---
name: "expack"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "exult-studio"
version: "1.10.1-3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/expack"
---

# expack(1)

manipulate Flex files

## NAME

expack - manipulate Flex files

## SYNOPSIS

**expack -a** *FLEXFILE FILE*...

**expack -c** *FLEXFILE FILE*...

**expack -x** *FLEXFILE* \[*INDEX*\]

**expack -i** *MANIFEST*

**expack -l** *FLEXFILE*

## DESCRIPTION

**expack** is a command-line utility that lets you extract and create Flex files. Flex files are archives (which means that they act as containers for other files, somewhat like directories) used by *Ultima VII* to store most of its data. Note that the names of the original files are not stored in the Flex — files are only retrievable by their index.

### Modes of operation

- **-a** Add

  \--NOT IMPLEMENTED YET.  FUTURE ENHANCEMENT-- This command adds one or more *FILE*s to the end of *FLEXFILE*.

- **-c** Create

  This command takes one or more  *FILE*s and bundles them into *FLEXFILE*, overwriting it in the process.

- **-x** Extract

  Lets you extract the files contained within *FLEXFILE*. If *INDEX* is given only the file at this position will be unpacked, otherwise all files are extracted. The created files will be named *index***.u7o**.

- **-i** Input

  Similar to "Create", this command creates *FLEXFILE* from a number of input files. However, "Input" takes the names of the input files from *MANIFEST* instead of the command line.

  *MANIFEST* must be a list of file names, one per line. The first name is that of the Flex file that is to be created, the rest are the input files used in building it.

- **-l** List

  This command lists the contents of a *FLEXFILE*. It gives you the number of files contained within the Flex file, as well as the length of each file.

## EXAMPLES

- **expack -a animals.flx bee.wav**

  Adds **bee.wav** to the Flex file **animals.flx**.

- **expack -a animals.flx hamster.wav snake.wav donkey.wav**

  Adds **hamster.wav**, **snake.wav**, and **donkey.wav** to the Flex file **animals.flx**.

- **expack -c animals.flx duck.wav cat.wav cow.wav dog.wav**

  Creates a new Flex file **animals.flx** containing **duck.wav**, **cat.wav**, **cow.wav**, and **dog.wav**.

- **expack -x text.flx 17**

  Extracts the file at position **17**from**text.flx**into**17.u7o**.

- **expack -x text.flx**

  Extracts all files from **text.flx** into files named **0.u7o**, **1.u7o**, **2.u7o**, etc.

- **expack -i wavlist**

  With **wavlist** reading:

  jmsfx.flx\
   ant.wav\
   bee.wav\
   cat.wav

  will create a new Flex file **jmsfx.flx** consisting of **ant.wav**, **bee.wav**, and**cat.wav**.

- **expack -l text.flx**

  Lists the number and lenghts of files contained in **text.flx**.

## BUGS

The "Add" command (**-a**) does not work yet.

## AUTHOR

This manpage was written by Robert Bihlmeyer based on a text by Marc Winterrowd. It may be freely redistributed and modified under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 or higher.