def main(arguments=None):
    """
    *The main function used when ``cl_utils.py`` is run as a single script from the cl, or when installed as a cl command*
    """
    from astrocalc.coords import unit_conversion
    # setup the command-line util settings
    su = tools(
        arguments=arguments,
        docString=__doc__,
        logLevel="CRITICAL",
        options_first=True,
        projectName="astrocalc"
    )
    arguments, settings, log, dbConn = su.setup()

    # tab completion for raw_input
    readline.set_completer_delims(' \t\n;')
    readline.parse_and_bind("tab: complete")
    readline.set_completer(tab_complete)

    # unpack remaining cl arguments using `exec` to setup the variable names
    # automatically
    for arg, val in arguments.iteritems():
        if arg[0] == "-":
            varname = arg.replace("-", "") + "Flag"
        else:
            varname = arg.replace("<", "").replace(">", "")
        if isinstance(val, str) or isinstance(val, unicode):
            exec(varname + " = '%s'" % (val,))
        else:
            exec(varname + " = %s" % (val,))
        if arg == "--dbConn":
            dbConn = val
        log.debug('%s = %s' % (varname, val,))

    ## START LOGGING ##
    startTime = times.get_now_sql_datetime()
    log.info(
        '--- STARTING TO RUN THE cl_utils.py AT %s' %
        (startTime,))

    # set options interactively if user requests
    if "interactiveFlag" in locals() and interactiveFlag:

        # load previous settings
        moduleDirectory = os.path.dirname(__file__) + "/resources"
        pathToPickleFile = "%(moduleDirectory)s/previousSettings.p" % locals()
        try:
            with open(pathToPickleFile):
                pass
            previousSettingsExist = True
        except:
            previousSettingsExist = False
        previousSettings = {}
        if previousSettingsExist:
            previousSettings = pickle.load(open(pathToPickleFile, "rb"))

        # x-raw-input
        # x-boolean-raw-input
        # x-raw-input-with-default-value-from-previous-settings

        # save the most recently used requests
        pickleMeObjects = []
        pickleMe = {}
        theseLocals = locals()
        for k in pickleMeObjects:
            pickleMe[k] = theseLocals[k]
        pickle.dump(pickleMe, open(pathToPickleFile, "wb"))

    # CALL FUNCTIONS/OBJECTS
    if coordflip:

        if cartesianFlag:
            converter = unit_conversion(
                log=log
            )
            x, y, z = converter.ra_dec_to_cartesian(
                ra="23 45 21.23232",
                dec="+01:58:5.45341"
            )
            print x, y, z
            return

        try:
            ra = float(ra)
            dec = float(dec)
            degree = True
        except Exception, e:
            degree = False

        if degree is True:
            converter = unit_conversion(
                log=log
            )
            try:
                ra = converter.ra_decimal_to_sexegesimal(
                    ra=ra,
                    delimiter=":"
                )
                dec = converter.dec_decimal_to_sexegesimal(
                    dec=dec,
                    delimiter=":"
                )
            except Exception, e:
                print e
                sys.exit(0)

            print ra, dec
        else:
            converter = unit_conversion(
                log=log
            )
            try:
                ra = converter.ra_sexegesimal_to_decimal(
                    ra=ra
                )
                dec = converter.dec_sexegesimal_to_decimal(
                    dec=dec
                )
            except Exception, e:
                print e
                sys.exit(0)
            print ra, dec

    if sep:
        from astrocalc.coords import separations
        calculator = separations(
            log=log,
            ra1=ra1,
            dec1=dec1,
            ra2=ra2,
            dec2=dec2,
        )
        angularSeparation, north, east = calculator.get()
        print """%(angularSeparation)s arcsec (%(north)s N, %(east)s E)""" % locals()

    if timeflip:
        try:
            inputMjd = float(datetime)
            if datetime[0] not in ["0", "1", "2"]:
                inputMjd = True
            else:
                inputMjd = False
        except:
            inputMjd = False
        from astrocalc.times import conversions
        converter = conversions(
            log=log
        )

        if inputMjd == False:
            try:
                mjd = converter.ut_datetime_to_mjd(utDatetime=datetime)
                print mjd
            except Exception, e:
                print e
        else:
            try:
                utDate = converter.mjd_to_ut_datetime(mjd=datetime)
                print utDate
            except Exception, e:
                print e

    if trans:
        # TRANSLATE COORDINATES ACROSS SKY
        from astrocalc.coords import translate
        newRa, newDec = translate(
            log=log,
            ra=ra,
            dec=dec,
            northArcsec=float(north),
            eastArcsec=float(east)
        ).get()
        from astrocalc.coords import unit_conversion
        converter = unit_conversion(
            log=log
        )
        ra = converter.ra_decimal_to_sexegesimal(
            ra=newRa,
            delimiter=":"
        )
        dec = converter.dec_decimal_to_sexegesimal(
            dec=newDec,
            delimiter=":"
        )

        print "%(newRa)s, %(newDec)s (%(ra)s, %(dec)s)" % locals()

    if now:
        from astrocalc.times import now
        mjd = now(
            log=log
        ).get_mjd()
        print mjd

    if dist and redshiftFlag:
        from astrocalc.distances import converter
        c = converter(log=log)
        if not hcFlag:
            hcFlag = 70.
        if not wmFlag:
            wmFlag = 0.3
        if not wvFlag:
            wvFlag = 0.7
        dists = c.redshift_to_distance(
            z=float(distVal),
            WM=float(wmFlag),
            WV=float(wvFlag),
            H0=float(hcFlag)
        )
        print "Distance Modulus: " + str(dists["dmod"]) + " mag"
        print "Luminousity Distance: " + str(dists["dl_mpc"]) + " Mpc"
        print "Angular Size Scale: " + str(dists["da_scale"]) + " kpc/arcsec"
        print "Angular Size Distance: " + str(dists["da_mpc"]) + " Mpc"
        print "Comoving Radial Distance: " + str(dists["dcmr_mpc"]) + " Mpc"

    if dist and mpcFlag:
        from astrocalc.distances import converter
        c = converter(log=log)
        z = c.distance_to_redshift(
            mpc=float(distVal)
        )
        print "z = %(z)s" % locals()

    if "dbConn" in locals() and dbConn:
        dbConn.commit()
        dbConn.close()
    ## FINISH LOGGING ##
    endTime = times.get_now_sql_datetime()
    runningTime = times.calculate_time_difference(startTime, endTime)
    log.info('-- FINISHED ATTEMPT TO RUN THE cl_utils.py AT %s (RUNTIME: %s) --' %
             (endTime, runningTime, ))

    return