diff --git a/src/Options.php b/src/Options.php
index 4d8b44d..ea36803 100644
--- a/src/Options.php
+++ b/src/Options.php
@@ -69,6 +69,26 @@ public function setHelp($help)
         $this->setup['']['help'] = $help;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Sets the help text for the tool's commands
+     *
+     * @param string $help
+     */
+    public function setCommandHelp($help)
+    {
+        $this->setup['']['commandhelp'] = $help;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the help text for the tools commands itself
+     *
+     * @param boolean $compact
+     */
+    public function setCompactHelp($compact=true)
+    {
+        $this->setup['']['compacthelp'] = $compact;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Register the names of arguments for help generation and number checking
      *
@@ -334,6 +354,10 @@ public function help()
         $text = '';
 
         $hascommands = (count($this->setup) > 1);
+        $commandhelp = $this->setup[""]["commandhelp"]
+                     ?: 'This tool accepts a command as first parameter as outlined below:';
+        $compacthelp = $this->setup[""]["compacthelp"] ?: false;
+
         foreach ($this->setup as $command => $config) {
             $hasopts = (bool)$this->setup[$command]['opts'];
             $hasargs = (bool)$this->setup[$command]['args'];
@@ -345,7 +369,9 @@ public function help()
                 $text .= '   ' . $this->bin;
                 $mv = 2;
             } else {
-                $text .= "\n";
+				if (!$compacthelp) {
+					$text .= "\n";
+				}
                 $text .= $this->colors->wrap('   ' . $command, Colors::C_PURPLE);
                 $mv = 4;
             }
@@ -366,21 +392,24 @@ public function help()
                 }
                 $text .= ' ' . $out;
             }
-            $text .= "\n";
+            if (!$compacthelp) {
+                $text .= "\n";
+            }
 
             // usage or command intro
             if ($this->setup[$command]['help']) {
                 $text .= "\n";
                 $text .= $tf->format(
                     array($mv, '*'),
-                    array('', $this->setup[$command]['help'] . "\n")
+                    array('', $this->setup[$command]['help']
+						  . ($compacthelp ? '' : "\n"))
                 );
             }
 
             // option description
             if ($hasopts) {
                 if (!$command) {
-                    $text .= "\n";
+					$text .= "\n";
                     $text .= $this->colors->wrap('OPTIONS:', Colors::C_BROWN);
                 }
                 $text .= "\n";
@@ -399,12 +428,15 @@ public function help()
                         $name .= ' <' . $opt['needsarg'] . '>';
                     }
 
+                    if (!$compacthelp) {
+                        $text .= "\n";
+                    }
+
                     $text .= $tf->format(
                         array($mv, '30%', '*'),
                         array('', $name, $opt['help']),
                         array('', 'green', '')
                     );
-                    $text .= "\n";
                 }
             }
 
@@ -414,7 +446,9 @@ public function help()
                     $text .= "\n";
                     $text .= $this->colors->wrap('ARGUMENTS:', Colors::C_BROWN);
                 }
-                $text .= "\n";
+                if (!$compacthelp) {
+                    $text .= "\n";
+                }
                 foreach ($this->setup[$command]['args'] as $arg) {
                     $name = '<' . $arg['name'] . '>';
 
@@ -433,9 +467,11 @@ public function help()
                 $text .= "\n";
                 $text .= $tf->format(
                     array($mv, '*'),
-                    array('', 'This tool accepts a command as first parameter as outlined below:')
+                    array('', $commandhelp)
                 );
-                $text .= "\n";
+                if (!$compacthelp) {
+                    $text .= "\n";
+                }
             }
         }