diff --git a/gui/Mainwindow.py b/gui/Mainwindow.py
index 859f082..bf31211 100644
--- a/gui/Mainwindow.py
+++ b/gui/Mainwindow.py
@@ -28,16 +28,28 @@ ID_CHECK = 103
 
 class MainWindow(wx.Frame):
 
-    def __init__(self, filename=''):
+    def __init__(self, opts, args):
         super(MainWindow, self).__init__(None, size=(600,800))
+
+        self.opts = opts
+        self.args = args
+
         self.dirname = '.'
 
-        if filename != '' and os.path.isfile(filename):
-            self.filename = filename
+        self.filename = 'noname.spdl'
+        self.load = False
+
+        # test
+        if opts.test:
+            self.filename = 'scythergui-default.spdl'
             self.load = True
-        else:
-            self.filename = 'noname.spdl'
-            self.load = False
+
+        # if there is an argument (file), we load it
+        if len(args) > 0:
+            filename = args[0]
+            if filename != '' and os.path.isfile(filename):
+                self.filename = filename
+                self.load = True
 
         Icon.ScytherIcon(self)
 
@@ -63,6 +75,8 @@ class MainWindow(wx.Frame):
 
         #self.SetTitle(self.title) 
 
+        self.firstCommand()
+
     def CreateInteriorWindowComponents(self):
         ''' Create "interior" window components. In this case it is just a
             simple multiline text control. '''
@@ -237,6 +251,12 @@ class MainWindow(wx.Frame):
     def OnCheck(self, event):
         self.RunScyther("check")
 
+    def firstCommand(self):
+        if self.opts.command:
+            # Trigger a command automatically
+            self.RunScyther(self.opts.command)
+                
+
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 class SettingsWindow(wx.Panel):
diff --git a/gui/Scytherthread.py b/gui/Scytherthread.py
index a4bd9e0..82e6539 100644
--- a/gui/Scytherthread.py
+++ b/gui/Scytherthread.py
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ class ScytherRun(object):
         # Verification window
 
         self.verifywin = verifywin = VerificationWindow(mainwin,"Running Scyther %s process" % mode)
-        verifywin.CenterOnScreen()
+        verifywin.Center()
         verifywin.Show(True)
 
         # start the thread
@@ -381,12 +381,8 @@ class ScytherRun(object):
         # start the window and show until something happens
         # if it terminates, this is a cancel, and should also kill the thread. (what happens to a spawned Scyther in that case?)
         # if the thread terminames, it should close the window normally, and we end up here as well.
-
         val = verifywin.ShowModal()
 
-        # Cursor back to normal
-        verifywin.SetCursor(wx.StockCursor(wx.CURSOR_ARROW))
-
         if self.verified:
             # Scyther program is done (the alternative is that it was
             # cancelled)
@@ -402,23 +398,25 @@ class ScytherRun(object):
                     else:
                         txt = "Done."
                     resultwin.SetStatusText(txt)
+                    resultwin.Refresh()
 
                 def claimDone(claim):
                     if claim.button and len(claim.attacks) > 0:
                         claim.button.Enable()
+                        resultwin.Refresh()
 
                 t = AttackThread(self,resultwin,claimDone,attackDone)
                 t.start()
 
                 resultwin.thread = t
-                resultwin.CenterOnScreen()
+                resultwin.Center()
                 resultwin.Show(True)
+
             else:
                 # Darn, some errors. report.
                 title = "Scyther errors : %s" % mode
                 errorwin = ErrorWindow(mainwin,title,errors=self.scyther.errors)
-                errorwin.Show(True)
-                errorwin.CenterOnScreen()
+                errorwin.Center()
                 val = errorwin.ShowModal()
 
 
diff --git a/gui/scyther-gui.py b/gui/scyther-gui.py
index 09071ca..9bc6696 100755
--- a/gui/scyther-gui.py
+++ b/gui/scyther-gui.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 """ Import externals """
 import wx
 import sys
+from optparse import OptionParser
 
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -15,6 +16,23 @@ import Misc
 
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+def parseArgs():
+    usage = "usage: %s [optional initial settings]" % sys.argv[0]
+    parser = OptionParser(usage=usage)
+
+    # command
+    parser.add_option("-V","--verify",dest="command",default=None,action="store_const",const="verify")
+    parser.add_option("-s","--state-space",dest="command",default=None,action="store_const",const="statespace")
+    parser.add_option("-a","--auto-claims",dest="command",default=None,action="store_const",const="autoverify")
+    parser.add_option("-c","--check",dest="command",default=None,action="store_const",const="check")
+
+    # misc debug etc
+    parser.add_option("","--test",dest="test",default=False,action="store_true")
+
+    return parser.parse_args()
+
+#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 class MySplashScreen(wx.SplashScreen):
     def __init__(self):
         bmp = wx.Image(Misc.mypath("images/scyther-splash.png")).ConvertToBitmap()
@@ -42,37 +60,32 @@ class MySplashScreen(wx.SplashScreen):
             self.Raise()
         
 
+#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 class ScytherApp(wx.App):
     def OnInit(self):
 
         wx.GetApp().SetAppName("Scyther-gui")
 
-        """
-        Load preferences file
-        """
+        # Parse arguments
+        (opts,args) = parseArgs()
 
+        # Load preferences file
         Preference.init()
 
         """
         Create and show the splash screen.  It will then create and show
         the main frame when it is time to do so.
+        
+        The splash screen is disabled for automatic commands, and also
+        by a setting in the preferences file.
         """
+        if not opts.command:
+            if not (Preference.get('splashscreen') in ['false','off','disable','0']):
+                splash = MySplashScreen()
+                splash.Show()
 
-
-        splash = MySplashScreen()
-        splash.Show()
-
-        """ Build up """
-        infile = ''
-        args = sys.argv[1:]
-        if len(args) > 0:
-            if args[0] == 'test':
-                infile = 'scythergui-default.spdl'
-            else:
-                infile = args[0]
-
-        self.mainWindow = Mainwindow.MainWindow(infile)
+        self.mainWindow = Mainwindow.MainWindow(opts,args)
         self.SetTopWindow(self.mainWindow)
         self.mainWindow.Show()