Dell Display Manager 2.0 command line documentation

DDM2.0.md

Dell Display Manager 2.0 Command Line

Decompiled DLL with ILSpy to identify various commands.

Most commands can be found in DDM2._0_UX.CmdBackground.cmdService_DoWork

Write commands can be prefixed with int:command to specify which monitor to send the command to.

.\DDM.exe /0:writebrightnesslevel 50

Read command output is only shown in the debug console.

Debugging Console

Used to show the output of various read commands

.\DDM.exe /console start

Commands

.\DDM.exe /console start Opens DDM Console

.\DDM.exe /readbrightnesslevel Reads the monitor brightness level

.\DDM.exe /writebrightnesslevel Sets the monitor brightness level

.\DDM.exe /readcontrastlevel Reads the monitor contrast level

.\DDM.exe /writecontrastlevel Sets the monitor contrast level

.\DDM.exe /readcapabilities Read monitor capabilities (in hex)

.\DDM.exe /readsupportedcontrols Read monitor supported controls (in hex)

.\DDM.exe /writecolorpreset Write color presets

.\DDM.exe /readcolorpreset Read color presets

.\DDM.exe /readorientation Read monitor orientation

.\DDM.exe /writeorientation Sets monitor orientation

.\DDM.exe /readmonitoractivehours Read monitor active hours

.\DDM.exe /writeactiveinput

.\DDM.exe /readactiveinput

.\DDM.exe /writepower

.\DDM.exe /writeosdlanguage

.\DDM.exe /osd

.\DDM.exe /readedid

.\DDM.exe /writeuc

.\DDM.exe /readmax

.\DDM.exe /readprivacy

.\DDM.exe /writeprivacy

.\DDM.exe /readfirmwareversion

.\DDM.exe /writevolume

.\DDM.exe /readvolume

.\DDM.exe /autocolorpreset

.\DDM.exe /swapvideo

.\DDM.exe /swapusb

.\DDM.exe /writesubinput

.\DDM.exe /writepxpmode

.\DDM.exe /writepxp

.\DDM.exe /readcontrol

.\DDM.exe /increasecontrol

.\DDM.exe /decreasecontrol

.\DDM.exe /writecontrol

.\DDM.exe /readpossible

.\DDM.exe /autosetup

.\DDM.exe /readmanufactureddate

.\DDM.exe /writemonitorpower

.\DDM.exe /readdisplaymode

.\DDM.exe /writeoptimalresolution

.\DDM.exe /readtiming

.\DDM.exe /readassetattributes

.\DDM.exe /log

.\DDM.exe /savediagnosticreport

.\DDM.exe /assetreport

.\DDM.exe /inventory

.\DDM.exe /surveyonly

.\DDM.exe /readdecodededid

.\DDM.exe /countmonitorsci

.\DDM.exe /monitornumber OR countmonitors

.\DDM.exe /usbpassthrough

.\DDM.exe /lockupdate

.\DDM.exe /noupdate

.\DDM.exe /screennotification

.\DDM.exe /lockrorate

.\DDM.exe /autostartup

.\DDM.exe /powernap

.\DDM.exe /colormanagement

.\DDM.exe /writeapplanguage

.\DDM.exe /telemetry

.\DDM.exe /writeealayout

.\DDM.exe /writeimportpermission

.\DDM.exe /displaymodel

.\DDM.exe /writeloglevel

.\DDM.exe /liveupdate") && ApplicationStartUp.Ota != null)

.\DDM.exe /rescan to refresh the connected devices -Thanks @rtxbae!

Some examples of using the utility on MacOS to enable picture by picture, thanks @sepl2604!

/Applications/DDPM/DDPM.app/Contents/MacOS/DDPM /writepxp pbp-2h-fill USB-C HDMI1 Activate 50-50 PBP

/Applications/DDPM/DDPM.app/Contents/MacOS/DDPM /writepxp off Turn off PBP

Thanks a lot! ❤️

You may also get output without debug console, using /log command:

.\DDM.exe /log D:\temp.txt /readbrightnesslevel

This is an incredibly useful page, and it is a shame that Dell's own documentation is nowhere near as complete. I recently purchased a Dell U4323QE which includes multiple inputs and a USB KVM feature. That, combined with DDM CLI and a Stream Deck + have given me the ability to swap my display inputs and USB connections with the push of a button.

Just in case anyone seeking something similar comes along, I'll include a few notes:

• Connect your systems and conduct the KVM configuration within the monitor's OSD
• Install Dell Display Manager
• Install and setup Stream Deck software
• Use "Open" shortcuts in the Stream Deck software, and use the following in the App / File field

For Windows (11)

For the USB-C connection:
"C:\Program Files\Dell\Dell Display Manager 2\DDM.exe" /writeactiveinput USB-C

For DisplayPort 1:
"C:\Program Files\Dell\Dell Display Manager 2\DDM.exe" /writeactiveinput DP1

For DisplayPort 2:
"C:\Program Files\Dell\Dell Display Manager 2\DDM.exe" /writeactiveinput DP2

For HDMI 1:
"C:\Program Files\Dell\Dell Display Manager 2\DDM.exe" /writeactiveinput HDMI1

For HDMI 2:
"C:\Program Files\Dell\Dell Display Manager 2\DDM.exe" /writeactiveinput HDMI2

macOS

For the USB-C connection:
/Applications/DDPM/DDPM.app/Contents/MacOS/DDPM /writeactiveinput USB-C

For DisplayPort 1:
/Applications/DDPM/DDPM.app/Contents/MacOS/DDPM /writeactiveinput DP1

For DisplayPort 2:
/Applications/DDPM/DDPM.app/Contents/MacOS/DDPM /writeactiveinput DP2

For HDMI 1:
/Applications/DDPM/DDPM.app/Contents/MacOS/DDPM /writeactiveinput HDMI1

For HDMI 2:
/Applications/DDPM/DDPM.app/Contents/MacOS/DDPM /writeactiveinput HDMI2

Because the KVM feature of the monitor maps the USB connection to the display input, simply changing the display input causes the corresponding USB connection update to happen automatically by the monitor.

This is awesome! Thank you very much. Got a U3824DW today and currently switch between PBP and off is working, but each command takes 12 sec to complete on my Mac M1 Pro.

Activate 50-50 PBP
/Applications/DDPM/DDPM.app/Contents/MacOS/DDPM /writepxp pbp-2h-fill USB-C HDMI1

Turn off PBP
/Applications/DDPM/DDPM.app/Contents/MacOS/DDPM /writepxp off

EDIT: Got it! /Applications/DDPM/DDPM /WritePxP pbp-2h-fill. The documentation 👎

Hi @potatowave , did you figure out a way to use this command to auto-flip the two inputs when enabling PBP?

The only way I found to do this would be to use one of the pxp commands, and then \SwapVideo.
Though there needs to be a delay between the two, making this solution rather slow.

I got fed up with the slowness of DDPM and switched to using DDC directly which is much, much faster.

I took this repo: https://github.com/waydabber/m1ddc and made some modifications. This will be useful if you're using an M1 mac. It looks like it's been updated to support some of the functions I wanted but these addresses will be helpful if you wish to make your own fork:

#define LUMINANCE 0x10
#define CONTRAST 0x12
#define VOLUME 0x62
#define MUTE 0x8D
#define PBP 0xE9
#define SWAP_USB 0xE7
#define SWAP_INPUT 0xE5
#define INPUT 0x60
#define SUB_INPUT 0xE8
#define INPUT_ALT 0xF4 // alternate address, used for LG exclusively?
#define STANDBY 0xD6

Is it possible to change the display's number?

The display number is "wrong" in DDPM

In Mac OS (and also on Windows DPPM) is "correct"

For those who come across this gist looking for a way to disable automatic updates, the commands needed are:

.\ddm.exe /noupdate on to disable updates
.\ddm.exe /noupdate off to enable updates

Ben, thank you for this information.

Does anyone know / understand, why the command using vbs (see left in screenshot) does not work?
The same command using bat (see right in screenshot) works.

Thx!
Thomas

Thanks, and DDM.exe lives in the below path by default:

C:\Program Files\Dell\Dell Display Manager 2

I got the new Dell U4924DW which supports a feature called "Screen Partition". This splits the ultrawide screen into 2 virtual 27" Monitors which is great during Teams meeting to share the desktop.

Does anyone have an idea how to Switch this mode using DDM or CLI? I did not make it happen using DDM but maybe there is some way using CLI (Console)

@heinrichmichael Hey, Did you get the CLI for the same, I am kinda searching for the same. Too much physical navigation..

I have two monitors connected. How to specify I want to switch the input of only one of them?