# Common options for vector programs

All GDAL OGR command line programs support the following common options.

`--version```

  Report the version of GDAL and exit.

`--formats```

  List all vector formats supported by this GDAL build (read-only and read-write) and exit. The format support is indicated as follows: `ro` is read-only driver; `rw` is read or write (i.e. supports `CreateCopy()`); `rw+` is read, write and update (i.e. supports Create). A `v` is appended for formats supporting virtual IO (`/vsimem`, `/vsigzip`, `/vsizip`, etc). A `s` is appended for formats supporting subdatasets.

`--format``<format>`

  List detailed information about a single format driver. The format should be the short name reported in the `--formats` list, such as GML.

`--optfile``<filename>`

  Read the named file and substitute the contents into the command line options list. Lines beginning with `#` will be ignored. Multi-word arguments may be kept together with double quotes.

`--config``<key> <value>`

  Sets the named configuration keyword to the given value, as opposed to setting them as environment variables. Some common configuration keywords are SHAPE_ENCODING (force shapefile driver to read DBF files with the given character encoding) and CPL_TEMPDIR (define the location of temporary files). Individual drivers may be influenced by other configuration options.

`--debug``<value>`

  Control what debugging messages are emitted. A value of ON will enable all debug messages. A value of OFF will disable all debug messages. Another value will select only debug messages containing that string in the debug prefix code.

`--help-general```

  Gives a brief usage message for the generic GDAL OGR command line options and exit.