diff --git a/svg2gcode.py b/svg2gcode.py
index fb58966..2ce6367 100755
--- a/svg2gcode.py
+++ b/svg2gcode.py
@@ -1,23 +1,51 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python
+#!/usr/bin/python
 
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 from __future__ import print_function
 import sys
+import os
+import getopt
 import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 import shapes as shapes_pkg
 from shapes import point_generator
 from config import *
 
-def generate_gcode():
+example_usage = "-i test_data/Test_H.svg -o test_data/test.gcode"
+
+def print_help():
+    print("Usage:")
+    print(os.path.basename(__file__) + " -i <svg file> -o <gcode file>")
+    sys.exit(1)
+
+def parse_arguments(argv):
+    try:
+        opts, args = getopt.getopt(argv,"hi:o:",["ifile=","ofile="])
+    except getopt.GetoptError:
+        print_help()
+    for opt, arg in opts:
+        if opt in ("-i", "--ifile"):
+            inputfile = arg
+        elif opt in ("-o", "--ofile"):
+            outputfile = arg
+    return (inputfile, outputfile)
+
+def read_input_file(svg_file_path):
+    try:
+        tree = ET.parse(svg_file_path)
+        return tree.getroot()
+    except Exception as e:
+        print("unable to read svg file: \n" + str(e))
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+def generate_gcode(svg_file_root_tree, gcode_file):
+
+
     svg_shapes = set(['rect', 'circle', 'ellipse', 'line', 'polyline', 'polygon', 'path'])
     
-    tree = ET.parse(sys.stdin)
-    root = tree.getroot()
-    
-    width = root.get('width')
-    height = root.get('height')
+    width = svg_file_root_tree.get('width')
+    height = svg_file_root_tree.get('height')
     if width == None or height == None:
-        viewbox = root.get('viewBox')
+        viewbox = svg_file_root_tree.get('viewBox')
         if viewbox:
             _, _, width, height = viewbox.split()                
 
@@ -38,7 +66,12 @@ def generate_gcode():
     # Iterator to lower printhead at first point
     num_points = 0 
     
-    for elem in root.iter():
+    gcode_file.write("Line01")
+    gcode_file.write("Line02")
+
+    sys.exit()
+
+    for elem in svg_file_root_tree.iter():
         
         try:
             _, tag_suffix = elem.tag.split('}')
@@ -74,8 +107,17 @@ def generate_gcode():
     print("; Generated", num_points, "points")
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    print("; " + str(sys.setrecursionlimit(20000)))
-    generate_gcode()
+    sys.setrecursionlimit(20000) #needed for svg's with more indepented paths
+    if(len(sys.argv) != (len(example_usage.split())+1)):
+        print_help()
+    svg_file_path, gcode_file_path = parse_arguments(sys.argv[1:])
+    print("SVG: " + svg_file_path + "           Gcode: " + gcode_file_path)
+    try:
+        with open(gcode_file_path, 'w') as gcode_file:
+            generate_gcode(read_input_file(svg_file_path),gcode_file)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print("unable to create gcode file: \n" + str(e))
+        sys.exit(1)
 
 
 
diff --git a/test_data/test.gcode b/test_data/test.gcode
index a99c393..95ca621 100644
--- a/test_data/test.gcode
+++ b/test_data/test.gcode
@@ -1,26 +1 @@
-; None
-;SVG: With:10.0 Height:10.0
-G90 ;Absolute programming
-G21 ;Programming in millimeters (mm)
-M5  ;Disable laser
-; ------
-; Draw shapes
-;X: 0.053103756 Y: 0.053103756
-G1 X0.1 Y0.1
-M3 I S150 ;start laser
-;X: 0.053103756 Y: 0.053103756
-G1 X0.1 Y0.1
-;X: 9.946895956 Y: 0.053103756
-G1 X9.9 Y0.1
-;X: 9.946895956 Y: 9.946895956
-G1 X9.9 Y9.9
-;X: 0.0531037560000005 Y: 9.946895956
-G1 X0.1 Y9.9
-;X: 0.053103756 Y: 0.053103756
-G1 X0.1 Y0.1
-M5 ;stop laser
-; ------
-; Shape completed
-G1 X0.0 Y0.0; Display printbed
-M02 ;End of program
-; Generated 0 points
+Line01Line02
\ No newline at end of file