---
name: "pttree"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "python3-tables"
version: "3.10.2-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pttree"
---

# pttree(1)

prints a quick overview of the contents of PyTables HDF5 files.

## NAME

pttree - prints a quick overview of the contents of PyTables HDF5 files.

## SYNOPSIS

**pttree** \[ OPTIONS \] filename\[:nodepath\]\

## DESCRIPTION

**pttree** is designed to give a quick overview of the contents of a PyTables HDF5 file by printing a depth-indented list of nodes, similar to the output of the Unix \`tree\` function. It can also display the size, shape and compression states of individual nodes, as well as summary information for the whole file. For a more verbose output (including metadata), see \`ptdump\`.

## OPTIONS

A summary of options is included below.

- **-L MAX\_DEPTH, --max-level MAX\_DEPTH**

  maximum branch depth of tree to display (-1 == no limit)

- **-S SORT\_BY, --sort-by SORT\_BY**

  artificially order nodes, can be either "size", "name" or "none"

- **--print-size**

  print size of each node/branch

- **--no-print-size**

  - **--print-shape**

  print shape of each node

- **--no-print-shape**

  - **--print-compression**

  print compression library(level) for each compressed node

- **--no-print-compression**

  - **--print-percent**

  print size of each node as a % of the total tree size on disk

- **--no-print-percent**

  - **--use-si-units**

  report sizes in SI units (1 MB == 10^6 B)

- **--use-binary-units**

  report sizes in binary units (1 MiB == 2^20 B)

- **-h**

  Print help on usage.

## SEE ALSO

[**ptdump**(1)](/ptdump/1.md).\
 These utilities are documented fully by *PyTables user's manual*.

## AUTHOR

This manual page was written by Antonio Valentino \<antonio.valentino@tiscali.it\>.