The argument list may seem complex at first sight, but actually MapTool is quite simple to use. You can manipulate maps using any of the commands listed under the "Valid commands" section. Commands are executed in the order they are given. Before a command is given though, you must state the appropriate "context", uniquely identifying the map or maps the command should operate on.
The first four parameters, "–pt MyProcess –ws WS1", set the context required for the command that follows: "show".
As previously stated, the MapTool processes the arguments one by one, in the order they are given on the command line. The "–pt MyProcess –ws WS1" options set the context for the first "show" command. After the "show" command is executed, MapTool continues processing the rest of the arguments. The next two arguments, "–ws WS2", change the workstep name, while the rest of the context (the process name) is preserved, thus providing for the execution of the second "show" command.
In this case, you instruct MapTool to deploy a map, and immediately after this to verify that it has been properly deployed.