How to dump content of a man-db database in text format

Posted by Vivek Gite [Last updated: September 12, 2006]

Q. For scripting and automation purpose I need the the content of a man-db database in a human readable format. How do I dump content of a man-db database in text format?

A. You need to use accessdb command, which will output the data contained within a man-db database in a human readable form. By default, it will dump the data from /var/cache/man/index., where is dependent on the database library in use.

Type the command as follows:
$ accessdb
Output:

$mtime$ -> "1157392570"
$version$ -> "2.4.1"
/etc/adduser.conf -> "- 5 5 1109918260 C adduser.conf - gz "
/etc/deluser.conf -> "- 5 5 1109918260 C deluser.conf - gz "
/etc/hosts.equiv -> "- 5 5 1097931920 C hosts.equiv - gz "
/etc/login.defs -> "- 5 5 1116397991 C login.defs - gz "
/etc/modules -> "- 5 5 1103452809 C modules - gz "
/etc/network/interfaces -> "- 5 5 1115042953 C interfaces - gz "

Or dump output to a text file:
$ accessdb > /tmp/output.txt

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