diff --git a/jtag/include/cable.h b/jtag/include/cable.h
index 81f856c1..23931105 100644
--- a/jtag/include/cable.h
+++ b/jtag/include/cable.h
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ struct cable_driver_t {
 	int (*transfer)( cable_t *, int, char *, char * );
 	int (*set_trst)( cable_t *, int );
 	int (*get_trst)( cable_t * );
+	void (*help)( char * );
 };
 
 struct cable_t {
diff --git a/jtag/src/cmd/cable.c b/jtag/src/cmd/cable.c
index b07de4e4..2b7deb54 100644
--- a/jtag/src/cmd/cable.c
+++ b/jtag/src/cmd/cable.c
@@ -39,12 +39,35 @@
 static int
 cmd_cable_run( char *params[] )
 {
-	cable_t *cable = malloc( sizeof *cable );
+	cable_t *cable;
 	int i;
+	int paramc = cmd_params( params );
 
 	/* we need at least one parameter for 'cable' command */
-	if (cmd_params( params ) < 2)
-		return -1;
+	if (paramc < 2) return -1;
+
+	/* maybe old syntax was used?  search connection type driver */
+	for (i = 0; parport_drivers[i]; i++)
+		if (strcasecmp( params[1], parport_drivers[i]->type ) == 0)
+			break;
+
+	if (parport_drivers[i] != 0)
+	{
+		/* Old syntax was used. Swap params. */
+		char *tmparam;
+		printf( _("Note: the 'cable' command syntax changed, please read the help text\n") );
+		if (paramc >= 4)
+		{
+			tmparam = params[3];
+			params[3] = params[2];
+		}
+		else if (paramc >= 3)
+		{
+			char *tmparam = params[2];
+		};
+		params[2] = params[1];
+		params[1] = tmparam;
+	}
 
 	/* search cable driver list */
 	for (i = 0; cable_drivers[i]; i++)
@@ -55,6 +78,15 @@ cmd_cable_run( char *params[] )
 		return 1;
 	}
 
+	if (paramc >= 3)
+	{
+		if (strcasecmp( params[2], "help" ) == 0)
+		{
+			cable_drivers[i]->help(cable_drivers[i]->name);
+			return 1;
+		}
+	}
+
 	if (bus) {
 		bus_free( bus );
 		bus = NULL;
@@ -62,6 +94,8 @@ cmd_cable_run( char *params[] )
 
 	chain_disconnect( chain );
 
+	cable = malloc( sizeof(cable_t) );
+
 	if (!cable) {
 	  printf( _("%s(%d) malloc failed!\n"), __FILE__, __LINE__);
 	  return 1;
@@ -100,6 +134,8 @@ cmd_cable_help( void )
 		"DRIVER      name of cable\n"
 		"DRIVER_OPTS options for the selected cable\n"
 		"\n"
+		"Type \"cable DRIVER help\" for info about options for cable DRIVER.\n"
+		"\n"
 		"List of supported cables:\n"
 	), "cable" );
 
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/arcom.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/arcom.c
index 2dce386f..3855fb82 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/arcom.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/arcom.c
@@ -111,5 +111,6 @@ cable_driver_t arcom_cable_driver = {
 	arcom_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	arcom_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	generic_lptcable_help
 };
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/byteblaster.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/byteblaster.c
index 9e3e9194..0da81712 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/byteblaster.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/byteblaster.c
@@ -137,5 +137,6 @@ cable_driver_t byteblaster_cable_driver = {
 	byteblaster_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	byteblaster_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	generic_lptcable_help
 };
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/dlc5.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/dlc5.c
index 8b54b0c6..25abba28 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/dlc5.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/dlc5.c
@@ -108,5 +108,6 @@ cable_driver_t dlc5_cable_driver = {
 	dlc5_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	dlc5_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	generic_lptcable_help
 };
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/ea253.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/ea253.c
index 89a7c417..f04010d7 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/ea253.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/ea253.c
@@ -111,5 +111,6 @@ cable_driver_t ea253_cable_driver = {
 	ea253_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	ea253_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	generic_lptcable_help
 };
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/ei012.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/ei012.c
index ebed907e..8cd08d30 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/ei012.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/ei012.c
@@ -113,5 +113,6 @@ cable_driver_t ei012_cable_driver = {
 	ei012_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	ei012_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	generic_lptcable_help
 };
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/ft2232.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/ft2232.c
index 1498a6bb..f8f4ce1d 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/ft2232.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/ft2232.c
@@ -466,6 +466,18 @@ ft2232_transfer( cable_t *cable, int len, char *in, char *out )
 	return 0;
 }
 
+void
+ft2232_usbcable_help(char *cablename)
+{
+	printf( _(
+		"Usage: cable %s ftdi-mpsse VID:PID\n"
+		"\n"
+		"VID        vendor ID (hex, e.g. 9FB, or empty)\n"
+		"PID        product ID (hex, e.g. 6001, or empty)\n"
+		"\n"
+	), cablename );
+}
+
 cable_driver_t ft2232_cable_driver = {
 	"FT2232",
 	N_("Generic FTDI FT2232 Cable"),
@@ -478,7 +490,8 @@ cable_driver_t ft2232_cable_driver = {
 	ft2232_get_tdo,
 	ft2232_transfer,
 	ft2232_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	ft2232_usbcable_help
 };
 
 cable_driver_t ft2232_armusbocd_cable_driver = {
@@ -493,7 +506,8 @@ cable_driver_t ft2232_armusbocd_cable_driver = {
 	ft2232_get_tdo,
 	ft2232_transfer,
 	ft2232_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	ft2232_usbcable_help
 };
 
 
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/generic.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/generic.c
index e08d786e..af989d39 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/generic.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/generic.c
@@ -123,3 +123,21 @@ generic_get_trst( cable_t *cable )
 {
 	return PARAM_TRST(cable);
 }
+
+void
+generic_lptcable_help( char *cablename )
+{
+	printf( _(
+		"Usage: cable %s parallel PORTADDR\n"
+#if HAVE_LINUX_PPDEV_H
+		"   or: cable %s ppdev DEV\n"
+#endif
+		"\n"
+		"PORTADDR   parallel port address (e.g. 0x378)\n"
+#if HAVE_LINUX_PPDEV_H
+		"DEV        ppdev device (e.g. /dev/parport0)\n"
+#endif
+		"\n"
+	), cablename, cablename );
+}
+
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/generic.h b/jtag/src/tap/cable/generic.h
index d6b5eb63..a43c1aa5 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/generic.h
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/generic.h
@@ -42,5 +42,6 @@ void generic_cable_free( cable_t *cable );
 void generic_done( cable_t *cable );
 int generic_transfer( cable_t *cable, int len, char *in, char *out );
 int generic_get_trst( cable_t *cable );
+void generic_lptcable_help( char *name );
 
 #endif /* GENERIC_H */
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/keithkoep.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/keithkoep.c
index 2f58b93a..a7786aad 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/keithkoep.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/keithkoep.c
@@ -120,5 +120,6 @@ cable_driver_t keithkoep_cable_driver = {
 	keithkoep_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	keithkoep_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	generic_lptcable_help,
 };
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/lattice.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/lattice.c
index c86c29bd..92916afd 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/lattice.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/lattice.c
@@ -103,5 +103,6 @@ cable_driver_t lattice_cable_driver = {
 	lattice_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	lattice_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	generic_lptcable_help
 };
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/mpcbdm.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/mpcbdm.c
index 068efa6e..6958b8c8 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/mpcbdm.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/mpcbdm.c
@@ -117,5 +117,6 @@ cable_driver_t mpcbdm_cable_driver = {
 	mpcbdm_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	mpcbdm_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	generic_lptcable_help,
 };
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/triton.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/triton.c
index 17e253b5..c05454c8 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/triton.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/triton.c
@@ -122,5 +122,6 @@ cable_driver_t triton_cable_driver = {
 	triton_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	triton_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	generic_lptcable_help,
 };
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/usbblaster.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/usbblaster.c
index 99008eb6..a1636a3e 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/usbblaster.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/usbblaster.c
@@ -163,6 +163,18 @@ usbblaster_transfer( cable_t *cable, int len, char *in, char *out )
 	return 0;
 }
 
+void
+usbblaster_help(char *cablename)
+{
+	printf( _(
+		"Usage: cable %s ftdi VID:PID\n"
+		"\n"
+		"VID        vendor ID (hex, e.g. 9FB, or empty)\n"
+		"PID        product ID (hex, e.g. 6001, or empty)\n"
+		"\n"
+	), cablename );
+}
+
 cable_driver_t usbblaster_cable_driver = {
 	"UsbBlaster",
 	N_("Altera USB-Blaster Cable"),
@@ -175,5 +187,6 @@ cable_driver_t usbblaster_cable_driver = {
 	usbblaster_get_tdo,
 	usbblaster_transfer,
 	usbblaster_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	usbblaster_help,
 };
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/wiggler.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/wiggler.c
index 31731625..b9acf266 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/wiggler.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/wiggler.c
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ cable_driver_t igloo_cable_driver = {
 	wiggler_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	wiggler_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	generic_lptcable_help,
 };
 
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/wiggler2.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/wiggler2.c
index 5d786e2e..6f5daac1 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/wiggler2.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/wiggler2.c
@@ -127,5 +127,6 @@ cable_driver_t wiggler2_cable_driver = {
 	wiggler2_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	wiggler2_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	generic_lptcable_help,
 };
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/cable/xpc.c b/jtag/src/tap/cable/xpc.c
index 80c5cc29..b5c0140e 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/cable/xpc.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/cable/xpc.c
@@ -94,6 +94,18 @@ xpc_set_trst( cable_t *cable, int trst )
 	return 1;
 }
 
+void
+xpcu_usbcable_help(char *cablename)
+{
+	printf( _(
+		"Usage: cable %s xpcu VID:PID\n"
+		"\n"
+		"VID        vendor ID (hex, e.g. 9FB, or empty)\n"
+		"PID        product ID (hex, e.g. 6001, or empty)\n"
+		"\n"
+	), cablename );
+}
+
 cable_driver_t xpc_int_cable_driver = {
 	"xpc_int",
 	N_("Xilinx Platform Cable USB internal chain"),
@@ -106,9 +118,16 @@ cable_driver_t xpc_int_cable_driver = {
 	xpc_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	xpc_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	xpcu_usbcable_help
 };
 
+void
+xpc_ext_usbcable_help()
+{
+	xpcu_usbcable_help("xpc_ext");
+}
+
 cable_driver_t xpc_ext_cable_driver = {
 	"xpc_ext",
 	N_("Xilinx Platform Cable USB external chain"),
@@ -121,6 +140,7 @@ cable_driver_t xpc_ext_cable_driver = {
 	xpc_get_tdo,
 	generic_transfer,
 	xpc_set_trst,
-	generic_get_trst
+	generic_get_trst,
+	xpcu_usbcable_help
 };