---
name: "usdcat"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "usd"
version: "26.11.1-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/usdcat"
---

# usdcat(1)

manual page for usdcat 26.11.1

## NAME

usdcat - manual page for usdcat 26.11.1

## SYNOPSIS

**usdcat** \[*OPTIONS*\] *inputFiles*...

## DESCRIPTION

Write usd file(s) either as text to stdout or to a specified output file.

### Positionals:

- inputFiles ...

  A list of input files

## OPTIONS

- **-h**,--help

  Print this help message and exit

- **-o**,--out file

  Write a single input file to this output file instead of stdout.

- **--usdFormat** usda\|usdc

  Use this underlying file format for output files with the extension 'usd'. For example, passing '-o output.usd **--usdformat** usda' will create output.usd as a text file. The USD\_DEFAULT\_FILE\_FORMAT environment variable is another way to achieve this.

- **-l**,--loadOnly

  Attempt to load the specified input files and report 'OK' or 'ERR' for each one. After all files are processed, this script will exit with a non-zero exit code if any files failed to load.

- **-f**,--flatten

  Compose stages with the input files as root layers and write their flattened content.

- **--flattenLayerStack**

  Flatten the layer stack with the given root layer, and write out the results. Unlike **--flatten**, this does not flatten composition arcs (such as references).

- **--skipSourceFileComment**

  If **--flatten** is specified, skip adding a comment regarding the source of the flattened layer in the documentation field of the output layer.

- **--mask** PRIMPATH\[,PRIMPATH...\]

  Limit stage population to these prims, their descendants and ancestors. To specify multiple paths, either use commas with no spaces, or quote the argument and separate paths by commas and/or spaces. Requires **--flatten**.

- **--layerMetadata**

  Load only layer metadata in the USD file. This option cannot be combined with either **--flatten** or **--flattenLayerStack**.