---
name: "sdfcli"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "sdf"
version: "2.001+1-9"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sdfcli"
---

# sdfcli(1)

Command Line Interface Utility

## NAME

sdfcli - Command Line Interface Utility

## PURPOSE

*sdfcli* extracts command line interface (CLI) information from applications and formats it into *SDF*.

## USAGE

```
 usage  : sdfcli [-h[help]] [-o[out_ext]]
         [-l[log_ext]] [-O[out_dir]] [-w wrap]
         utility ...
purpose: format a utility's command line interface into SDF
version: 2.000    (SDF 2.001)
```

The options are:

```
 Option       Description
 -h           display help on options
 -o           output file extension
 -l           log file extension
 -O           output to input file's (or explicit) directory
 -w           column at which to wrap option specifications
```

## DESCRIPTION

The -h option provides help. If it is specified without a parameter, a brief description of each option is displayed. To display the attributes for an option, specify the option letter as a parameter.

By default, generated output goes to standard output. To direct output to a file per input file, use the -o option to specify an extension for output files. If the -o option is specified without a parameter, an extension of *out* is assumed.

Likewise, error messages go to standard error by default. Use the -l option to create a log file per input file. If the -l option is specified without a parameter, an extension of *log* is assumed.

By default, generated output and log files are created in the current directory. Use the -O option to specify an explicit output directory. If the -O option is specified without a parameter, the input file's directory is used.

*sdfcli* executes each argument with a -h flag and converts the resultant output to nicely formatted *SDF*. An argument of "-" specifies that the help should be read from standard input.

Formatting is done as follows:

- 1\.

  lines are tagged as *Example* paragraphs, with the first line formatted to wrap option usage specifications nicely

- 2\.

  if a line is found that starts with 'options:', it is replaced with a *Body* paragraph saying "The options are:", and the following lines are formatted as a table of codes and descriptions

- 3\.

  if a line is found that starts with 'aliases:', it is replaced with a *Body* paragraph saying "The aliases are:", and the following lines are formatted as a table of names and descriptions

- 4\.

  each option code in the table is formatted as a hypertext jump to a tag called *cmd\_opt* where:

  - •

    *cmd* is the command name

  - •

    *opt* is the option code

The -w option specifies at what column to wrap option specifications. The default is 50 - this is the best for output imported into the *Mincom* templates.

## LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The table formats used are hard coded.