---
name: "rdfproc"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "redland"
version: "1:1.0.17-10"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/rdfproc"
---

# rdfproc(1)

Redland RDF processor utility

## NAME

rdfproc - Redland RDF processor utility

## SYNOPSIS

**rdfproc** \[**options**\] *store-name* *command* *arg...*

## EXAMPLE

```
rdfproc test parse http://planetrdf.com/guide/rss.rdf
rdfproc test print
rdfproc test serialize ntriples
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **rdfproc** utility allows parsing, querying, manipulating and  serializing of RDF content using the **Redland** RDF library.   The *store-name* is a Redland store name, typically a short identifier.  The arguments to *command* vary and are explained in section COMMANDS below.

## OPTIONS

rdfproc uses the usual GNU command line syntax, with long options starting with two dashes (\`-') if supported by the getopt\_long function.  Otherwise the short options are only available.

- **-h, --help**

  Show a summary of the options.

- **-c, --contexts**

  Use a store with Redland contexts.

- **-n, --new**

  Make a new store, overwriting any existing one.

- **-o, --output *FORMAT***

  Set the output FORMAT for sequences of triples, such as from a search (find command) to a Redland serializer.  Use -h or -o help to see the full list of supported formats.

- **-p, --password**

  Read the storage option 'password' from standard input.  Terminated by end of line ('\\n') or end of file.  This is equivalent to setting it using -t or --storage-options but does not require exposing the password in the argument list.

- **-q, --quiet**

  Suppress informational messages (that go to stderr)

- **-r, --results *FORMAT***

  Set the query results syntax format. Use -h or -r help to see the full list of query result formats.

-

  The exact list of formats depends on what [libraptor(3)](/libraptor/3.md) was built with but is given correct in the usage message with -h.

- **-s, --storage *TYPE***

  Set the Redland storage type (default 'hashes'). If environment variable RDFPROC\_STORAGE\_TYPE is set, the storage type given here will override it. Use -h or -s help to see the full list of query result formats.

- **-t, --storage-options *OPTIONS***

  Set options for the the Redland storage, default is "hash-type='bdb',dir='.'" to match the default storage "hashes".  For storages types such as 'mysql' that need extra options this would typically be something like "host='hostname',database='dbname',user='abc',password='pass'". If environment variable RDFPROC\_STORAGE\_OPTIONS is set, the storage options given here will be applied afterwards.

- **-v, --version**

  Print the Redland version and exit.

- **-V, --verbose**

  Show informational messages on stderr.

## COMMANDS

Where a node is allowed, such as *NODE*, *SUBJECT*, *PREDICATE* or *OBJECT* below, simple heuristics are used to guess which are blank node identifiers, URIs or literals (to add a statement with a literal, use add-typed).  If the item starts with \_: then it is assumed to be a blank node identifier, otherwise if it matches something:// it is assumed to be a URI, otherwise it is a literal.  Literals are only allowed as objects of statements and blank nodes are not allowed as predicates.

- **add** *SUBJECT* *PREDICATE* *OBJECT* *\[CONTEXT\]*

  Add the given triple to graph, in the optional Redland context if the *CONTEXT* node is given.

- **add-typed** *SUBJECT* *PREDICATE* *OBJECT* *OBJECT-LANG* *OBJECT-URI* *\[CONTEXT\]*

  Add the triple with the datatyped literal object to the graph, in the optional Redland context if *CONTEXT* is given.

- **arc** *SUBJECT* *OBJECT*

  - **arcs** *SUBJECT* *OBJECT*

  Show one node/all nodes that match triples (*SUBJECT*, ?, *OBJECT*)

- **arcs-in** *NODE*

  Show all properties of triples with *NODE* as a subject.

- **arcs-out** *NODE*

  Show all properties of triples with *NODE* as an object.

- **contains** *SUBJECT* *PREDICATE* *OBJECT*

  Check if the given triple is in the graph.

- **contexts**

  List all the contexts in the graph (if contexts are enabled).

- **find** *SUBJECT***\|-** *PREDICATE***\|-** *OBJECT***\|- \[***CONTEXT***\]**

  Find matching triples to the given statement where - stands for a blank that matches any node.  If *CONTEXT* is given, only search for triples in that context node.

- **has-arc-in** *NODE* *ARC*

  Check that there is a triple with *NODE* as a subject and *ARC* as a predicate.

- **has-arc-out** NODE *ARC*

  Check that there is a triple with *NODE* as a object and *ARC* as a predicate.

- **parse** *URI\|FILENAME* **\[***SYNTAX\|* **\[***BASE URI***\]\]**

  Parse syntax at *URI* into the graph using *SYNTAX* which can be one of *rdfxml* (RDF/XML, default), *ntriples*, *turtle*, *rss-tag-soup* (for all RSS and Atoms), *grddl* and *guess* to use content hints and protocol information to work it out. (This list changes faster than this manual page) If *FILENAME* is a existing file, the appropriate URI will be generated for it.  If parsing returns errors, the return code will be non-0.

- **parse-stream** *URI\|FILENAME* **\[***SYNTAX* **\[***BASE URI* **\[***CONTEXT***\]\]**

  Streaming parse syntax at URI into the graph using *SYNTAX* which can be one of *rdfxml* (RDF/XML, default) or *ntriples*. If *FILENAME* is an existing file, the appropriate URI will be generated for it.  If the optional *CONTEXT URI is given,* *the triples are added to that context.* *If parsing returns errors, the return code will be non-0.*

- **print**

  *Print the graph triples in a simple format showing context nodes* *if present.*

- **query** *NAME***\|-** *URI***\|-** *QUERY-STRING*

  *Run QUERY-STRING query in language NAME* returning variable bindings, a boolean or RDF graph depending on the query. Query language can be 'sparql' or 'rdql'.

- **remove** *SUBJECT* *PREDICATE* *OBJECT* *\[CONTEXT\]*

  Remove the given triple graph, in the optional Redland context if *CONTEXT* is given.

- **remove-context** *CONTEXT*

  Remove all triples in the graph with the Redland context *CONTEXT*.

- **serialize \[***SYNTAX* **\[***URI* **\[***MIME-TYPE***\]\]\]**

  Serializes the graph to a syntax with a particular ISYNTAX *URI* or Internet Media Type/MIME Type.  The default is RDF/XML (*NAME* "rdfxml", MIME Type "application/rdf/xml") if none of the above are given.  Other alternatives are "ntriples" (no MIME Type).

- **source** *PREDICATE* *OBJECT*

  - **sources** *PREDICATE* *OBJECT*

  Show one node/all nodes that match triples (?, *PREDICATE*, *OBJECT*)

- **target** *SUBJECT* *PREDICATE*

  - **targets** *SUBJECT* *PREDICATE*

  Show one node/all nodes that match triples (*SUBJECT*, *PREDICATE*, ?)

## ENVIRONMENT

RDFPROC\_STORAGE\_OPTIONS can be set to provide storage options instead of using the option -t, --storage-options *OPTIONS*. When both are given, command options are applied last.

RDFPROC\_STORAGE\_TYPE can be set to provide a storage type instead of using the option -s, --storage *TYPE*. When both are given, the storage type from the command is used.

## CONFORMING TO

*RDF/XML Syntax (Revised)*, W3C Recommendation, http://www.w3.org/TR/rdf-syntax-grammar/ ⟨http://www.w3.org/TR/rdf-syntax-grammar/⟩

*N-Triples*, in *RDF Test Cases*, Jan Grant and Dave Beckett (eds.) W3C Recommendation, http://www.w3.org/TR/rdf-testcases/#ntriples ⟨http://www.w3.org/TR/rdf-testcases/#ntriples⟩

## SEE ALSO

[redland(3)](/redland/3.md), [libraptor(3)](/libraptor/3.md), [rapper(1)](/rapper/1.md)

## AUTHOR

Dave Beckett -  http://www.dajobe.org/ ⟨http://www.dajobe.org/⟩