Command Line Options and Functions

I have a Perl module that will work well with AbiWord's AbiCommand mode on Linux. I want to add all the command line functions as well. I have typed "abiword --help" and I get this:

Usage: abiword [OPTION...]
  -g, --geometry=GEOMETRY Set initial frame geometry
  -t, --to=FORMAT Target format of the file (abw, zabw, rtf, txt, utf8, html, latex)
  -v, --verbose=LEVEL Set verbosity level (0, 1, 2)
  -p, --print='Printer name' or '-' for default printer Print this file to printer
  -E, --plugin=STRING Execute plugin NAME instead of the main application
  -m, --merge=FILE Mail-merge
  -i, --imp-props=CSS String Importer Arguments
  -e, --exp-props=CSS String Exporter Arguments
      --thumb Make a thumb nail of the first page
  -S, --sizeXY=VALxVAL Size of PNG thumb nail in pixels
  -o, --to-name=STRING Name of output file
      --import-extension=STRING Override document type detection by specifying a file extension
      --version Print AbiWord version
  -?, --help Display help
  -u, --userprofile=STRING Use specified user profile.

But I need more detailed information and trial and error isn't always working. Here are some questions:

- geometry: This is only for the window, right? So if I'm doing command-line only, it's not needed, right?
- plugin: So is the main app still loaded, just the plugin is called, allowing special functions?
- thumb: I've experimented with this, using "--sizeXY=<xval>x<yval> --thumb" and get errors. ("Error on option --thumb: missing argument.") If I put a name of a .png file after --thumb, abiword sees it as an invalid numeric value. If I put a <xval>x<yval> I get the same message. If I use a single number, it doesn't complain, but I don't get a file (at least not in the directory I'm using, which is where the source file is).

Can someone fill me in on these so I know what I'm doing and can get this written? (Yes, of course I'll be sharing it as FOSS for the project!)

Also, an example of a plugin to use, other than AbiCommand, one that still acts on documents, might be useful.

Thank you!

Hal-----------------------------------------------
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Received on Sat Jan 1 23:03:48 2011