The Genus Desktop launcher command line

The Genus Desktop launcher executable, GenusLauncher.exe, is a multi-purpose executable. Its primary purpose is to launch the correct version of Genus Desktop (Genus.exe) and is normally installed with Setup.exe in a "Per User" installation scenario. If the Genus Desktop launcher is started without parameters it will prompt the user for an URL to be used and then launch the correct version of Genus Desktop. It may also be started with an URL argument directly or with one of the administrative commands.

In the command line syntax below we use the following conventions:

  • <parameter description> -- a mandatory command line parameter
  • [<parameter description>] -- an optional command line parameter
  • --option1 -- a mandatory option named "option1"
  • --option1 | --option2 -- "option1" or "option2"
  • [--option1] -- an optional option named "option1"

For an explanation of the special folders [<SpecialFolderName>] used below, see here.

Executing without parameters

GenusLauncher.exe

Prompts the user for an URL to be used for launching Genus Desktop.

Executing with a URL parameter

GenusLauncher.exe <URL>

Launches Genus Desktop with the specified URL (starting with "genuslink:", "genusstudiolink:", "http://", or "https://").

Executing an administrative command

GenusLauncher.exe <command> [<command options>] [<other command arguments>]

Executes one of the following administrative installation <command> commands:

  • admin-install

    GenusLauncher.exe admin-install --enable-auto-update|--disable-auto-update [<installation directory>]

    Installs the Genus Desktop launcher for all users. If <installation directory> is omitted, the installation directory is defaulted to [ProgramFiles]\Genus\Launcher. Installation information will be added to the registry under the key [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\GenusLauncherAdmin].

    Specify the option --enable-auto-update in order to allow end-users to download missing Genus Desktop versions (e.g. because the administrator forgot to update the latest version) to the user's [LocalApplicationData] cache folder.

    Specify the option --disable-auto-update in order to prevent end-users from (accidentally) updating Genus Desktop on their own, avoiding duplicating the software for every user's [LocalApplicationData] cache folder.

  • admin-uninstall

    GenusLauncher.exe admin-uninstall

    Uninstalls the Genus Desktop launcher for all users, based on the information found at the registry key [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\GenusLauncherAdmin].

  • admin-unpack

    GenusLauncher.exe admin-unpack [--installdir] <source URL>

    Downloads Genus Desktop from the specified URL and unpacks the files at a version number-specific directory under [CommonApplicationData]\Genus\Client\VersionCache, if --installdir is omitted, or below the current installation directory (default location is [ProgramFiles]\Genus\Launcher) if --installdir is specified.

    The source URL is on the form http(s)://<your_app_server_host_name_here>/<your_genus_dataset_virtual_directory_here>/.

  • admin-version

    GenusLauncher.exe admin-version

    Shows the current version of the started GenusLauncher.exe and the administratively installed version (if any) of the Genus Desktop launcher.