---
name: "wrap-and-sort"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "devscripts"
version: "2.25.15+deb13u1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/wrap-and-sort"
---

# wrap-and-sort(1)

wrap long lines and sort items in Debian packaging files

## NAME

wrap-and-sort - wrap long lines and sort items in Debian packaging files

## SYNOPSIS

**wrap-and-sort** \[*options*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**wrap-and-sort** wraps the package lists in Debian control files. By default the lists will only split into multiple lines if the entries are longer than the maximum line length limit of 79 characters. **wrap-and-sort** sorts the package lists in Debian control files and all *.dirs*, *.docs*, *.examples*, *.info*, *.install*, *.links*, *.maintscript*, and *.manpages* files. Beside that **wrap-and-sort** removes trailing spaces in these files.

This script should be run in the root of a Debian package tree. It searches for *control*, *control\*.in*, *copyright*, *copyright.in*, *install*, and *\*.install* in the *debian* directory.

## OPTIONS

- **-h**, **--help**

  Show this help message and exit. Will also print the default values for the options below.

- **-a**, **--\[no-\]wrap-always**

  Wrap all package lists in the Debian *control* file even if they do not exceed the line length limit and could fit in one line.

- **-s**, **--\[no-\]short-indent**

  Indent wrapped lines by a single space, instead of in-line with the field name.

- **-b**, **--\[no-\]sort-binary-packages**

  Sort binary package paragraphs by name.

- **-k**, **--\[no-\]keep-first**

  When sorting binary package paragraphs, leave the first one at the top.

  Unqualified [**debhelper**(7)](/debhelper/7.md) configuration files are applied to the first package.

- **-n**, **--\[no-\]cleanup**

  Remove trailing whitespaces.

- **-t**, **--\[no-\]trailing-comma**

  Add a trailing comma at the end of the sorted fields. This minimizes future differences in the VCS commits when additional dependencies are appended or removed.

- **-d** *path*, **--debian-directory=***path*

  Location of the *debian* directory (default: *./debian*).

- **-f** *file*, **--file=***file*

  Wrap and sort only the specified *file*. You can specify this parameter multiple times. All supported files will be processed if no files are specified.

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Print all files that are touched.

- **--max-line-length=***max\_line\_length*

  Set the maximum allowed line length. Package lists in the Debian *control* file that exceed this length limit will be wrapped.

  The default maximum line length is 79 characters.

- **-N**, **--dry-run**

  Do not modify any file, instead only print the files that would be modified.

- **--experimental-rts-parser**

  Temporary option accepted for compatibility with an experiment. It no longer does anything. Please remove any use of it.

## AUTHORS

**wrap-and-sort** and this manpage have been written by Benjamin Drung \<bdrung@debian.org\>.

Both are released under the ISC license.