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>