MSGFMT(1) | GNU | MSGFMT(1)

# NAME

msgfmt - compile message catalog to binary format

# SYNOPSIS

msgfmt [OPTION] filename.po ...

# DESCRIPTION

Generate binary message catalog from textual translation description.

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too. Similarly for optional arguments.

## Input file location:

filename.po ...
  input files
-D, --directory=DIRECTORY
  add DIRECTORY to list for input files search

If input file is -, standard input is read.

## Operation mode:

-j, --java
  Java mode: generate a Java ResourceBundle class
--java2
  like --java, and assume Java2 (JDK 1.2 or higher)
--csharp
  C# mode: generate a .NET .dll file
--csharp-resources
  C# resources mode: generate a .NET .resources file
--tcl
  Tcl mode: generate a tcl/msgcat .msg file
--qt
  Qt mode: generate a Qt .qm file

## Output file location:

-o, --output-file=FILE
  write output to specified file
--strict
  enable strict Uniforum mode

If output file is -, output is written to standard output.

## Output file location in Java mode:

-r, --resource=RESOURCE
  resource name
-l, --locale=LOCALE
  locale name, either language or language_COUNTRY
-d DIRECTORY
  base directory of classes directory hierarchy

The class name is determined by appending the locale name to the resource name, separated with an underscore. The -d option is mandatory. The class is written under the specified directory.

## Output file location in C# mode:

-r, --resource=RESOURCE
  resource name
-l, --locale=LOCALE
  locale name, either language or language_COUNTRY
-d DIRECTORY
  base directory for locale dependent .dll files

The -l and -d options are mandatory. The .dll file is written in a subdirectory of the specified directory whose name depends on the locale.

## Output file location in Tcl mode:

-l, --locale=LOCALE
  locale name, either language or language_COUNTRY
-d DIRECTORY
  base directory of .msg message catalogs

The -l and -d options are mandatory. The .msg file is written in the specified directory.

## Input file syntax:

-P, --properties-input
  input files are in Java .properties syntax
--stringtable-input
  input files are in NeXTstep/GNUstep .strings syntax

## Input file interpretation:

-c, --check
  perform all the checks implied by --check-format, --check-header, --check-domain
--check-format
  check language dependent format strings
--check-header
  verify presence and contents of the header entry
--check-domain
  check for conflicts between domain directives and the --output-file option
-C, --check-compatibility
  check that GNU msgfmt behaves like X/Open msgfmt
--check-accelerators[=CHAR]
  check presence of keyboard accelerators for menu items
-f, --use-fuzzy
  use fuzzy entries in output

## Output details:

-a, --alignment=NUMBER
  align strings to NUMBER bytes (default: 1)
--no-hash
  binary file will not include the hash table

## Informative output:

-h, --help
  display this help and exit
-V, --version
  output version information and exit
--statistics
  print statistics about translations
-v, --verbose
  increase verbosity level

# AUTHOR

Written by Ulrich Drepper.

# REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to <bug-gnu-gettext@gnu.org>.

# COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 1995-1998, 2000-2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

# SEE ALSO

The full documentation for msgfmt is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and msgfmt programs are properly installed at your site, the command

  info msgfmt

should give you access to the complete manual.

November 2006 | GNU gettext-tools 0.16.1