diff --git a/EXAMPLE_start_caQtDM.sh b/EXAMPLE_start_caQtDM.sh
index 2e9bb81ebb5dc058d5cc70769e1d913013a4e351..0f2d96cdc4b12b375e083b6e8866ce4292f6c089 100755
--- a/EXAMPLE_start_caQtDM.sh
+++ b/EXAMPLE_start_caQtDM.sh
@@ -171,4 +171,6 @@ fi
 #######################################
 # start caQtDM
 #caQtDM -noMsg xxx.ui &
-caQtDM -style plastique -noMsg xxx.ui &
+
+# allow for command line option to specify the file to be opened
+caQtDM -style plastique -noMsg ${1:-xxx.ui}