---
name: "hfst-expand"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "hfst"
version: "3.16.2-1+b1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/hfst-expand"
---

# hfst-expand(1)

\=Display the strings recognized by a transducer

## NAME

hfst-fst2strings - =Display the strings recognized by a transducer

## SYNOPSIS

**hfst-fst2strings** \[*OPTIONS*...\] \[*INFILE*\]

## DESCRIPTION

Display the strings recognized by a transducer

### Common options:

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

  Print help message

- **-V**, **--version**

  Print version info

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

  Print verbosely while processing

- **-q**, **--quiet**

  Only print fatal erros and requested output

- **-s**, **--silent**

  Alias of **--quiet**

### Fst2strings options:

- **-n**, **--max-strings**=*NSTR*

  print at most NSTR strings

- **-N**, **--nbest**=*NBEST*

  print at most NBEST best strings

- **-r**, **--random**=*NRAND*

  print at most NRAND random strings

- **-c**, **--cycles**=*NCYC*

  follow cycles at most NCYC times

- **-w**, **--print-weights**

  display the weight for each string

- **-S**, **--print-separator**

  print separator "--" after each transducer

- **-e**, **--epsilon-format**=*EPS*

  print epsilon as EPS

- **-X**, **--xfst**=*VARIABLE*

  toggle xfst compatibility option VARIABLE

### Ignore paths if:

- **-b**, **--beam**=*B*

  output string weight not within B from the weight of the best output string

- **-l**, **--max-in-length**=*MIL*

  input string longer than MIL

- **-L**, **--max-out-length**=*MOL*

  output string longer than MOL

- **-p**, **--in-prefix**=*OPREFIX*

  input string not beginning with IPREFIX

- **-P**, **--out-prefix**=*OPREFIX*

  output string not beginning with OPREFIX

- **-u**, **--in-exclude**=*IXSTR*

  input string containing IXSTR

- **-U**, **--out-exclude**=*OXST*

  output string containing OXSTR

If OUTFILE or INFILE is missing or -, standard streams will be used. Format of result depends on format of INFILE If all NSTR, NBEST and NCYC are omitted, all possible paths are printed: NSTR, NBEST and NCYC default to infinity. NBEST overrides NSTR and NCYC NRAND overrides NBEST, NSTR and NCYC B must be a non-negative float If EPS is not given, default is empty string. Numeric options are parsed with [strtod(3)](/strtod/3.md). Xfst variables supported are { obey-flags, print-flags, print-pairs, print-space, quote-special }.

## EXAMPLES

- hfst-fst2strings lexical.hfst

  generates all forms of lexical.hfst

### Known bugs:

-

  Does not work correctly for hfst optimized lookup format.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<hfst-bugs@helsinki.fi\> or directly to our bug tracker at: \<https://github.com/hfst/hfst/issues\>

hfst-fst2strings home page: \<https://github.com/hfst/hfst/wiki/HfstFst2Strings\>\
 General help using HFST software: \<https://github.com/hfst/hfst/wiki\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2017 University of Helsinki, License GPLv3: GNU GPL version 3 \<http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.