diff --git a/python/uklatn.py b/python/uklatn.py
index 05292d5..e9a170e 100644
--- a/python/uklatn.py
+++ b/python/uklatn.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 # Generated by gentables.py, do not edit.
 
 
@@ -215,26 +216,39 @@ def decode(text, table=None):
 
 
 def main(args):
-    text = ' '.join(args.text)
     table = args.table
     if table is None:
         table = 'DSTU_9112_A'
+
     names = {'DSTU_9112_A': 1, 'DSTU_9112_B': 2, 'KMU_55': 3}
     table = names[table]
+
     tr = encode
     if args.cyrillic and not args.latin:
         tr = decode
-    res = tr(text, table)
-    print(res)
+
+    if args.file:
+        text = args.file.read()
+        res = tr(text, table)
+        print(res, end='')
+
+    if args.text:
+        text = ' '.join(args.text)
+        res = tr(text, table)
+        print(res)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    import argparse
+    import argparse, sys
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-    parser.add_argument('text', nargs='+', help='text to transliterate')
+    parser.add_argument('text', nargs='*', help='text to transliterate')
+    parser.add_argument('-f', '--file', type=argparse.FileType('r'), help='read text from file')
     parser.add_argument('-t', '--table', choices=['DSTU_9112_A', 'DSTU_9112_B', 'KMU_55'], help='transliteration system (default: DSTU_9112_A)')
     parser.add_argument('-l', '--latin', action='store_true', help='convert to Latin script (default)')
     parser.add_argument('-c', '--cyrillic', action='store_true', help='convert to Cyrillic script')
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
+    if (not args.text) and (not args.file):
+        parser.error(f'the following arguments are required: text or file')
+
     main(args)
diff --git a/tools/Makefile b/tools/Makefile
index 480ffe3..f1d9227 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile
+++ b/tools/Makefile
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ js:
 	@$(PYTHON) gentests.py js >> ../js/testuklatn.js
 
 py:
-	@echo "# Generated by gentables.py, do not edit.\n" > ../python/uklatn.py
+	@echo "#!/usr/bin/env python\n# Generated by gentables.py, do not edit.\n" > ../python/uklatn.py
 	@$(PYTHON) gentables.py py >> ../python/uklatn.py
 	@echo "# Generated by gentests.py, do not edit.\n" > ../python/tests/uklatn_tests.py
 	@$(PYTHON) gentests.py py >> ../python/tests/uklatn_tests.py
diff --git a/tools/gen/gen_py.py b/tools/gen/gen_py.py
index ad1533d..609d97f 100755
--- a/tools/gen/gen_py.py
+++ b/tools/gen/gen_py.py
@@ -243,28 +243,41 @@ def decode(text, table=None):
 
 
 def main(args):
-    text = ' '.join(args.text)
     table = args.table
     if table is None:
         table = {default_table!r}
+
     names = {table_names!r}
     table = names[table]
+
     tr = encode
     if args.cyrillic and not args.latin:
         tr = decode
-    res = tr(text, table)
-    print(res)
+
+    if args.file:
+        text = args.file.read()
+        res = tr(text, table)
+        print(res, end='')
+
+    if args.text:
+        text = ' '.join(args.text)
+        res = tr(text, table)
+        print(res)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    import argparse
+    import argparse, sys
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-    parser.add_argument('text', nargs='+', help='text to transliterate')
+    parser.add_argument('text', nargs='*', help='text to transliterate')
+    parser.add_argument('-f', '--file', type=argparse.FileType('r'), help='read text from file')
     parser.add_argument('-t', '--table', choices={table_list!r}, help='transliteration system (default: {default_table})')
     parser.add_argument('-l', '--latin', action='store_true', help='convert to Latin script (default)')
     parser.add_argument('-c', '--cyrillic', action='store_true', help='convert to Cyrillic script')
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
+    if (not args.text) and (not args.file):
+        parser.error(f'the following arguments are required: text or file')
+
     main(args)
 '''
     text = template.format(**context)