NAME

gencat − generate a formatted message catalog file

SYNOPSIS

gencat catfile file ... 

DESCRIPTION

Message catalogs allow a program to process input and produce output according to local customs and languages.  For details, see Native Language Support listed in the SEE ALSO section below. 

Gencat merges each message source file into a formatted message catalog catfile that can be accessed by catgetmsg(3C) or catgets(3C). If catfile does not exist, it is created.  If catfile exists, its messages are included in the new catfile. If set and message numbers collide, the new message text in file replaces the old message text in catfile. A file consists of message, directive and comment lines (all without leading spaces or tabs) that have the following formats:

$set n [comment]
A $set directive specifies the set number of the messages that follow until the next $set or end-of-file appears.  The n denotes the set number, an integer in the range 1-NL_SETMAX.  Set numbers must be in ascending order within a single source file but need not be contiguous.  Any string following the set number is treated as a comment.  A $set directive must precede any message line. 

$delset n [comment]
A $delset directive deletes the message set identified by n from an existing message catalog.  Any string following the set number is treated as a comment. 

m message_text A message line specifies a message number and associated message text.  The m denotes the message number, an integer in the range 1-NL_MSGMAX.  The message_text is a C string, including spaces, tabs and \ (backslash) escapes, but by default without surrounding quotes (see $quote c below).  The message number m is separated from the message_text by a single space or tab character.  The message_text begins with the first character following the separator and ends at new-line.  Extra spaces or tabs (including any trailing spaces or tabs) are considered part of the message_text. The length of message_text must be no more than NL_TEXTMAX bytes. 

The message_text of a message line is stored in catfile with the message number m and the set number n specified by the most recent $set directive.  Message numbers must be in ascending order within a single set but need not be contiguous.  The first message line must be preceded by a $set directive. 

Note that the space or tab separator distinguishes insertion of a null message from deletion of a message.  If a message line has a number and separator but no text, the message number and an associated null message string are stored in catfile.  If a message line has a number but neither separator nor text, the message number and its associated message text are deleted from catfile. 

$quote c A $quote directive specifies a quote character c, which can be used to surround message_text and make leading and trailing space visible in a message line. 

$ comment A $ followed by space or tab is treated as a comment and can appear anywhere in a file. 

NL_TEXTMAX, NL_SETMAX, and NL_MSGMAX are defined in <limits.h>. 

WARNINGS

The $quote directive is not currently supported on MPE or RTE systems.  (MPE and RTE are HP operating systems.) 

AUTHOR

Gencat was developed by HP and the X/Open Company, Ltd. 

SEE ALSO

findmsg(1), insertmsg(1), catgetmsg(3C), catgets(3C), catopen(3C). 
Native Language Support, section in HP-UX Concepts and Tutorials: Device I/O and User Interfacing. 

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

8- and 16-bit data, 8-bit file names, messages. 

Hewlett-Packard Company  —  May 11, 2021