---
name: "nxbrowse"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "nexus-tools"
version: "4.4.3-7"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/nxbrowse"
---

# nxbrowse(1)

browse a NeXus file

## NAME

nxbrowse - browse a NeXus file

## SYNOPSIS

**nxbrowse** \[*filename*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**nxbrowse** asks for a filename is none is given on the command line. The file is opened and can be interactively explored using the commands described below.

## OPTIONS

No command line options are supported.

## COMMANDS

When the file is opened  **nxbrowse** will print out its version number and the contents of the NXroot node of the NeXus file followed by its prompt: **NX\>**\
 These case insensitive commands are recognised:

- **help**

  Give out list of available commands. Synonym: **info**

- **exit**

  Exit the program. Synonym:  **quit**

- **dir**

  List the contents of the current group. Synonym: **ls**

- **open *groupName***

  Open the NeXus group groupName. Same as: **cd *groupName***

- **close**

  Closes the NeXus group groupName, i.e. moves up one level in the hierarchy. Same as: **cd ..**

- **read *dataItem* \[*dimension indicies ...*\]**

  Print the contents of the NeXus data item labelled dataItem. *dimension indicies* is an optional comma separated list of dimensions of the  correct rank to specify one value.

- **dump *dataItem* *fileName***

  Write the contents of the NeXus data item labelled dataItem to a new file named fileName.

- **byteaschar**

  Toggle treating (signed and unsigned) byte data as characters.

If your version of  **nxbrowse** has been compiled with readline support you can use  tab completion for commands, groups and data.

## SEE ALSO

[**nxdir**(1)](/nxdir/1.md) **http://www.nexusformat.org**\

## AUTHOR

nxbrowse was originally written by Ray Osborn  \<ROsborn@anl.gov\>

This manual page was written by Tobias Richter  \<Tobias.Richter@diamond.ac.uk\> and may be used by others.