MSGCAT(1)                             GNU                            MSGCAT(1)



NAME
       msgcat - combines several message catalogs

SYNOPSIS
       msgcat [OPTION] [INPUTFILE]...

DESCRIPTION
       Concatenates  and  merges  the specified PO files.  Find messages which
       are common to two or more of the specified  PO  files.   By  using  the
       --more-than  option,  greater  commonality may be requested before mes-
       sages are printed.  Conversely, the --less-than option may be  used  to
       specify   less   commonality   before   messages   are   printed  (i.e.
       --less-than=2 will only print the unique messages).  Translations, com-
       ments   and   extract  comments  will  be  cumulated,  except  that  if
       --use-first is specified, they will be taken from the first PO file  to
       define them.  File positions from all PO files will be cumulated.

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

   Input file location:
       INPUTFILE ...
              input files

       -f, --files-from=FILE
              get list of input files from FILE

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

       If input file is -, standard input is read.

   Output file location:
       -o, --output-file=FILE
              write output to specified file

       The results are written to standard output if no output file is  speci-
       fied or if it is -.

   Message selection:
       -<, --less-than=NUMBER
              print messages with less than this many definitions, defaults to
              infinite if not set

       ->, --more-than=NUMBER
              print messages with more than this many definitions, defaults to
              0 if not set

       -u, --unique
              shorthand  for --less-than=2, requests that only unique messages
              be printed

   Input file syntax:
       -P, --properties-input
              input files are in Java .properties syntax

       --stringtable-input
              input files are in NeXTstep/GNUstep .strings syntax

   Output details:
       -t, --to-code=NAME
              encoding for output

       --use-first
              use first available translation for each  message,  don't  merge
              several translations

       -e, --no-escape
              do not use C escapes in output (default)

       -E, --escape
              use C escapes in output, no extended chars

       --force-po
              write PO file even if empty

       -i, --indent
              write the .po file using indented style

       --no-location
              do not write '#: filename:line' lines

       -n, --add-location
              generate '#: filename:line' lines (default)

       --strict
              write out strict Uniforum conforming .po file

       -p, --properties-output
              write out a Java .properties file

       --stringtable-output
              write out a NeXTstep/GNUstep .strings file

       -w, --width=NUMBER
              set output page width

       --no-wrap
              do  not  break  long  message lines, longer than the output page
              width, into several lines

       -s, --sort-output
              generate sorted output

       -F, --sort-by-file
              sort output by file location

   Informative output:
       -h, --help
              display this help and exit

       -V, --version
              output version information and exit

AUTHOR
       Written by Bruno Haible.

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

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright (C) 2001-2005 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 msgcat is maintained as  a  Texinfo  manual.
       If  the  info  and msgcat programs are properly installed at your site,
       the command

              info msgcat

       should give you access to the complete manual.



GNU gettext-tools 0.14.4          April 2005                         MSGCAT(1)
