NAME

       dpkg-awk - Utility to read a dpkg style db file

SYNOPSIS

       dpkg-awk   [(-f|--file)   filename]   [(-d|--debug)   ##]   [(-s|--sort)   list]   [(-rs|--rec_sep)   ??]
       '<fieldname>:<regex>' ... -- <out_fieldname> ..

DESCRIPTION

       dpkg-awk Parses a dpkg status file (or other similarly formatted file) and outputs the resulting records.
       It  can  use regex on the field values to limit the returned records, it can also be told which fields to
       output, and it can sort the matched fields.

OPTIONS

       -f filename
       --file filename
              The file to parse.  The default is /var/lib/dpkg/status.

       -d [#]
       --debug [#]
              Each time this is specified, it increased the debug level.

       -s field(s)
       --sort field(s)
              A space or comma separated list of fields to sort on.

       -n field(s)
       --numeric field(s)
              A space or comma separated list of fields that should be interpreted as numeric in value.

       -rs ??
       --rec_sep ??
              Output this string at the end of each output paragraph.

       -h
       --help Display some help.

       fieldname
              The fields from the file, that are  matched  with  the  regex  given.   The  fieldnames  are  case
              insensitive.

       out_fieldname
              The  fields from the file, that are output for each record.  If the first field listed begins with
              ^, then the list of fields that follows will NOT be output.

BUGS

       Be warned that the author has only a shallow understanding of the dpkg packaging  system,  so  there  are
       probably tons of bugs in this program.

       This  program  comes  with no warranties.  If running this program causes fire and brimstone to rain down
       upon the earth, you will be on your own.

       This program accesses the dpkg database directly in places, querying for data that cannot be  gotten  via
       dpkg.

AUTHOR

       Adam Heath <doogie@debian.org>