Running NVDA 2023.3.4 or 2024.1 with --help or -h flags throws an error

[Qchristensen]

Steps to reproduce:

Run either the launcher or an installed copy of NVDA 2023.3.4 or NVDA 2024.1 and including the latest alpha currently: alpha-31858,2d865027, with the --help command line argument, eg:

nvda_2024.1.exe --help

Actual behavior:

The following error message is displayed:

---

Errors in 'nvda.exe'

See the logfile 'C:\Users\quent\AppData\Roaming\nvda.log' for details

OK

(See log below)

Expected behavior:

NVDA should display the help screen of command line arguments etc, as earlier versions of NVDA display when using the --help argument.

NVDA logs, crash dumps and other attachments:

The logfile referenced contains:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "nvda.pyw", line 217, in
File "argparse.pyc", line 1902, in parse_known_args
File "argparse.pyc", line 2114, in _parse_known_args
File "argparse.pyc", line 2054, in consume_optional
File "argparse.pyc", line 1978, in take_action
File "argparse.pyc", line 1119, in call
File "nvda.pyw", line 86, in print_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 2585, in format_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 286, in format_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 217, in format_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 217, in
File "argparse.pyc", line 217, in format_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 217, in
File "argparse.pyc", line 543, in _format_action
File "argparse.pyc", line 640, in _expand_help
ValueError: unsupported format character 'T' (0x54) at index 74
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "nvda.pyw", line 217, in
File "argparse.pyc", line 1902, in parse_known_args
File "argparse.pyc", line 2114, in _parse_known_args
File "argparse.pyc", line 2054, in consume_optional
File "argparse.pyc", line 1978, in take_action
File "argparse.pyc", line 1119, in call
File "nvda.pyw", line 86, in print_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 2585, in format_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 286, in format_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 217, in format_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 217, in
File "argparse.pyc", line 217, in format_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 217, in
File "argparse.pyc", line 543, in _format_action
File "argparse.pyc", line 640, in _expand_help
ValueError: unsupported format character 'T' (0x54) at index 74
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "nvda.pyw", line 217, in
File "argparse.pyc", line 1902, in parse_known_args
File "argparse.pyc", line 2114, in _parse_known_args
File "argparse.pyc", line 2054, in consume_optional
File "argparse.pyc", line 1978, in take_action
File "argparse.pyc", line 1119, in call
File "nvda.pyw", line 86, in print_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 2585, in format_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 286, in format_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 217, in format_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 217, in
File "argparse.pyc", line 217, in format_help
File "argparse.pyc", line 217, in
File "argparse.pyc", line 543, in _format_action
File "argparse.pyc", line 640, in _expand_help
ValueError: unsupported format character 'T' (0x54) at index 74

System configuration

NVDA installed/portable/running from source:

NVDA version:

NVDA 2023.3.4
NVDA 2024.1
alpha-31823,1791eb96
alpha-31858,2d865027

Alphas were installed, other versions were running from the launcher.

Windows version:

Windows 11 (64-bit) Version: 23H2, Build: 22631.3447

Name and version of other software in use when reproducing the issue:

Other information about your system:

Other questions

Does the issue still occur after restarting your computer?

Have you tried any other versions of NVDA? If so, please report their behaviors.

If NVDA add-ons are disabled, is your problem still occurring?

Does the issue still occur after you run the COM Registration Fixing Tool in NVDA's tools menu?