---
title: The tools.properties file
description: The tools.properties file simplifies command-line invocations by reading in a set of arguments for each tool from a text file. Each property consists of a name/value pair for a tool's arguments.
component: pingdirectory
version: 9.3
page_id: pingdirectory:pingdatametrics_server_administration_guide:pd_met_tools_property_file
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/9.3/pingdatametrics_server_administration_guide/pd_met_tools_property_file.html
revdate: July 2, 2024
---

# The tools.properties file

The `tools.properties` file simplifies command-line invocations by reading in a set of arguments for each tool from a text file. Each property consists of a name/value pair for a tool's arguments.

Two types of properties files are supported:

* Default properties files that can be applied to all command-line utilities.

* Tool-specific properties file that can be specified using the `--propertiesFilePath` option.

|   |                                                                                                         |
| - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | All of the server's command-line utilities can be overwritten using the `config/tools.properties` file. |

Create a properties file with a text editor or using the standard Java properties file format (name=value). For example, create a simple properties file that defines a set of LDAP connection parameters as follows:

```
hostname=server1.example.com
port=1389
bindDN=cn=Directory\ Manager
bindPassword=secret
```

Specify the location of the file using the `--propertiesFilePath` option. For example, specify the path to the properties file with `ldapsearch` as follows:

```shell
$ bin/ldapsearch --propertiesFilePath bin/mytools.properties "(objectclass=*)"
```

|   |                                                                                                                  |
| - | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | Properties files do not allow quotation marks around values. Any spaces or special characters should be removed. |