Hack46.Run Skype from the Command Line

Hack 46. Run Skype from the Command Line

You can control how Skype is launched and behaves by running it from the command line with options.

Works with: Windows and Linux versions of Skype.

Skype runs in a graphical Windows environment. Nevertheless, for those diehards for whom anything but the command line is a strange and alien environment, there is good news. You can run Skype from the command line with options.

Even for those lesser mortals who are comfortable with the GUI in general, and with Skype in particular, running Skype from the command line offers some distinct benefits in terms of additional flexibility. Command-line options can be particularly useful when you combine them with shortcuts (see "Add Fast-Dial Shortcuts to Your Menu or Desktop" [Hack #49]).

Running Skype from the command line with options is also a good way for the visually impaired to use Skype.

4.5.1. Windows

The Windows version of Skype currently supports the command-line options shown in Table 4-3.

Table 4-3. Command-line options for Skype on Windows

Command-line option	What it does
/callto: <Skype user or telephone number>	Places call to the specified user or number
/datapath:"<path>"	Specifies where user personal data is to be stored by Skype
/nosplash	Stops splash screen from displaying
/minimized	Runs Skype minimized in the system tray
/removable	Ensures that nonexistent paths aren't written to the Windows registry and does other housekeeping for running Skype from removable media
/shutdown	Stops Skype from running

Here are some things to try with command-line options entered in a command window (Start All Programs Accessories Command Prompt) or from the run line (Start Run, but if you choose this method, enter commands using quotes, like this: "Skype.exe "/callto:echo123"). All of the following examples assume you have put the folder containing Skype.exe on your path:

• Skype /callto:echo123 will place a call to echo123, or to anyone else if you replace echo123 with their Skype name.

• Skype /callto:[phone] will place a call to a regular telephone number, provided you are a SkypeOut subscriber. Don't forget to use the correct Skype dialing format ("+" and then country code, and then region/city code, and then phone number).

• Skype /nosplash /minimized will start Skype and put it in the system tray without anything appearing on the screen.

• Skype /shutdown will stop Skype from running (it's the equivalent of right-clicking on Skype in the system tray and choosing Quit).

4.5.2. Linux

The Linux version of Skype currently supports the command-line options shown in Table 4-4.

Table 4-4. Command-line options for Skype on Linux

Command-line option	What it does
--callto: <Skype user / telephone number>	Places call to the specified user or number
--disable-api	Disables Skype's Application Programming Interface (API)
--use-session-bus	Uses session bus rather than default bus

To make a call from the command line on Linux, enter this at the prompt in a terminal window, and press Enter:

 /usr/local/bin/skype --callto:echo123 &