Documentation

Command-line launching

Launch arcade sets directly from Windows, cabinet frontends, shortcuts, or scripts. ArcadeDuck supports non-merged, split, and merged ROM layouts, including selecting logical clones from merged collections.

Quick Start

Launch a set directly

The boot filename must be a recognized ArcadeDuck ZIP archive. Quote Windows paths when they contain spaces.

ArcadeDuck.exe "D:\Arcade\roms\tekken.zip"

For a cabinet or external frontend, -nogui suppresses the main ArcadeDuck window and exits when emulation shuts down.-fullscreen starts the game in fullscreen.

ArcadeDuck.exe -nogui -fullscreen "D:\Arcade\roms\tekken.zip"

ROM Sets

Non-merged, split, and merged layouts

ArcadeDuck's database describes complete logical game sets and resolves those definitions from non-merged, split, or merged physical ZIP layouts.

Non-Merged

Launch the game's ZIP

A complete set has its own archive. Launch that archive directly.

ArcadeDuck.exe "D:\Arcade\roms\tekkenac.zip"

Split

Clone plus parent archives

A clone ZIP may contain only clone-specific ROMs. ArcadeDuck searches the clone and its parent chain, including matching sibling archives in the same ROM directory and indexed archives.

ArcadeDuck.exe "D:\Arcade\roms\tekkenac.zip"

Merged

Select the logical clone

Launch the physical parent ZIP and use -arcadegame to select the clone definition stored inside the merged collection.

ArcadeDuck.exe "D:\Arcade\roms\tekken.zip" -arcadegame tekkenac

Merged Clone Example

What `-arcadegame` means

ArcadeDuck.exe -nogui -fullscreen "D:\Arcade\roms\tekken.zip" -arcadegame tekkenac

In this command, tekken.zip is the physical archive being opened and tekkenac is the logical ArcadeDuck game ID to boot. The requested ID must exist in ArcadeDuck's arcade database and must be the archive's own set or a descendant of that set.

ArcadeDuck scans ZIP members by ROM metadata and accepts matching members stored in subdirectories inside a merged archive. For split layouts, it also searches the selected game's parent archive chain.

ROM Resolution

One resolver for supported arcade systems

Non-merged, split, and merged ROM handling is part of ArcadeDuck's standard arcade ROM resolver. There is no separate ROM-set type setting; ArcadeDuck uses the game's database definition and parent lineage to find the required ROMs from the archives that are present.

Common Launches

Ready-to-use examples

# Normal direct launch
ArcadeDuck.exe "D:\Arcade\roms\tekken.zip"

# Fullscreen launch
ArcadeDuck.exe -fullscreen "D:\Arcade\roms\tekken.zip"

# Cabinet/frontend launch with no main ArcadeDuck window
ArcadeDuck.exe -nogui -fullscreen "D:\Arcade\roms\tekken.zip"

# Launch a clone from a merged parent archive
ArcadeDuck.exe -nogui -fullscreen "D:\Arcade\roms\tekken.zip" -arcadegame tekkenac

# Use a separate settings file
ArcadeDuck.exe -settings "cabinet.ini" "D:\Arcade\roms\tekken.zip"

# Show the built-in command-line help
ArcadeDuck.exe -help

Option Reference

Public command-line options

ArcadeDuck.exe -help is the built-in reference shipped with the executable.

Option	Behavior
`-help`	Displays command-line help and exits.
`-version`	Displays version information and exits.
`-arcadegame <id>`	Selects the logical arcade game to launch from the supplied archive, including clones from split or merged sets.
`-fullscreen`	Enters fullscreen mode immediately after starting.
`-nofullscreen`	Prevents fullscreen mode from triggering when it would otherwise be enabled.
`-nogui`	Suppresses the main window and exits when the emulated system shuts down.
`-settings <filename>`	Loads a custom settings configuration; default settings are used if the file does not exist.
`-earlyconsole`	Creates the console as early as possible for logging.
`--`	Stops option parsing so the remaining arguments are treated as the boot filename.

Paths

Quote Windows paths containing spaces.

Use -- when you need to explicitly end option parsing, especially when a boot filename could begin with a dash. The boot archive itself must exist and be recognized by ArcadeDuck's arcade database.