diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 3b8178e..9fda2a0 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ build-backend = "flit_core.buildapi"
 [project]
 name = "natlinkcore"
 authors = [{name = "Quintijn Hoogenboom (maintainer)", email = "q.hoogenboom@antenna.nl"}]
-version="5.4.2.dev5"
+version="5.4.2.dev6"
 dynamic = [ "description"]
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 readme = "readme.md"
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ testpaths= [
 [project.scripts]
 natlinkconfig_cli = "natlinkcore.configure.natlinkconfig_cli:main_cli"
 natlink_extensions = "natlinkcore.configure.natlink_extensions:main"
+natlink_extract_ini_value = "natlinkcore.configure.natlink_extract_ini_value:main"
 
 [project.gui-scripts]
 natlinkconfig_gui = "natlinkcore.configure.natlinkconfig_gui:main_gui"
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index a1d3b6c..1b61747 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -11,6 +11,14 @@ You can install from [The Python Package Index (PyPI)](https://pypi.org/) with
 
 Note that natlinkcore will not install if you have not installed Natlink first.  Natlink is installed through running an installer.
 
+This will install utilties you can run from a shell prompt:  natlinkconfig_cli, natlinkconfig_gui, and natlink_extract_ini_value.
+
+You can use natlink_extract_ini_value to grab a directory or setting out of natlink.ini for copying and pasting or a shell script.
+``` 
+PS C:\Users\doug\code\dt\natlinkcore> natlink_extract_ini_value -s directories -k  dragonflyuserdirectory
+C:\Users\doug\Documents
+```
+
  
 ## Test Framework
 Tests use the [pytest](https://docs.pytest.org/) framework.  
diff --git a/src/natlinkcore/configure/natlink_extract_ini_value.py b/src/natlinkcore/configure/natlink_extract_ini_value.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da3a333
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/natlinkcore/configure/natlink_extract_ini_value.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+import argparse
+import sys
+from natlinkcore.configure.natlinkconfigfunctions import NatlinkConfig
+import configparser
+from pathlib import Path
+import configparser
+
+def get_config_value(config, section, key):
+    if not config.has_section(section):
+        raise configparser.NoSectionError(section)
+    if not config.has_option(section, key):
+        raise configparser.NoOptionError(key, section)
+    return config.get(section, key)
+ 
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=
+        f"""prints the value for the key in the section of natlink.ini to standard out.  You can also ask for the full path to the ini file.  
+        for example, to get the dragonflyuserdirectory key in the directories section:
+        {sys.argv[0]} --section 'directories' --key dragonflyuserdirectory
+        """)
+    parser.add_argument('-i', "--ini_file",action='store_true',  help='print the full path to the natlink.ini file')
+ 
+
+
+    parser.add_argument('-s', '--section', type=str,  help='Section name')
+    parser.add_argument('-k', '--key', type=str, help='Key name')
+
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+
+    try:
+        config=NatlinkConfig()
+        config_path=config.natlinkconfig_path
+        config_file=Path(config_path)/"natlink.ini"
+        if args.ini_file:
+            print(config_file)
+            exit(0)
+        if not (args.key and args.section):
+            raise Exception("Must supply key and section or -i/--ini_file")
+        config=configparser.ConfigParser()
+        config.read(config_file)
+        v=get_config_value(config,args.section,args.key)
+        print(f"{v}")
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(e)
+        exit(-1)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()