usage <options>

Hi,
i am relatively new to programming. i am trying to use an open source library found by google search. the readme file tells to write make on commandline, as a result i got an exe file sample, but now i am trying to chk the output and the usage is:

USAGE

Usage: sample <options>options: -c : Encode input file to output file. -d : Decode input file to output file. -k [1-7] : Length of binary portion. -i <filename> : Name of input file. -o <filename> : Name of output file. -h|? : Print out command line options. -c Compress the specified input file (see -i) using the Lempel-Ziv-Welch encoding algorithm. Results are written to the specified output file (see -o). -d Decompress the specified input file (see -i) using the Lempel-Ziv-Welch decoding algorithm. Results are written to the specified output file (see -o). Only files compressed by this program may be decompressed. -k [1-7] The number of bits in the binary portion of a Rice encoded value. -i <filename> The name of the input file. There is no valid usage of this program without a specified input file. -o <filename> The name of the output file. If no file is specified, stdout will be used. NOTE: Sending compressed output to stdout may produce undesirable results.

i think i sholud give the command ./sample -c -4 -input.txt -output.txt
but i am getting an error. the error gives description of usuage, which means i ma doing something wrong.
any help is appreciated.additionally, if anyone can refer me to some document describing how to give such commands i will be grateful.

That command line will read input from a file named nput.txt and write to a file named utput.txt (assuming, in the processing of options, that it doesn't demand separation between -i/o and the filename).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by grumpy

That command line will read input from a file named nput.txt and write to a file named utput.txt (assuming, in the processing of options, that it doesn't demand separation between -i/o and the filename).

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thanks for the reply, but can u plz elaborate. i gave the command

Code:

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./sample -c(compress) -4 (value of k) -1.txt(input file) -2.txt(output file)

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but error message says:

Code:

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Error: k must be between 1 and 7.
Usage: sample <options>

Options:
  -c : Encode input file to output file.
  -d : Decode input file to output file.
  -k [1-7]: Length of binary portion.
  -i <filename> : Name of input file.
  -o <filename> : Name of output file.
  -h | ?  : Print out command line options.

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i dont understand where i am wrong. how do i give option for encode and value for k

thanks

My guess would be "./sample -c -k 4 -i 1.txt -o 2.txt"