Deciding between the use of a command-line argument and a named parameter

Both command-line arguments and named parameters are means for creating more flexible jobs and transformations. The following table summarizes the differences and the reasons for using one or the other. In the first column, the word argument refers to the external value you will use in your job or transformation. That argument could be implemented as a named parameter or as a command-line argument.

Situation

Solution using named parameters

Solution using arguments

It is desirable to have a default for the argument

Named parameters are perfect in this case. You provide default values at the time you define them.

Before using the command-line argument, you have to evaluate ...

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