The Prism command-line tool allows you to use Prism to convert files from the Windows command line. This can be used to let other software convert files with Prism or to automate batch conversion.
Important Note: Due to a limitation in the way Windows handles running graphical programs from the command line, Prism cannot give any feedback when an issued command has been completed, nor can it block the command line while a conversion is taking place. We are currently investigating possible ways to circumvent the Windows problem, but please note it down for now and take it into account when issuing command-line orders to Prism.
The Prism executable is usually located as "C:\Program Files\NCH Software\Prism\prism.exe"
Usage: prism.exe [options] [files to add]
"Options" is where you can issue a series of commands to Prism. The options are:
-convert - convert all files loaded into Prism.
-clear - remove all files loaded into Prism.
-addfolder [FOLDER_NAME] - add a folder of files into Prism.
-format [FORMAT_NAME] - specify the output file format for which to convert the loaded files. The format names are the file extensions for each format (e.g. .avi, .wmv).
-outfolder [FOLDER_NAME] - specify the output folder to store the converted files. Do NOT end the folder path with a backslash '\' character.
-overwrite [OVERWRITE_FLAG] - specifies what to do when the converted file already exists. The flags are "PROMPT" (Prompt for What to Do), "ALWAYS" (Overwrite the File), "NEVER" (Don't Convert the Original File), "CANCEL" (Abort All Conversions), "APPENDNUMBER [format]" (Append number to filename - [format] is optional, if blank it will use the format already specified in the program).
-settings [FORMAT_NAME] [SETTINGS_OPTIONS] - specifies the settings configuration to use for the specified format. For more detail on what parameters to use, see further down the page.
-edit [RESIZE_TYPE] [WIDTH] [HEIGHT] [FRAMERATE] - specifies the video output options. RESIZE_TYPE - either "NONE", "CROP" or "LETTERBOX". WIDTH and HEIGHT - desired dimensions of the video. FRAMERATE - desired video framerate (or zero if no framerate conversion is required).
-hide - hide the Prism window.
-show - show the Prism window.
-exit - exit Prism.
"Files to Add" is where you type in the files you want to load into Prism. All typed filenames must use the full filepath of the name, and circumfixed with inverted commas.
Examples:
prism.exe -format .mp4
prism.exe -outfolder "C:\My Videos";
prism.exe -hide
prism.exe "C:\My Documents\video.avi"
prism.exe -convert "C:\My Videos\video.avi" -format .mp4 -overwrite ALWAYS
prism.exe -convert "C:\My Videos\video.flv" -format .mpg -overwrite APPENDNUMBER "%filename%-%number%"
Unless you are in the Prism folder you will need to replace "prism.exe" from above with the full path "C:\Program Files\NCH Software\Prism\prism.exe" like this:
"C:\Program Files\NCH Software\Prism\prism.exe" -convert "C:\My Videos\video.avi" -format .mp4
Settings Options:
The following details what parameters to enter when using the "-settings" options. Note the order in which the parameters are written is the order in which they must be typed. Additionally, all parameters must be entered otherwise the command will not take effect.
Note the possible combination of values that can be entered depend largely on the codec, so you would have to open Prism and determine beforehand what values you can use for the codec in question.
.avi [VIDEO_ENCODER] [AVERAGE_BITRATE] [MAXIMUM_BITRATE] [SAMPLE_RATE] [CHANNELS] [SOUND_BITRATE]
Examples:
.wmv and .asf [VIDEO_ENCODER] [VIDEO_BITRATE] [SOUND_ENCODER_INDEX] [SAMPLE_RATE] [CHANNELS] [SOUND_BITRATE]
Examples:
.mpg [VIDEO_ENCODER] [AVERAGE_BITRATE] [MAXIMUM_BITRATE] [SAMPLE_RATE] [SOUND_BITRATE]
Examples:
.3gp [VIDEO_ENCODER] [AVERAGE_BITRATE] [MAXIMUM_BITRATE] [WIDTH] [HEIGHT] [SOUND_ENCODER] [SOUND_BITRATE]
Examples:
.mp4 [VIDEO_ENCODER] [AVERAGE_BITRATE] [MAXIMUM_BITRATE] [SOUND_BITRATE]
Examples:
.mov [AVERAGE_BITRATE] [MAXIMUM_BITRATE] [SOUND_BITRATE]
Examples:
.flv [AVERAGE_BITRATE] [MAXIMUM_BITRATE] [SOUND_BITRATE]
Examples: