msgexec Command in Linux
msgexec is a Linux command-line tool that belongs to the GNU gettext utilities. It is designed to apply a specified command to each message in a message catalog (typically a .po file). This tool is particularly useful for developers working on internationalization and localization of software, as it allows for the automation of processing tasks on translation messages.
Table of Contents
Here is a comprehensive guide to the options available with the msgexec command −
Syntax of msgexec Command
Here's the standard syntax for running the msgexec command in Linux −
msgexec [options] input.po -- command
Where −
- [options] are optional parameters that modify the command's behavior.
- input.po is the Portable Object file on which you want to execute the command.
- command is the command to be executed on each message in the input file.
msgexec Command Options
Here are some various options you can apply with the msgexec command −
Input File Location
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -i inputfile, --input=inputfile | Specifies the input PO file. |
| -D directory, --directory=directory | Adds DIRECTORY to the list for input files search. |
If no input file is given or if it is specified as -, the command reads from standard input.
Input File Syntax
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -P, --properties-input | Indicates that the input file is in Java .properties syntax, not in PO file syntax. |
| --stringtable-input | Indicates that the input file is in NeXTstep/GNUstep .strings syntax, not in PO file syntax. |
Informative Output
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -h, --help | Displays help information and exits. |
| -V, --version | Outputs version information and exits. |
Examples of msgexec Command in Linux
Below are a few examples showcasing how to utilize the msgexec command in various situations to execute commands on message catalogs efficiently.
- Basic Command Execution
- Specifying Input Directory
- Using a Custom Script
- Using Java Properties File Syntax
- Using NEXTstep/GNUstep Strings File Syntax
Basic Command Execution
To execute a simple command that prints each message in a .po file −
msgexec -i input.po -- echo
This command processes input.po and executes the echo command on each message, effectively printing each message to the standard output.
Specifying Input Directory
If your input file is located in a specific directory, use the -D option −
msgexec -D /path/to/directory -i input.po -- cat
This command processes input.po from the specified directory and executes the cat command on each message.
Using a Custom Script
To apply a custom script to each message in the .po file −
msgexec -i input.po -- ./my_script.sh
This command processes input.po and executes my_script.sh on each message, allowing for customized processing of each translation message.
Using Java Properties File Syntax
If the input file is in Java .properties syntax, use the -P option −
msgexec -P -i input.properties -- echo
This command processes input.properties assuming it is in Java .properties syntax and executes the echo command on each message.
Using NeXTstep/GNUstep Strings File Syntax
If the input file is in NeXTstep/GNUstep .strings syntax, use the --stringtable-input option −
msgexec --stringtable-input -i input.strings -- echo
This command processes input.strings assuming it is in NeXTstep/GNUstep .strings syntax and executes the echo command on each message.
Conclusion
msgexec is a powerful tool for developers working on the internationalization and localization of software. By executing commands on message catalogs, it automates processing tasks and ensures efficient management of translation messages.
Whether performing basic command execution, specifying input directories, or applying custom scripts, msgexec provides the necessary functionality to streamline your workflow.