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

       -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  --out-
              put-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
              increase verbosity level

AUTHOR
       Written by Ulrich Drepper.

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

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright  (C)  1995-1998,  2000-2007  Free  Software  Foundation, Inc.
       License     GPLv3+:     GNU     GPL     version     3     or      later
       <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
       This  is  free  software:  you  are free to change and redistribute it.
       There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

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.