NAME

gettext − retrieve text string from message database

SYNOPSIS

gettext [ textdomain ] msgid

AVAILABILITY

SUNWcsu

DESCRIPTION

gettext retrieves a translated text string corresponding to string msgid from a message object generated with msgfmt(1).  The message object name is derived from the optional argument textdomain if present, otherwise from the TEXTDOMAIN environment.  If no domain is specified, or if a corresponding string cannot be found, gettext prints msgid.

Ordinarily gettext looks for its message object in /usr/lib/locale/lang/LC_MESSAGES where lang is the locale name.  If present, the TEXTDOMAINDIR environment variable replaces the pathname component up to lang.

This command interprets C escape sequences such as \t for tab.  Use \\ to print a backslash.  To produce a message on a line of its own, either put a \n at the end of msgid, or use this command in conjunction with printf(1). 

ENVIRONMENT

LANG
Specifies locale name.

LC_MESSAGES
Specifies messaging locale, and if present overrides LANG for messages. 

TEXTDOMAIN
Specifies the text domain name, which is identical to the message object filename without .mo suffix. 

TEXTDOMAINDIR
Specifies the pathname to the message database, and if present replaces /usr/lib/locale. 

SEE ALSO

msgfmt(1), printf(1), gettext(3I), setlocale(3C)

NOTES

This is the shell equivalent of the library routine gettext(3I). 

SunOS 5.5/SPARC  —  Last change: 30 Sep 1992