The command syntax is:
tetgen [-pq__a__AriYMS__T__dzjo_fengGOJBNEFICQVvh] input_file
Underscores indicate that numbers may optionally follow certain switches. Do not leave any space between a switch and its numeric parameter. ``input_file'' must be a file with extension .node, or extension .poly or .smesh or other supported file formats if the -p switch is used. If -r is used, you must supply .node and .ele files, and possibly a .face file, and a .vol file as well.
Below is an overview of all command line switches and a short description follows each switch. This information is also available by invoking TetGen without any switch and input file (i.e., type ``tetgen''). Here are some examples of using these switches.
| -p | Tetrahedralizes a picecwise linear complex (.poly or .smesh file). |
| -q | Quality mesh generation. A minimum radius-edge ratio may be specifyed (default 2.0). |
| -a | Applies a maximum tetrahedron volume constraint. |
| -A | Assigns attributes to identify tetrahedra in certain regions. |
| -r | Reconstructs/Refines a previously generated mesh. |
| -Y | Suppresses boundary facets/segments splitting. |
| -i | Inserts a list of additional points into mesh. |
| -M | Does not merge coplanar facets. |
| -T | Set a tolerance for coplanar test (default 1e-8). |
| -d | Detect intersections of PLC facets. |
| -z | Numbers all output items starting from zero. |
| -j | Jettison unused vertices from output .node file |
| -o2 | Generates second-order subparametric elements. |
| -f | Outputs faces (including non-boundary faces) to .face file. |
| -e | Outputs subsegments to .edge file. |
| -n | Outputs tetrahedra neighbors to .neigh file. |
| -g | Outputs mesh to .mesh file for viewing by Medit. |
| -G | Outputs mesh to .msh file for viewing by Gid. |
| -O | Outputs mesh to .off file for viewing by Geomview. |
| -B | Suppresses output of boundary information. |
| -N | Suppresses output of .node file. |
| -E | Suppresses output of .ele file. |
| -F | Suppresses output of .face file. |
| -I | Suppresses mesh iteration numbers. |
| -C | Checks the consistency of the final mesh. |
| -Q | Quiet: No terminal output except errors. |
| -V | Verbose: Detailed information on what I'm doing. |
| -v | Prints the version information. |
| -h | Help: A brief instruction for using TetGen. |