> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://equ8.gitbook.io/documentation/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://equ8.gitbook.io/documentation/integration-guide/protection-template-file-format.md).

# Protection template file-format

To use the `filesigner` you must create a template file containing a list of all files to include in the database.

Each line in the template file contains a single file record. The line format is:\
`file:<path_from_equ8dir>[, <filepath>]`

`path_from_equ8dir` needs a bit of explanation. This is the **relative** path from the EQU8 client-components directory to the file to be validated. This is also the directory where you must put the database file.

In other words, `client[x86|x64].equ8.dll` checks the directory where the DLL resides for the database file `equ8.db`, and from there `path_from_equ8dir` is the relative path to the protected file.

`filepath` is only used when creating the database and points to the file to sign. It is an optional parameter that can be omitted if you are running `filesigner` with a working directory that makes `path_from_equ8dir` and the `filepath` identical.