diff --git a/backup_new.sh b/backup_new.sh
index 9846195..a339891 100755
--- a/backup_new.sh
+++ b/backup_new.sh
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ logFile="$scriptPath/${scriptName%.*}.log"
 # borg output verbosity -- normal
 borgCreateParams='--stats'
 borgPruneParams='--list'
-detailsFile="$scriptPath/seafbackup.details"
+configDetails="$scriptPath/seafbackup.details"
 
 # 503 related
 err503Path="$scriptPath/503_backup.html"
@@ -76,6 +76,96 @@ seafDir="/opt/seafile"
 seafData="/var/seafile"
 
 
+### process startup parameters
+while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
+    case "$1" in
+        -h|-\?|--help)
+            # display help
+            scriptHelp
+            exit 0
+            ;;
+        -l|--log)
+            # set log file location
+            if [ -n "$2" ]; then
+                logFile="${2%/}"
+                shift
+            else
+                badParam "$@"
+            fi
+            ;;
+        -v|--verbose)
+            # set verbose logging from borg
+            borgCreateParams='--list --stats'
+            borgPruneParams='--list'
+            ;;
+        -c|--config|--details)
+            # location of config details file
+            if [ -n "$2" ]; then
+                configDetails="${2%/}"
+                shift
+            else
+                badParam "$@"
+            fi
+            ;;
+        -5|--503)
+            # FULL path to 503 file
+            if [ -n "$2" ]; then
+                err503Path="${2%/}"
+                err503File="${2##*/}"
+                shift
+            else
+                badParam "$@"
+            fi
+            ;;
+        -w|--webroot)
+            # path to webroot (copy 503)
+            if [ -n "$2" ]; then
+                webroot="${2%/}"
+                shift
+            else
+                badParam "$@"
+            fi
+            ;;
+        -p|--seaf|--seafdir)
+            # path to seafile program directory
+            if [ -n "$2" ]; then
+                seafDir="${2%/}"
+                shift
+            else
+                badParam "$@"
+            fi
+            ;;
+        -d|--data|--datadir|--seafdata)
+            # path to seafile data directory
+            if [ -n "$2" ]; then
+                seafData="${2%/}"
+                shift
+            else
+                badParam "$@"
+            fi
+            ;;
+        -o|--offline)
+            # shutdown seafile during backup
+            offlineBackup=1
+            ;;
+        -u|--user|--seafuser)
+            # name of seafile system user
+            if [ -n "$2" ]; then
+                seafUser="${2%/}"
+                shift
+            else
+                badParam "$@"
+            fi
+            ;;
+        *)
+            printf "${err}\nUnknown option: %s\n" "$1"
+            printf "${cyan}Use '--help' for valid options.{$norm}\n\n"
+            exit 1
+            ;;
+    esac
+    shift
+done
+
 
 ### start logging
 printf "${mag}[%s] --- Start %s execution ---${norm}\n" \