Command-Line Options

This article is part of the Getting Started Guide. Each BaseX Startup mode has one or more command-line options, which are described in this article.

Command-line options can be specified multiple times. Please note that all options will be evaluated in the given order. The standard input can be parsed by specifying a single dash (-) as an argument.

Updated with Version 11: The Clark notation was replaced with the Expanded QNames notation.

Standalone

Added with Version 11: -C, -Q, -W

The following options are available for the standalone Command-Line Client:

$ basex -h
BaseX [Standalone]
Usage: basex [-bcdiIoqrRstuvVwxz] [input]
  [input]    XQuery or command file, or query string
  -b<args>   Bind external query variables
  -c<input>  Execute commands from file or string
  -C<file>   Execute command script file
  -d         Toggle debugging output
  -i<input>  Bind file or database to context
  -I<input>  Bind input string to context
  -o<path>   Write output to local file
  -q<expr>   Execute XQuery expression
  -Q<file>   Execute XQuery file
  -r<num>    Run query multiple times
  -R         Toggle query execution
  -s<args>   Set serialization parameters
  -t[path]   Run tests in file or directory
  -u         Toggle updates in original files
  -v         Toggle output of progress info
  -V         Toggle detailed query output
  -w         Toggle whitespace stripping
  -W         Enable indentation with whitespaces
  -x         Toggle output of query plan
  -z         Toggle output of query result

Further details are listed in the following table. If an equivalent database option exists (which can be specified via the SET command), it is listed as well. For the examples to work, it might be necessary to escape some characters depending on your operating system.

Flag	Description	Option	Default	Examples
[input]	Evaluates the specified input: The input string may point to an existing file. If the file suffix is .bxs, the file contents will be executed as Command Script; any other file content will be evaluated as XQuery expression. Otherwise, the input string itself is evaluated as XQuery expression.			• "doc('X')//head" • query.xq • commands.bxs
-b<args>	Binds external variables to XQuery expressions. This flag may be specified multiple times. Variables names and their values are delimited by equality signs (=). The names may be optionally prefixed with dollar signs. If a variable uses a namespace different from the default namespace, it can be specified with the Expanded QNames notation.	BINDINGS		• -bv=example "declare variable $v external; $v" • -bQ{URL}ln=value "declare namespace ns='URL'; declare variable $ns:ln external; $ns:ln"
-c<input>	Executes commands. If the specified input is a valid URI or file reference, this file is evaluated as Command Script.			• -c list • -ccommands.txt • -c"<info/>"
-C<file>	Evaluates the contents of the specified file as Command Script.
-d	Toggles the debugging mode. Debugging information is output to standard error.	DEBUG	false
-i<input>	Opens the specified XML file, directory with XML files, or database. The opened input can then be processed by a command or XQuery expression.			-iitems.xml "//item"
-I<input>	Assigns an input string as item of type xs:untypedAtomic to the query context.			-I "Hello Universe" -q "."
-o<path>	All command and query output is written to the specified file.			-o output.txt
-q<expr>	Evaluates the specified string as XQuery expression.			-q"doc('input')//head"
-Q<file>	Evaluates the contents of the specified file as XQuery expression.
-r<num>	Specifies how often a specified query will be evaluated.	RUNS	1	-V -r10 "1"
-R	Specifies if a query will be evaluated or parsed and compiled only.	RUNQUERY	true	-V -R "1"
-s<args>	Specifies parameters for serializing XQuery results; see Serialization for more details. This flag may be specified multiple times. Key and values are separated by the equality sign (=).	SERIALIZER		-smethod=text
-t[path]	Runs all Unit tests in the specified file or directory.			-t project/tests
-u	Propagates updates on input files back to disk.	WRITEBACK	false
-v	Toggles the output of process and timing information.		false
-V	Prints detailed query information to the standard output, including details on the compilation and profiling steps.	QUERYINFO	false
-w	Toggles whitespace stripping of XML text nodes. By default, whitespaces will be preserved.	STRIPWS	false
-W	Enables indentation with whitespace. By default, query results will not be indented.	SERIALIZER	indent=no
-x	Toggles the output of the query execution plan, formatted as XML.	XMLPLAN	false
-z	Turns the serialization of XQuery results on/off. This flag is useful if the query is profiled or analyzed.	SERIALIZE	true

GUI

The following options are available for the standalone Graphical User Interface:

$ basexgui -h
BaseX [GUI]
Usage: basexgui [-d] [files]
  [files]  Open specified files
  -d  Enable debugging

You can pass one or more files as parameters. If an XML document is specified, a database instance can be created from this file. Other files are opened in the editor.

Server

Added with Version 11: -C

The following options are available for the Database Server:

$ basexserver -h
BaseX [Server]
Usage: basexserver [-cdnpSz] [stop]
  stop       Stop running server
  -c<input>  Execute commands from file or string
  -C<file>   Execute command script file
  -d         Enable debugging output
  -n<name>   Set host the server is bound to
  -p<port>   Set server port
  -S         Start as service
  -z         Suppress logging

Details on all options are listed in the following table (equivalent database options are shown in the table as well). For the examples to work, it might be necessary to escape some characters depending on your operating system.

Flag	Description	Option	Default	Examples
stop	Stops a local database server instance and quits.
-c<input>	Executes commands. If the specified input is a valid URI or file reference, this file is evaluated as Command Script.			-c"open database;info"
-C<file>	Evaluates the contents of the specified file as Command Script.
-d	Enables debugging output. Debugging information is output to standard error.	DEBUG	false
-n<name>	Specifies the host the server will be bound to.	SERVERHOST		-p127.0.0.1
-p<port>	Specifies the port on which the server will be addressable.	SERVERPORT	1984	-p9999
-S	Starts the server as service (i.e., in the background). Use YAJSW, or start BaseX as an ordinary background process to get more options.
-z	Prevents the generation of log files.	LOG	true

Multiple -c and -i flags can be specified. All other options will be set before any other operation takes place. The specified inputs, query files, queries and commands will be subsequently evaluated after that in the given order. The standard input can be parsed by specifying a single dash (-) as argument.

Client

Added with Version 11: -C, -Q, -W

If the Database Client is launched, you will be requested for a username and password.

$ basexclient -h
BaseX [Client]
Usage: basexclient [-bcdiInopPqrRsUvVwxz] [input]
  [input]    XQuery or command file, or query string
  -b<args>   Bind external query variables
  -c<input>  Execute commands from file or string
  -C<file>   Execute command script file
  -d         Toggle debugging output
  -i<input>  Bind file or database to context
  -I<input>  Bind input string to context
  -n<name>   Set server (host) name
  -o<path>   Write output to local file
  -p<port>   Set server port
  -P<pass>   Specify user password
  -q<expr>   Execute XQuery expression
  -Q<file>   Execute XQuery file
  -r<num>    Run query multiple times
  -R         Toggle query execution
  -s<args>   Set serialization parameters
  -U<name>   Specify username
  -v         Toggle output of progress info
  -V         Toggle detailed query output
  -w         Toggle whitespace stripping
  -W         Enable indentation with whitespaces
  -x         Toggle output of query plan
  -z         Toggle output of query result

See the following table for details (equivalent database options are shown in the table as well). For the examples to work, it might be necessary to escape some characters, depending on your operating system.

Flag	Description	Option	Default	Examples
[input]	Evaluates the specified input: The input string may point to an existing file. If the file suffix is .bxs, the file contents will be evaluated as Command Script; any other file content will be evaluated as XQuery expression. Otherwise, the input string itself is evaluated as XQuery expression.			• "doc('X')//head" • query.xq • commands.bxs
-b<args>	Binds external variables to XQuery expressions. This flag may be specified multiple times. Variables names and their values are delimited by equality signs (=). The names may be optionally prefixed with dollar signs. If a variable uses a namespace different from the default namespace, it can be specified with the Expanded QNames notation.	BINDINGS		• -b$v=example "declare variable $v external; $v" • -bQ{URL}ln=value "declare namespace ns='URL'; declare variable $ns:ln external; $ns:ln"
-c<input>	Executes commands. If the specified input is a valid URI or file reference, its content will be executed instead. Empty lines and lines starting with the number sign # will be ignored.			• -c list • -ccommands.txt • -c"<info/>"
-C<file>	Evaluates the contents of the specified file as Command Script.
-d	Toggles the debugging mode. Debugging information is output to standard error.	DEBUG	false
-i<input>	Opens the specified XML file, directory with XML files, or database. The opened input can then be processed by a command or XQuery expression.			-iitems.xml "//item"
-I<input>	Assigns an input string as item of type xs:untypedAtomic to the query context.			-I "Hello Universe" -q "."
-n<name>	Specifies the host name on which the server is running.	HOST	localhost	-nserver.basex.org
-o<path>	All command and query output is written to the specified file.
-p<port>	Specifies the port on which the server is running.	PORT	1984	-p9999
-P<pass>	Specifies the user password. If this flag is omitted, the password will be requested on command line. Warning: When the password is supplied with this flag, it may end up in logs or the bash history.	PASSWORD		-Uadmin -P...
-q<expr>	Executes the specified string as XQuery expression.		-q"1+2"
-Q<file>	Evaluates the contents of the specified file as XQuery expression.
-r<num>	Specifies how often a specified query will be evaluated.	RUNS	1	-V -r10 "1"
-R	Specifies if a query will be executed or parsed only.	RUNQUERY	true	-V -R "1"
-s<args>	Specifies parameters for serializing XQuery results; see Serialization for more details. This flag may be specified multiple times. Key and values are separated by the equality sign (=).	SERIALIZER		-smethod=text
-U<name>	Specifies the username. If this flag is omitted, the username will be requested on command line.	USER		-Uadmin
-v	Prints process and timing information to the standard output.		false
-V	Prints detailed query information to the standard output, including details on the compilation and profiling steps.	QUERYINFO	false
-w	Toggles whitespace stripping of XML text nodes. By default, whitespaces will be preserved.	STRIPWS	false
-W	Enables indentation with whitespace. By default, query results will not be indented.	SERIALIZER	indent=no
-x	Toggles the output of the query execution plan, formatted as XML.	XMLPLAN	false
-z	Turns the serialization of XQuery results on/off. This flag is useful if the query is profiled or analyzed.	SERIALIZE	true

HTTP Server

Added with Version 11: -C

The following options are available for the HTTP Server:

$ basexhttp -h
BaseX [HTTP]
Usage: basexhttp [-cdhlnpsSUz] [stop]
  stop       Stop running server
  -c<input>  Execute commands from file or string
  -C<file>   Execute command script file
  -d         Enable debugging output
  -g         Enable GZIP support
  -h<port>   Set port of HTTP server
  -l         Start in local mode
  -n<name>   Set host name of database server
  -p<port>   Set port of database server
  -s<port>   Specify port to stop HTTP server
  -S         Start as service
  -U<name>   Specify username
  -z         Suppress logging

The meaning of all options is listed in the following table (equivalent database options are shown in the table as well). For the examples to work, it might be necessary to escape some characters depending on your Operating System.

Flag	Description	Option	Default	Examples
stop	Stops a local HTTP server and quits. The database server will be stopped as well, unless -l is specified.	pom.xml
-c<input>	Executes commands. If the specified input is a valid URI or file reference, this file is evaluated as Command Script.			-c"open database"
-C<file>	Evaluates the contents of the specified file as Command Script.
-e	Enables debugging output. Debugging information is output to standard error.	DEBUG
-g	Enables GZIP support in Jetty.	GZIP
-h<port>	Specifies the port on which the HTTP server will be addressable.	jetty.xml	8080	-h9999
-l	Starts the server in local mode, and executes all commands in the embedded database context.	HTTPLOCAL
-n<name>	Specifies the host name on which the server is running.	HOST	localhost	-nserver.basex.org
-p<port>	Specifies the port on which the database server will be addressable.	SERVERPORT	1984	-p9998
-s<port>	Specifies the port that will be used to stop the HTTP server.	STOPPORT or pom.xml	8081
-S	Starts the server as service (i.e., in the background). Use YAJSW, or start BaseX as an ordinary background process to get more options.
-U<name>	Specifies a username, which will be used by the HTTP services for opening a new session.	USER		-Uadmin
-z	Prevents the generation of log files.	LOG

Changelog

Version 11.0

• Added: -C (standalone, server, client, HTTP server).
• Added: -Q, -W (standalone, client).
• Updated: The Clark notation was replaced with the Expanded QNames notation.

Version 10.0

• Updated: Whitespaces are now preserved by default (see STRIPWS for more details).

Version 9.0

• Added: BaseXHTTP, command-line option -c.
• Updated: BaseXHTTP, command-line option -c, additionally accepts valid URLs and file references.

Version 8.2

• Removed: Event ports, -e.

Version 8.1

• Added: Bind input strings to the query context with -I.

Version 8.0

• Removed: Command-line option -L (results will now be automatically separated by newlines).

Version 7.9

• Added: Runs tests in file or directory with -t.
• Removed: interactive server mode.

Version 7.8

• Added: Specify if a query will be executed or parsed only with -R.

Version 7.7

• Added: Bind host to the BaseX Server with -n.

Version 7.5

• Added: detection of Command Scripts.
• Removed: HTTP server flags -R, -W, and -X.

Version 7.3

• Updated: all options are now evaluated in the given order.
• Updated: Create main-memory representations for specified sources with -i.
• Updated: Options -C/-c and -q/[input] merged.
• Updated: Option -L also separates serialized items with newlines (instead of spaces).

Version 7.2

• Added: RESTXQ Service

Version 7.1.1

• Added: Options -C and -L in standalone and client mode.

Version 7.1

• Updated: Multiple query files and -c/-i/-q flags can be specified.