---
name: "osmium-output-headers"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "osmium-tool"
version: "1.18.0-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/osmium-output-headers"
---

# osmium-output-headers(5)

Header options that can be set on output files

## NAME

osmium-output-headers - Header options that can be set on output files

## DESCRIPTION

Most osmium commands that write OSM files can set values in the file header of the OSM file using the **--output-header** option.

The format generally is **--output-header=OPTION=VALUE**. For some commands you can use the special format **--output-header=OPTION!** (ie. an exclamation mark after the *OPTION* and no value set) to set the value to the same as in the input file. See the individual command man pages for where this is allowed.

## HEADER OPTIONS

- `generator`

  Set the “generator program” value. Default is “osmium/VERSION”. Can also be set using the **--generator** option. (XML and PBF files only.)

- `xml_josm_upload`

  Value of the upload attribute on the osm XML element (true or false) for use in JOSM. (XML files only.)

- `osmosis_replication_timestamp`

  Timestamp used in replication (PBF files only).

- `osmosis_replication_sequence_number`

  Sequence number used in replication (PBF files only).

- `osmosis_replication_base_url`

  Base URL for change files used in replication (PBF files only).

- `sorting`

  Set the **Sort.Type\_then\_ID** property in the PBF header if set to **Type\_then\_ID**. Other values are currently not supported. (PBF files only). Note that this only sets the header option, it does not actually sort the file! Use **osmium sort** for that.

## EXAMPLES

Copy the file in.osm.pbf to out.osm.pbf setting the generator to **myscript**:

-

  ```
  osmium cat --output-header=generator=myscript -o out.osm.pbf in.osm.pbf
  ```

## SEE ALSO

- •

  [**osmium**(1)](/osmium/1.md)

- •

  Osmium website ⟨https://osmcode.org/osmium-tool/⟩\\c

- •

  Replication headers ⟨https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/PBF\_Format⟩\\c

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 2013-2025 Jochen Topf \<jochen@topf.org\>.

License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://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.

## CONTACT

If you have any questions or want to report a bug, please go to https://osmcode.org/contact.html

## AUTHORS

Jochen Topf \<jochen@topf.org\>.