---
name: "sq-packet-split"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "sequoia-sq"
version: "1.4.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sq-packet-split"
---

# sq-packet-split(1)

Split a message into packets

## NAME

sq-packet-split - Split a message into packets

## SYNOPSIS

**sq packet split** \[*OPTIONS*\] *FILE*

## DESCRIPTION

Split a message into packets.

Splitting a packet sequence into individual packets, then recombining them freely with \`sq packet join\` is a great way to experiment with OpenPGP data.

By default, the packets are written to stdout as a sequence of ASCII armored blocks.  It is possible to edit this file directly (e.g., moving, adding, or removing packets), and then use \`sq packet join\` to assemble the stream.

Alternatively, if a \`--output-prefix\` is given, the packets are written into individual files starting with the prefix, and can be reassembled with \`sq packet join\`.

The converse operation is \`sq packet join\`.

## OPTIONS

### Subcommand options

- **--binary**

  Emit binary data

- **--output**=*FILE*

  Write to FILE or stdout if omitted

- **--output-prefix**=*PREFIX*

  Write packets to individual files starting with the given prefix.

-

  The file names are formed by joining the prefix, the path of the packet in the source object (recall: packets can be nested), and a human-readable packet type with dashes ('-').

- *FILE*

  Read from FILE or stdin if FILE is '-'

-

  \[default: **-**\]

### Global options

See [**sq**(1)](/sq/1.md) for a description of the global options.

## EXAMPLES

Split a certificate into individual packets printed to stdout.

```
sq packet split --output=- juliet.pgp
```

Split a inline-signed message into individual packets written to individual files with the prefix 'packet'.

```
sq packet split --output-prefix packet document.pgp
```

Then reassemble the message, transforming it into an old-style signed message with a prefix signature.

```
sq packet join --output prefix-signature.pgp --label message \
packet-2-Signature-Packet packet-1-Literal-Data-Packet
```

## SEE ALSO

[**sq**(1)](/sq/1.md), [**sq-packet**(1)](/sq-packet/1.md).

For the full documentation see \<https://book.sequoia-pgp.org/\>.

## VERSION

1\.4.1