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P4 CLI Documentation | 2025.2

# Scripting with P4 Server forms

If your scripts issue `p4` commands that require the user to fill in a form, such as the `p4 client` and `p4 submit` commands, use the `-o` option to write the form to standard output and the `-i` option to read the edited form from standard input.

For example, to create a job using a script on UNIX:

1. Write a blank job specification into a text file.

       p4 job -o > temp1

2. Make the necessary changes to the job.

   For example:

       sed 's/<enter description here>/Crashes on exit./' temp1 > temp2

3. Save the job.

       p4 job -i < temp2

To accomplish the preceding without a temporary file, issue the following command:

    p4 job -o | sed 's/<enter description here>/Crashes on exit./' | p4 job -i

The commands that display forms are:

- `p4 branch`
- `p4 change`
- `p4 client`
- `p4 job`
- `p4 label`
- p4 submit (use `p4 change -o` to create changelist, or `p4 submit -d "A changelist description"` to supply a description to the default changelist during changelist submission.)
- `p4 stream`
- `p4 user`

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