# Open a PoPy Command Prompt

To gain access to the Command Line Tools you need to invoke the PoPy command prompt environment.

There are two main ways of starting a PoPy command prompt:-

- Desktop Shortcut Method

- Console Method

Note

This assumes that only one version of PoPy is installed on the host machine. If there are multiple versions installed, you should check that your PoPy environment is for the correct version by running `popy info` before proceeding.

## Desktop Shortcut Method

Left mouse click on the ‘PoPy Command Prompt’ shortcut on your Desktop or alternatively within the Start Menu (in the PoPy folder). This will open a PoPy command prompt in the directory where you installed PoPy.

For example, if you click the PoPy shortcut and installed PoPy to the folder `c:\PoPy` you should see something like Fig. 46:-

Fig. 46 PoPy dos prompt

You can then `cd` into your working folder and begin using PoPy from there.

## Console Method

Open a command prompt or Powershell in any folder on your computer in three steps:-

- navigate to the folder in Windows Explorer

- left mouse click on the path editbox directly below the menus

- type `cmd` for a traditional Command Prompt (or `powershell` for a Powershell) and press return

For example if you navigate to the directory in Windows Explorer:-

    c:\Users\david\

Then type `cmd` over the Windows Explorer path, a regular Command Prompt should appear like this Fig. 47:-

Fig. 47 Plain command prompt

Then type:-

    popy

You should see something like:-

    PoPy v1.3.0
    ©2026 Wright Dose Limited, UK.

    Usage: popy <cmd> <arguments>

    where cmd is:

        activate     Activate licence for PoPy
        deactivate   Deactivate licence for PoPy
        validate     Run validation test to ensure PoPy installed successfully

        version      Display the PoPy version number
        info         Display detailed information on the PoPy installation

        create       Create a new script for a given module
        run          Run a script
        check        Check script (without running)
        format       Reformat existing script to match latest specifications

        doc          Open HTML documentation in web browser
        view         Open html output in default browser

    Call

        popy <cmd> --help

    for help on using a specific PoPy tool.

(Note the colour of the window text will change from white to pale blue, and the window background will become black even for a Powershell.)

Note

There _should_ be no significant difference between running PoPy in a Command Prompt versus running it in a Powershell. We have, however, seen examples where running in a Command Prompt took significantly longer than in a Powershell for reasons we have not yet understood.

## Verify PoPy Environment

The light blue text signifies that you are within a PoPy environment. You can verify this further by running popy info:-

    $ popy info

You should now be able to run all the Command Line Tools.