---
name: "asdftool"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "asdftool"
version: "4.1.0-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/asdftool"
---

# asdftool(1)

Manipulate Advanced Scientific Data Format (ASDF) files

## NAME

asdftool - Manipulate Advanced Scientific Data Format (ASDF) files

## SYNOPSIS

**asdftool** \[-h\] \[--verbose\] {help,explode,implode,defragment,to\_yaml} ...

## DESCRIPTION

ASDF (Advanced Scientific Data Format) is a proposed next generation interchange format for scientific data. ASDF aims to exist in the same middle ground that made FITS so successful, by being a hybrid text and binary format: containing human editable metadata for interchange, and raw binary data that is fast to load and use. Unlike FITS, the metadata is highly structured and is designed up-front for extensibility.

- **-h**, **--help**

  show this help message and exit

- **--verbose**, **-v**

  Increase verbosity

- **help**

  Display usage information

- **explode**

  Explode a ASDF file.

- **implode**

  Implode a ASDF file.

- **defragment**

  Defragment an ASDF file..

- **to\_yaml**

  Convert as ASDF file to pure YAML.

## AUTHOR

Erik Bray, Michael Droettboom