Index: java/testing/org/apache/derbyTesting/functionTests/harness/RunSuite.java
===================================================================
--- java/testing/org/apache/derbyTesting/functionTests/harness/RunSuite.java	(revision 393115)
+++ java/testing/org/apache/derbyTesting/functionTests/harness/RunSuite.java	(working copy)
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
 import java.lang.ClassNotFoundException;
+import java.lang.StringBuffer;
 import java.sql.Timestamp;
 import java.util.Enumeration;
 import java.util.Properties;
@@ -102,20 +103,26 @@
 			else if (j9config.equals("max"))
 				jvmName="j9_13";
 
-	    String suiteName = args[0];
+            String suiteName = args[0]; 
+
 	    if ( suiteName == null )
 	    {
 	        System.out.println("No suite name argument.");
 	        System.exit(1);
 	    }
 	    topSuiteName = suiteName;
+	    if (args.length > 1) { 
+              overrideSuites(args);
+              suiteName = "adhoc";
+              topSuiteName = "adhoc";
+            }
 	    System.out.println("Top suite: " + suiteName);
 
 	    // suiteName may be one suite or a list of suites
         suitesToRun = new Vector();
 
         // Get properties set in the suite's properties file
-		suiteProperties = getSuiteProperties(suiteName, true);
+	    suiteProperties = getSuiteProperties(suiteName, true); 
 
 		// There may be system properties which will override
 		// the suiteProperties. This will make it easier when you
@@ -358,6 +365,19 @@
 		return p;
     }
 
+    private static void overrideSuites(String[] args) throws Exception
+    {
+        StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
+        for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++)
+        {
+            sb.append(args[i] + ' ');   
+        }
+        suites = sb.toString();
+        Properties p = new Properties();
+        p.setProperty("suites", suites);
+        p.store(new FileOutputStream("adhoc.properties"), null);
+    }
+
     private static void getSystemProperties()
     {
         // Get any properties specified on the command line