---
name: "r.out.ascii"
section: "1grass"
platform: "linux"
package: "grass-doc"
version: "8.4.1-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/r.out.ascii"
---

# r.out.ascii(1grass)

Converts a raster map layer into a GRASS ASCII text file.

## NAME

**r.out.ascii**  - Converts a raster map layer into a GRASS ASCII text file.

## KEYWORDS

raster, export, output, ASCII

## SYNOPSIS

**r.out.ascii**\
 **r.out.ascii --help**\
 **r.out.ascii** \[-**hsmi**\] **input**=*name*  \[**output**=*name*\]   \[**precision**=*integer*\]   \[**width**=*integer*\]   \[**null\_value**=*string*\]   \[--**overwrite**\]  \[--**help**\]  \[--**verbose**\]  \[--**quiet**\]  \[--**ui**\]

### Flags:

- **-h**

  Suppress printing of header information

- **-s**

  Write SURFER (Golden Software) ASCII grid

- **-m**

  Write MODFLOW (USGS) ASCII array

- **-i**

  Force output of integer values

- **--overwrite**

  Allow output files to overwrite existing files

- **--help**

  Print usage summary

- **--verbose**

  Verbose module output

- **--quiet**

  Quiet module output

- **--ui**

  Force launching GUI dialog

### Parameters:

- **input**=*name* **\[required\]**

  Name of input raster map

- **output**=*name*

  Name for output ASCII grid map (use out=- for stdout)

- **precision**=*integer*

  Number of significant digits (floating point only)

- **width**=*integer*

  Number of values printed before wrapping a line (only SURFER or MODFLOW format)

- **null\_value**=*string*

  String to represent null cell (GRASS grid only)\
   Default: *\**

## DESCRIPTION

*r.out.ascii* converts a user-specified raster map layer (**input=***name*) into an ASCII grid in a text file (**output=***name*) suitable for export to other computer systems.

The GRASS program *r.in.ascii* can be used to perform the reverse function, converting an ASCII file in suitable format to GRASS raster map format.

To write a SURFER .grd ASCII GRID file (with reverted row order and different header) use the *-s* flag:\

```
r.out.ascii -s input=inname output=outname.grd [dp=value]
```

NULL data are coded to "1.70141e+038" for SURFER ASCII GRID files (ignoring the *null=* parameter).

## NOTES

The output from *r.out.ascii* may be placed into a file by using the UNIX redirection mechanism; e.g.:\

```
r.out.ascii input=soils output=- > out.file
```

The output file out.file can then be printed or copied onto a CDROM or floppy disk for export purposes.

To export the raster values as x,y,z values of cell centers (one per line) use the *r.out.xyz* module.

## SEE ALSO

*r.in.ascii,* *r.in.gdal,* *r.out.bin,* *r.out.gdal,* *r.out.xyz*

## AUTHORS

Michael Shapiro, U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory

Surfer support by Markus Neteler

## SOURCE CODE

Available at: r.out.ascii source code (history)

Accessed: Monday Feb 24 17:50:42 2025

Main index \| Raster index \| Topics index \| Keywords index \| Graphical index \| Full index

© 2003-2025 GRASS Development Team, GRASS GIS 8.4.1 Reference Manual