### IPFC - Starting the IPF Compiler (OS/2, Windows)

You can start the IPF compiler and specify all input from the command line. To view it, enter IPFC with no parameters.

Under the OS/2 environment, typing IPFC without parameters will display help information about running the IPFC.
Under the Windows environment, typing IPFC without parameters will bring up a graphical user interface rather than command line.

The syntax is:

     ipfc [-switch]...  [-option]... filename [outfile]

     ipfc [/switch]...  [/option]... filename

The switches perform the functions in the following list:

Switch | Description
--- | ---
i inf hlp | Compiles the source file as an online document inf and i produces .inf files hlp produces .hlp files
s | Suppresses the performance of the search function
x | Generates and displays a cross- reference list.
q | Closes the GUI automatically when compile completes.

The options perform the functions in the following list:

Option | Description
--- | ---
d:dbcscode | DBCS range or country code
c:codepage | Character code page
l:language lang=language | Language ID, please see Country Code Pages for the list of values supported.
w:level wlevel | Warning level - this generates and displays a list of error messages. The level indicates the level of error messages you want to receive. Values you can specify for level are 1, 2, or 3. The default is 3. For more information, please see Interpreting IPFC Error Messages in the IPF Programming Guide.

For help on any of the options, enter:

    ipfc /?

The outfile parameter is used to specify the name of the output file. If this parameter is not used , the output file will have the same file name as the input file and an extension of either .inf or .hlp. For example:

     ipfc TEST.IPF C:\FILE.HLP

Note: This parameter is not available on Windows

Compiling Help Files
To compile a source file that is intended as a help-text window, use the IPFC command without the -i switch or /INF option. For example:

    ipfc myhelp.txt

IPFC - IPF Compiler

IPFC - Environment Variables
IPFC - Viewing an Online Document
IPFC - Concatenating .INF files
IPFC - Country Code Pages