--- tethereal.c.ori	2006-07-08 14:31:50.000000000 +0200
+++ tethereal.c	2006-09-23 22:37:56.000000000 +0200
@@ -261,6 +261,7 @@
   fprintf(output, "\n");
   fprintf(output, "Processing:\n");
   fprintf(output, "  -R <read filter>         packet filter in Ethereal display filter syntax\n");
+  fprintf(output, "  -A file                  Use file as input for the Ethereal display filter syntax\n");
   fprintf(output, "  -n                       disable all name resolutions (def: all enabled)\n");
   fprintf(output, "  -N <name resolve flags>  enable specific name resolution(s): \"mntC\"\n");
   fprintf(output, "  -d %s ...\n", decode_as_arg_template);
@@ -693,8 +694,9 @@
   char                 badopt;
   GLogLevelFlags       log_flags;
   int                  status;
+  FILE                *fp;
 
-#define OPTSTRING_INIT "a:b:c:d:Df:F:hi:lLnN:o:pqr:R:s:St:T:vVw:xX:y:z:"
+#define OPTSTRING_INIT "a:A:b:c:d:Df:F:hi:lLnN:o:pqr:R:s:St:T:vVw:xX:y:z:"
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBPCAP
 #ifdef _WIN32
 #define OPTSTRING_WIN32 "B:"
@@ -987,7 +989,27 @@
       case 'r':        /* Read capture file xxx */
         cf_name = g_strdup(optarg);
         break;
+      case 'A':        /* Read file filter syntax */
+        fp = fopen(g_strdup(optarg), "r");
+        if (! fp) {
+          cmdarg_err("file not found: %s", optarg);
+          exit(1);
+        }
+        char line[32768], line2[32768];
+        strcat(line2,"( ");
+        while( fgets(line, sizeof(line), fp) )
+        {
+          strncat(line2,line,strlen(line)-1); /* remove carriage return */
+          strcat(line2," ) or ( ");
+        }
+        fclose(fp);
+        strcpy(line,"");
+        strncat(line,line2,strlen(line2)-6); /* remove ' or ( '*/
+        cmdarg_err("load filter= %s", line); /* debug */
+        rfilter = line;
+        break;
       case 'R':        /* Read file filter */
         rfilter = optarg;
         break;
       case 'S':        /* show packets in real time */