and Datasources.dat files, see the Data Tool Help System.