[Feature] Start from command line, taking the paths of the images to compare as paramters

[icue]

Is there an existing request for this feature?

• [X] I have searched the existing issues

Is your feature request related to a problem?

I'm using Windows, and my current workflow with butterfly viewer is often: locate the two images in explorer (which are often in two different folders), open butterfly viewer, switch to explorer again, drag them into butterfly viewer, and click on the "create" button in the sliding overlay creator. This is not the most efficient way to start the comparison. All these preparation work is bringing overhead and friction, especially when I have lots of pairs of images to compare.

Describe the solution you'd like

In cmd, simply with "butterfly_viewer.exe -image_a_path={path to image A} -image_b_path={path to image B}", I can open butterfly viewer, with the two images loaded already and also the sliding overlay created. I imagine up to four such arguments may be provided, as butterfly viewer can compare up to 4 images.

With this feature, combined with various automation/efficiency tools out there, one can create shortcuts to quickly start the comparison.

Describe alternatives you've considered

No response

Anything else?

No response

[larsmaxfield]

That would indeed be a useful feature. Thanks for the request.

I think the eventual implementation will be straightforward, but I don't have experience creating command line interfaces for Python or executables. So this may take a little while. Will keep you updated.

[larsmaxfield]

For my own notes (and anyone else interested), it seems the general solution will involve:

1. Python input arguments on main call in butterfly_viewer.py
2. PyInstaller's generated EXE accepting command line arguments
3. Inno Setup generated setup installer carrying over those command line arguments

PyInstaller

• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25984395/how-to-input-arguments-after-compiling-python-program-with-pyinstaller

Inno Setup

• Use Parameters to add command line arguments to EXE: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/40029270/how-to-run-application-in-cmd-exe-with-inno-setup