Compatibility Sword (CSword)
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What is Compatibility Sword?
Compatibility Sword (or CSword as its often referred to as) is a very lightweight (less than 100KB) application that works wonders to bring Windows to compatibility terms with some of your older applications that don't care to function otherwise in newer versions of Windows (especially UAC enabled environments like Windows Vista or Windows 7). Where'd the name come from? Sword is the knight's offensive tool, and since UAC (represented by a colorful shield) seems to stop some older applications dead in their track the name seemed most appropriate. Compatibility Sword was designed with the user in mind. That is, its small enough to be portable, does exactly what the user expects it to, and doesn't leave any traces of itself behind when done. It is the compatibility tool of choice for anyone's portable toolkit. CSword is great as a regular tool of use now thanks to integration of former utility FileDir2Prompt's features, which allow you to quickly open a command prompt window to a paticular directory or keep a console window open for a console application that would normally close and prevent you from seeing the output or providing any additonal commands. You never haft to alter the file properties yourself or worry about anything being left behind. Let CSword take care of all the work of application compatibility matters and concentrate at the task at hand with the older application. Administrators well appreciate Compatibility Sword's ability to be scripted, because CSword can also run all common functions from the command line. Setting up a simple script or shortcut for end users to adjust compatibility settings has never been as easy until now. 
Pre-Requisites for Correct Operation
- Microsoft Windows 98 or later
- Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 or later (Comes pre-installed on Windows Vista or later)
- NTFS formatted operating system partition
- U3 device to install Compatibility Sword to (If you use the U3 version)
Downloads
| Description | Download | SHA-256 Hashes | Current Version |
| Compatibility Sword |  | caddec532883cb59106489e00bb3b2116bff04e7d4b3cd5dcaf4302079f9eac3 | 2.3 |
| Compatibility Sword for U3 (u3p package) |  | 2782c403a282bec7255536e298ef1c3640ddc9dc951ade0520ea97b4bbabcd16 | 2.3 |
To use extract Zip archive and place CSword.exe wherever you want. If you downloaded the U3 version choose the install from computer option in install applications in the U3 launchpad menu and browse to the "Compatibility Sword for U3.u3p" package.
Compatibility Sword Command Line Usage
csword.exe </log or /savelog> /gui </uacme or /dir or /sysdir or /lappdatadir or /sys or directory path or application path> /workdir <directory> /osmode <os mode> /date <custom date> /color /res /vthemes /comp /scaling /text /uac /keepopen /more /hide /user <username> /password <password> /param <application arguments...>| Argument | Examples | Description |
| /log | "csword.exe /log example.exe /osmode 2000" "csword.exe /log" | Runs Compatibility Sword with logging enabled. At the end of the session the log file well pop up in notepad. Once closed, the temporarily log is automatically deleted.. |
| /savelog | "csword.exe /savelog example.exe /osmode 2000" "csword.exe /savelog" | Same as /log except the log file is perserved |
| /gui | "csword.exe /gui example.exe /osmode 2000" | Instead of running application/directory immediately from provided arguments, have Compatibility Sword pre-fill valid arguments and open up user interface. |
| /uacme | "csword.exe /uacme" | Under a UAC enabled Windows system, run Compatibility Sword as an administrator. |
| /dir | "csword.exe /dir" | Open an explorer window to the current directory. |
| /sysdir | "csword.exe /sysdir" | Same as /dir, except opens to system directory. |
| /lappdatadir | "csword.exe /lappdatadir" | Same as /dir, except opens to user's local application data directory. |
| /sys | "csword.exe /sys" | Under a UAC enabled Windows system, open an elevated command prompt to the system directory. |
| /workdir <directory> | "csword.exe example.exe /workdir c:\customworkdir" | Set a custom working directory for the process. Otherwise Compatibility Sword use's the application's directory. |
| /osmode <os mode> | "csword.exe example.exe /osmode 95" "csword.exe example.exe /osmode 98" "csword.exe example.exe /osmode nt4" "csword.exe example.exe /osmode 2000" "csword.exe example.exe /osmode svr03" "csword.exe example.exe /osmode xp" "csword.exe example.exe /osmode vista" | Run the process under Windows compatibility mode for an older version of Windows. Supported operating systems: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows Vista when used on Windows 7. |
| /date <custom date> | "csword.exe example.exe /date 1/1/2000" | Use a custom date with the process by changing the system date. This well require admin rights on the computer (UAC or run as otherwise) and Compatibility Sword well automatically reset the date to the correct one when the process is finished running. |
| /color | "csword.exe example.exe /color" | Run the process in 256 colors. |
| /res | "csword.exe example.exe /res" | Run the process in 640 by 480 resolution. |
| /vthemes | "csword.exe example.exe /vthemes" | Run the process with visual themes disabled. |
| /comp | "csword.exe example.exe /comp" | Run the process with desktop composition disabled. |
| /scaling | "csword.exe example.exe /scaling" | Run the process with display scaling on high DPI settings disabled. |
| /text | "csword.exe example.exe /text" | Run the process with advanced text services disabled. |
| /uac | "csword.exe example.exe /uac" | Under a UAC enabled Windows system, elevates the process to run it as an administrator. |
| /keepopen | "csword.exe ipconfig.exe /keepopen" | For console applications, opens up a new console window that remains open even after the application has finished running so output can be read and additional commands can be specified. |
| /more | "csword.exe ipconfig.exe /more" | Assumes /keepopen for console applications and displays application output of the process a few lines at a time using the more utility. |
| /hide | "csword.exe defrag.exe /hide /param c:" | For a background utility or console application where you do not want to interact in any way whatsoever with it. The process well run hidden from the user and no console window well be opened.. |
| /user <username> | "csword.exe example.exe /user Administrator" | Specifies an administrator to run the process as on a Windows system where UAC is disabled or not available. |
| /password | "csword.exe example.exe /user Administrator /password abc123" | Specifies password for administrator account to run the process on a Windows system where UAC is disabled or not available. While this option is available it is recommended that you don't specify it if you are concerned about security. If you don't specify /password, Compatibility Sword assumes /gui and pre-fills options for you, so all you should haft to do in the user interface is type in the password and than run the process. |
| /param <application arguments...> | "csword.exe ieuser.exe /param -private" | Specifies application arguments for the process. This switch should always be last in the arguments to Compatibility Sword, as any following arguments are passed to the application rather than interpreted as arguments intended for Compatibility Sword |
You can drag drop files/directories to Compatibility Sword to open them quickly, which is why you should place a shortcut in places where it would be easiest to use (such as the quick launch area on the taskbar). Applications that are dragged and dropped on Compatibility Sword are assumed to be console applications so a new console window is created. If no arguments are passed to Compatibility Sword, the user interface is used instead.
Blog how-to articles on Compatibility Sword
Below you'll find technical/how-to articles related to Compatibility Sword.Compatibility Sword as a system command and relative paths
Windows UAC and CSword - Tips and Tricks
Windows UAC & Console Applications - Get one click access to output from administrative console applications using CSword and FileDir2Prompt
Advantages to using Compatibility Sword over the built-in compatibility tab in Windows Explorer
- No settings are left behind on the system.
- Completely portable assuming the system it is used on meets the requirements listed above.
- The only way to configure an application with various compatibility options from the command line, making Compatibility Sword capable of being scripted to perform desired actions.
- The only way to use a custom system date without having to manually set the dates.
- The only way to configure compatibility options for an application and give it administrative access at the same time from a limited user account.
- The fastest way to open command prompts to desired directories and keep command windows open for console applications
- The fastest way to run an older console application with a custom working directory so application output isn't placed in the same directory (Example: Have mkisofs use a folder and output ISO in a different directory than where mkisofs is located)
- The fastest way to specify application arguments on a minute's notice.
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