diff --git a/archimedean.cpp b/archimedean.cpp
index 621ee6b5..2e3d014f 100644
--- a/archimedean.cpp
+++ b/archimedean.cpp
@@ -754,6 +754,8 @@ void archimedean_tiling::parse() {
   }
 
 #if CAP_COMMANDLINE  
+void show();
+
 int readArgs() {
   using namespace arg;
            
@@ -774,6 +776,8 @@ int readArgs() {
     }
   else if(argis("-dgeom")) debug_geometry = true;
   else if(argis("-dual")) { PHASEFROM(2); set_variation(eVariation::dual); }
+  else if(argis("-d:arcm")) 
+    launch_dialog(show);
   else return 1;
   return 0;
   }
diff --git a/commandline.cpp b/commandline.cpp
index abde8085..bcfaaef0 100644
--- a/commandline.cpp
+++ b/commandline.cpp
@@ -79,8 +79,20 @@ namespace arg {
     exit(1);
     }
 
+  bool dialog_launched = false;
+  
+  void launch_dialog(const reaction_t& r) {
+    if(!dialog_launched) {
+      popScreenAll();
+      showstartmenu = false;
+      dialog_launched = true;
+      }
+    if(r) pushScreen(r);
+    }
+
   }
 
+
 int arg::readCommon() {
 
 // first phase options
diff --git a/config.cpp b/config.cpp
index d910d8ee..d8e5882d 100644
--- a/config.cpp
+++ b/config.cpp
@@ -1655,12 +1655,10 @@ void selectLanguageScreen() {
 
 #if CAP_COMMANDLINE
 
-int read_config_args() {
+int read_color_args() {
   using namespace arg;
 
-  if(argis("-c")) { PHASE(1); shift(); conffile = argcs(); }
-// change the configuration from the command line
-  else if(argis("-back")) {
+  if(argis("-back")) {
     PHASEFROM(2); shift(); backcolor = arghex();
     }
   else if(argis("-fillmodel")) {
@@ -1681,6 +1679,17 @@ int read_config_args() {
   else if(argis("-dialog")) {
     PHASEFROM(2); shift(); dialog::dialogcolor = arghex();
     }
+  else if(argis("-d:color"))
+    launch_dialog(show_color_dialog);
+  else return 1;
+  return 0;
+  }
+
+int read_config_args() {
+  using namespace arg;
+
+  if(argis("-c")) { PHASE(1); shift(); conffile = argcs(); }
+// change the configuration from the command line
   else if(argis("-aa")) { PHASEFROM(2); shift(); vid.antialias = argi(); }
   else if(argis("-lw")) { PHASEFROM(2); shift_arg_formula(vid.linewidth); }
   else if(argis("-wm")) { PHASEFROM(2); shift(); vid.wallmode = argi(); }
@@ -1740,6 +1749,24 @@ int read_config_args() {
     }
   TOGGLE('o', vid.usingGL, switchGL())
   TOGGLE('f', vid.full, switchFullscreen())
+  else if(argis("-d:sight")) {
+    PHASEFROM(2); launch_dialog(); edit_sightrange();
+    }
+  else if(argis("-d:char")) {
+    PHASEFROM(2); launch_dialog(showCustomizeChar);
+    }
+  else if(argis("-d:3")) {
+    PHASEFROM(2); launch_dialog(show3D);
+    }
+  else if(argis("-d:stereo")) {
+    PHASEFROM(2); launch_dialog(showStereo);
+    }
+  else if(argis("-d:basic")) {
+    PHASEFROM(2); launch_dialog(showBasicConfig);
+    }
+  else if(argis("-d:graph")) {
+    PHASEFROM(2); launch_dialog(showGraphConfig);
+    }
   else return 1;
   return 0;
   }
@@ -1764,7 +1791,7 @@ int read_gamemode_args() {
   return 0;
   }
 
-auto ah_config = addHook(hooks_args, 0, read_config_args) + addHook(hooks_args, 0, read_gamemode_args);
+auto ah_config = addHook(hooks_args, 0, read_config_args) + addHook(hooks_args, 0, read_gamemode_args) + addHook(hooks_args, 0, read_color_args);
 #endif
 
 unordered_map<string, ld&> params = {
diff --git a/conformal.cpp b/conformal.cpp
index c6727535..58dcb971 100644
--- a/conformal.cpp
+++ b/conformal.cpp
@@ -628,6 +628,34 @@ namespace conformal {
     dialog::bound_up(isize(torus_zeros)-1);
     }
   
+  void edit_formula() {
+    if(pmodel != mdFormula) basic_model = pmodel;
+    dialog::edit_string(formula, "formula", 
+      XLAT(
+      "This lets you specify the projection as a formula f. "
+      "The formula has access to the value 'z', which is a complex number corresponding to the x,y coordinates in the currently selected model; "
+      "the point z is mapped to f(z). You can also use the underlying coordinates ux, uy, uz."
+      ) + "\n\n" + parser_help()
+      );
+    dialog::extra_options = [] () {
+      initquickqueue();
+      queuereset(mdUnchanged, PPR::LINE);              
+      for(int a=-1; a<=1; a++) {
+        curvepoint(hpxyz(-M_PI/2 * vid.radius, a*vid.radius, 0));
+        curvepoint(hpxyz(+M_PI/2 * vid.radius, a*vid.radius, 0));
+        queuecurve(forecolor, 0, PPR::LINE);
+        curvepoint(hpxyz(a*vid.radius, -M_PI/2*vid.radius, 0));
+        curvepoint(hpxyz(a*vid.radius, +M_PI/2*vid.radius, 0));
+        queuecurve(forecolor, 0, PPR::LINE);
+        }
+      queuereset(pmodel, PPR::LINE);
+      quickqueue();
+      };
+    dialog::reaction_final = [] () {
+      pmodel = mdFormula;
+      };
+    }
+  
   void model_menu() {
     cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK | sm::CENTER;
     gamescreen(0);
@@ -638,31 +666,7 @@ namespace conformal {
         dialog::addBoolItem(get_model_name(m), pmodel == m, "0123456789!@#$%^&*()" [m]);
         dialog::add_action([m] () {
           if(m == mdFormula) {
-            if(pmodel != m) basic_model = pmodel;
-            dialog::edit_string(formula, "formula", 
-              XLAT(
-              "This lets you specify the projection as a formula f. "
-              "The formula has access to the value 'z', which is a complex number corresponding to the x,y coordinates in the currently selected model; "
-              "the point z is mapped to f(z). You can also use the underlying coordinates ux, uy, uz."
-              ) + "\n\n" + parser_help()
-              );
-            dialog::extra_options = [] () {
-              initquickqueue();
-              queuereset(mdUnchanged, PPR::LINE);              
-              for(int a=-1; a<=1; a++) {
-                curvepoint(hpxyz(-M_PI/2 * vid.radius, a*vid.radius, 0));
-                curvepoint(hpxyz(+M_PI/2 * vid.radius, a*vid.radius, 0));
-                queuecurve(forecolor, 0, PPR::LINE);
-                curvepoint(hpxyz(a*vid.radius, -M_PI/2*vid.radius, 0));
-                curvepoint(hpxyz(a*vid.radius, +M_PI/2*vid.radius, 0));
-                queuecurve(forecolor, 0, PPR::LINE);
-                }
-              queuereset(pmodel, PPR::LINE);
-              quickqueue();
-              };
-            dialog::reaction_final = [] () {
-              pmodel = mdFormula;
-              };
+            edit_formula();
             return;
             }
           pmodel = m;
@@ -1108,6 +1112,16 @@ namespace conformal {
     else if(argis("-alpha")) { 
       PHASEFROM(2); shift_arg_formula(vid.alpha);
       }
+    else if(argis("-d:model")) 
+      launch_dialog(model_menu);
+    else if(argis("-d:formula")) {
+      launch_dialog();
+      edit_formula();
+      }
+    else if(argis("-d:match")) {
+      launch_dialog(match_torus_period);
+      edit_formula();
+      }
     else return 1;
     return 0;
     }
diff --git a/geom-exp.cpp b/geom-exp.cpp
index 1fd44516..376c9f17 100644
--- a/geom-exp.cpp
+++ b/geom-exp.cpp
@@ -93,8 +93,18 @@ void showQuotientConfig() {
 
 bool torus_bitrunc;
 
+void prepare_torusconfig() {
+  torusconfig::newdy = torusconfig::dy;
+  torusconfig::newqty = torusconfig::qty;
+  torusconfig::newsdx = torusconfig::sdx;
+  torusconfig::newsdy = torusconfig::sdy;
+  torusconfig::newmode = torusconfig::torus_mode;
+  torus_bitrunc = PURE;
+  }
+
 void showTorusConfig() {
-  cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::TORUSCONFIG;
+  cmode = sm::SIDE;
+  if(torus) cmode |= sm::TORUSCONFIG;
   gamescreen(2);
   
   dialog::init(XLAT("advanced configuration"));
@@ -468,12 +478,7 @@ void showEuclideanMenu() {
         ewhichscreen ^= 3;
       else if(uni == '4') {
         if(torus) 
-          torusconfig::newdy = torusconfig::dy,
-          torusconfig::newqty = torusconfig::qty,
-          torusconfig::newsdx = torusconfig::sdx,
-          torusconfig::newsdy = torusconfig::sdy,
-          torusconfig::newmode = torusconfig::torus_mode,
-          torus_bitrunc = PURE,
+          prepare_torusconfig(),
           pushScreen(showTorusConfig);
         else if(geometry == gFieldQuotient) 
           pushScreen(showQuotientConfig);
@@ -639,6 +644,14 @@ int read_geom_args() {
     cheat();
     shift(); currfp.qpaths.push_back(args());
     }
+  else if(argis("-d:quotient")) 
+    launch_dialog(showQuotientConfig);
+  else if(argis("-d:torus")) {
+    launch_dialog(showTorusConfig);
+    prepare_torusconfig();
+    }
+  else if(argis("-d:geom")) 
+    launch_dialog(showEuclideanMenu);
   else return 1;
   return 0;
   }
diff --git a/hyper.h b/hyper.h
index f1fa44ce..c222b74f 100644
--- a/hyper.h
+++ b/hyper.h
@@ -2084,6 +2084,8 @@ namespace arg {
   
   void init(int _argc, char **_argv);
   
+  void launch_dialog(const reaction_t& r = reaction_t());
+  
   extern int curphase;
   
   void phaseerror(int x);
diff --git a/menus.cpp b/menus.cpp
index 92ecbce0..7e9f63f1 100644
--- a/menus.cpp
+++ b/menus.cpp
@@ -901,4 +901,33 @@ void showMessageLog() {
     else if(doexiton(sym, uni)) popScreen();
     };
   }
+
+#if CAP_COMMANDLINE
+
+int read_menu_args() {
+  using namespace arg;
+
+  if(argis("-d:over")) {
+    PHASEFROM(2); launch_dialog(showOverview);
+    }
+  else if(argis("-d:main")) {
+    PHASEFROM(2); launch_dialog(showMainMenu);
+    }
+  else if(argis("-d:display")) {
+    PHASEFROM(2); launch_dialog(showDisplayMode);
+    }
+  else if(argis("-d:mode")) {
+    PHASEFROM(2); launch_dialog(showChangeMode);
+    }
+  else if(argis("-d:shmup")) {
+    PHASEFROM(2); launch_dialog(shmup::showShmupConfig);
+    }
+  else return 1;
+  return 0;
+  }
+
+auto ah_menu = addHook(hooks_args, 0, read_menu_args);
+
+#endif
+
 }
diff --git a/pattern2.cpp b/pattern2.cpp
index af077d81..2fe0b06a 100644
--- a/pattern2.cpp
+++ b/pattern2.cpp
@@ -2374,6 +2374,15 @@ int read_pattern_args() {
     stop_game_and_switch_mode(rg::nothing);
     }
 
+  else if(argis("-d:line")) 
+    launch_dialog(linepatterns::showMenu);
+
+  else if(argis("-d:reg"))
+    launch_dialog(patterns::showPrePattern);
+
+  else if(argis("-d:pattern"))
+    launch_dialog(patterns::showPattern);
+
   else return 1;
   return 0;
   }
diff --git a/rug.cpp b/rug.cpp
index 33a6e8ab..353b6028 100644
--- a/rug.cpp
+++ b/rug.cpp
@@ -1943,6 +1943,9 @@ int rugArgs() {
     shift_arg_formula(anticusp_factor);
     }
 
+  else if(argis("-d:rug")) 
+    launch_dialog(show);
+
   else return 1;
   return 0;
   }
diff --git a/surface.cpp b/surface.cpp
index 85521470..07662834 100644
--- a/surface.cpp
+++ b/surface.cpp
@@ -808,6 +808,9 @@ int surface_args() {
     run_shape(dsHyperboloid);
     }
 
+  else if(argis("-d:surface")) 
+    launch_dialog(show_surfaces);
+
   else return 1;
   return 0;
   }