diff --git a/.vscode/numbered-bookmarks.json b/.vscode/numbered-bookmarks.json
index b575bcb..a33e492 100644
--- a/.vscode/numbered-bookmarks.json
+++ b/.vscode/numbered-bookmarks.json
@@ -4,15 +4,15 @@
 			"fsPath": "$ROOTPATH$/borghelper.sh",
 			"bookmarks": [
 				-1,
-				261,
-				159,
+				151,
+				168,
 				-1,
 				-1,
 				-1,
 				-1,
 				-1,
 				-1,
-				92
+				105
 			]
 		}
 	]
diff --git a/borghelper.sh b/borghelper.sh
index 9e54172..23755e9 100755
--- a/borghelper.sh
+++ b/borghelper.sh
@@ -103,6 +103,10 @@ while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
             # list all backup archives
             operation='listall'
             ;;
+        --makevars)
+            # make a borgvars template file
+            operation='makevars'
+            ;;
         -p|--path)
             # path to restore files
             if [ -z "$2" ]; then
@@ -145,6 +149,15 @@ while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
 done
 
 
+### process 'makevars' operation
+if [ "$operation" = 'makevars' ]; then
+    if ! printf "sshKeyFile=\nborgBaseDir=\nborgRepo=\nborgRepoPassword=\nborgRemote=\n" > ./sample.borgvars; then
+        consoleError 4 'Could not write sample borgvars file.'
+    else
+        exit 0
+    fi
+fi
+
 ### check parameter validity
 
 # no operation