# Starting ij using properties

You can set `ij` properties in any of the following ways.

- By using the `-D` option on the command line
- By specifying a properties file using the `-p propertyfile` option on the command line

Remember: `ij` property names are case-sensitive, while commands are case-insensitive.

## Examples

The following examples illustrate how to use `ij` properties.

To start `ij` by using a properties file called `ij.properties`, use a command like the following (with the addition of the file paths):

    java -jar derbyrun.jar -p ij.properties

To start `ij` with an `ij.maximumDisplayWidth` of 1000:

    java -Dij.maximumDisplayWidth=1000 -jar derbyrun.jar

To start `ij` with an `ij.protocol` of `jdbc:derby:` and an `ij.database` of `sample`, use the following command:

    java -Dij.protocol=jdbc:derby: -Dij.database=sample derbyrun.jar

To start `ij` with two named connections, using the `ij.connection.connectionName` property, use a command like the following:

    java -Dij.connection.sample=jdbc:derby:sample \
    -Dij.connection.History=jdbc:derby:History \
    -Dderby.system.home=c:\derby\demo\databases \
    -jar c:\derby\lib\derbyrun.jar

To see a list of connection names and the URLs used to connect to them, use the following command. (If there is a currently active connection, it will appear with an asterisk (`*`) after its name.)

    ij version 10.17
    ij(HISTORY)> show connections;
    HISTORY* -    jdbc:derby:History
    SAMPLE -     jdbc:derby:sample
    * = current connection
    ij(HISTORY)>

Parent topic: Using ij
Related concepts
Getting started with ij
Related tasks
Starting ij
Creating a database using ij