NAME

gencat − generate a formatted message catalog file

SYNOPSIS

gencat catfile file ... 

DESCRIPTION

Gencat merges message source files into a formatted catfile which can be accessed by getmsg(3C). If catfile does not exist it will be created.  If catfile does exist its messages will be included in the new catfile unless set and message numbers collide, in which case the new supersedes the old.  The files consist of sets of messages along with comments. 

The format for message source in the files has been designed to include compatibility with MPE and RTE.  A line which begins with a dollar sign followed by a blank denotes a comment and may appear anywhere in a file. 

A message set consists of a line of the form

$setn [comment]

followed by lines of the form

m message-text

where n denotes the set number (1-255) and m the message number (1-32767).  Typically the set number will be used to identify the language, while the message number denotes which string from a given program is wanted.  Message-text is a C string, including white space and ‘\’ escapes, without the surrounding quotes.  A $set line may optionally contain comment text following the set number.  Set numbers and message numbers must be in ascending order but need not be contiguous. 

If a message source line has a number but no text then the existing message with this number is deleted from the catalog. 

To delete an entire message set the directive

$DELSET set_name

may be placed at the beginning of a line between sets. 

SEE ALSO

findmsg(1), insertmsg(1), getmsg(3C). 

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

8- and 16-bit data, 8-bit filenames, messages. 

Hewlett-Packard Company  —  Version B.1,  May 11, 2021