Convert a List of Files Using a Command Line Tool


Document Conversion Service includes several tools for file conversion, including a set of command line tools that can be called from a command prompt, from scheduled tasks, batch files or any program that can call an external program.

The start menu contains a shortcut to the Tools Command Prompt. You can run the command line tools directly from this window.

To open the command prompt go to Start – Programs – Document Conversion Service 3.0 – Tools -Document Conversion Service Tools Command Prompt.

Document Conversion Service command tools window

To convert a list of files, use the DCSConvertFileList command utility. Some sample command lines are listed below.

Copy and paste these command lines into the Tools window and simply replace the underlined text with the paths to your folders and Input text file.

Convert all files listed on the command line to TIFF, remove the original file extension and save in the original file folder:

DCSConvertFileList /P=”TIFF 300dpi OptimizedColor” /NE “C:\Test\Input\File1.doc” “C:\Test\Input2\File2.pdf

Convert all files listed on command line to a 200 dpi, black and white TIFF image and save in a specified location and do not remove the original file extension:

DCSConvertFileList /P=”TIFF 200dpi Monochrome” /S=”C:\Test\Output” “C:\Test\Input\File1.doc” “C:\Test\Input\File2.pdf

Convert all files in an Input file to faxable TIFF, remove the original file extension and save the results log and files to specified location:

DCSConvertFileList /P=”TIFF 204x196dpi Monochrome Fax” /NE /L /S=”C:\Test\Output” /I=”C:\Test\FileList.txt

Convert all files in Input file and listed on command line to PDF and save to a specified location:

DCSConvertFileList /P=”PDF 300dpi OptimizedColor” /S=”C:\Test\Output” /I=”C:\Test\FileList.txt” “C:\Test\Input\File9.ppt” “C:\Test\Input\File11.xls

Convert all files in an Input file to TIFF, overwrite any existing files in the specified location and save the results log:

DCSConvertFileList /P=”TIFF 300dpi OptimizedColor” /O /L /S=”C:\Test\Output” /I=”C:\Test\FileList.txt

DCSConvertFileList parameters are as follows:

/S – Save Location
/O – Overwrite Always
/NE – Excludes the original file extension from the created file name
/L – Log File
/P – Conversion Profile
/D – Individual profile settings can be specified using this switch
/E – XML Extension Mapping
/W – How many seconds to wait for DCS to start running and available to convert files
/I – Input text file path
/C – Convert on a Remote Computer (DCOM)

When using the command line tools, the type of output created is based on the conversion profile passed with the /P command line switch. A selection of common conversion profiles are included with the Document Conversion Service install. See the section Conversion Settings in the user guide for more details, and instructions on creating your own custom profiles.

Watch Document Conversion Service Tutorials