# ffe

> Extract fields from a flat database file and write to another format.
> A configuration file is required to interpret the input and format the output.
> More information: <https://ff-extractor.sourceforge.net/ffe.html>.

- Display all input data using the specified data configuration:

`ffe {{[-c|--configuration]}} {{path/to/config.ffe}} {{path/to/input}}`

- Convert an input file to an output file in a new format:

`ffe --output={{path/to/output}} {{[-c|--configuration]}} {{path/to/config.ffe}} {{path/to/input}}`

- Select input structure and print format from definitions in `~/.fferc` configuration file:

`ffe {{[-s|--structure]}} {{structure}} {{[-p|--print]}} {{format}} {{path/to/input}}`

- Write only the selected fields:

`ffe {{[-f|--field-list]}} "{{FirstName,LastName,Age}}" {{[-c|--configuration]}} {{path/to/config.ffe}} {{path/to/input}}`

- Write only the records that match an expression:

`ffe {{[-e|--expression]}} "{{LastName=Smith}}" {{[-c|--configuration]}} {{path/to/config.ffe}} {{path/to/input}}`

- Display help:

`ffe {{[-?|--help]}}`