Start an IPRO ImageServer or VCode Server Without the Configuration Dialog

The IPRO Tech ImageServer and VCode Server products require the configuration of an IP address and port. When the programs are first run the configuration dialog will come up blank.


At this point the IP address of the host machine and the number of an unused local port must be entered, otherwise the program will return an error and close. If valid information is entered in the dialog, when the user clicks 'OK' the information will be saved in an *.ini file and the server will run. For the ImageServer product this file is called iserver.ini. For the VCode Server product it is called codesrvr.ini. These files are located in the directory where Windows is installed, typically c:\winnt.

Subsequently, when the ImageServer or VCode Server products are started the configuration dialog will come up populated with data from the ini file:


If no changes are necessary the user can click 'OK' and the programs will start. This requires, however, that a user be present to click 'OK'. What if it is desired that the program start without user intervention?

It is possible to start an IPRO ImageServer or VCode Server product without clicking 'OK' on the configuration dialog. This is done by using a command line switch in the shortcut that calls the program, whether the program is the ImageServer product, iserver.exe, or the VCode Server product, codesrvr.exe. Below is a property sheet for a shortcut to iserver.exe:

Note that in the 'Target' field there is nothing after 'iserver.exe'. In this configuration the shortcut will launch the ImageServer program and the user will be prompted to confirm the configuration.


Here is a modified shortcut to iserver.exe:

If a command line switch is added after 'iserver.exe' the ImageServer program will start immediately after double-clicking on the shortcut, using the configuration data in the .ini file, and begin to serve client requests without any further user intervention. The example above shows a command line switch of '/auto' but this isn't the only switch that will cause this behavior. ANY switch added after iserver.exe or codesrvr.exe will cause the program to start without further user intervention.


Any of these examples will cause the program to start and immediately begin to service client requests without further user intervention. This holds true for both the ImageServer product, iserver.exe, and the VCode Server product, codesrvr.exe.