How to use the command line mode (Automation)

ProperConvert can convert files from the command line, so you can automate conversions with a script or a scheduled task. The command line needs a license; without one, the app asks you to buy it.

Run a conversion

Start ProperConvert with your input files and options.

On Windows:

"path to ProperConvert.exe" "path to input file 1" "path to input file 2" /OPTIONS /OUTPUT="path to output file"

On macOS:

/Applications/ProperConvert.app/Contents/MacOS/ProperConvert "path to input file 1" "path to input file 2" /OPTIONS /OUTPUT="path to output file"

With /OUTPUT, ProperConvert converts and closes without showing its window. Without /OUTPUT, it opens the window with the files loaded.

Settings you don't give on the command line, such as the account details, are the ones you last used in the app. Set them up in the app once, and the command line uses them.

Options

Each option starts with a slash (/); some take a value after an equals sign (=):

/option=value

If a value or path has spaces, put it in double quotes.

/OUTPUT

The output file. Its extension sets the file format: QBO, QFX, OFX, QIF, IIF, CSV and so on. The path can be a full path; its folders must already exist.

/OUTPUT="C:\Converted\statement.QBO"

/TARGET and /FORMAT

The app and the format to convert for, as they are named under Convert for: and File format: in the app. If ProperConvert does not know the app or format, it stops and says so.

/TARGET="QuickBooks Online" /FORMAT="CSV"

/OCR

Turns on OCR (optical character recognition) for PDF files. No value.

/MAPPING

The saved mapping to use for CSV and Excel files, by its name in the mapping drop-down.

/MAPPING="Mapping1"

/CSVLAYOUT

For a CSV, XLSX or Clipboard output of Excel/CSV: the layout to use, by its name in the layout drop-down, or the path to a .csvout file.

/CSVLAYOUT="My layout"

/ENDBALANCE

The ending balance, for the formats that have one (QBO, QFX, OFX).

/ENDBALANCE=1000.23

/CSVTARGET and /QIFTARGET

Older scripts may use these to choose the CSV or QIF target, for example /CSVTarget="Quickbooks Online". They still work, but use /TARGET and /FORMAT in new scripts.