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/usr/bin/msgattrib

GNU locale utilities

From gettext 1.0-r8 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running msgattrib --help (exit 0). permalink

Usage: /usr/bin/msgattrib [OPTION] [INPUTFILE]

Filters the messages of a translation catalog according to their attributes,
and manipulates the attributes.

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

Input file location:
  INPUTFILE                   input PO file
  -D, --directory=DIRECTORY   add DIRECTORY to list for input files search
If no input file is given or if it 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 specified
or if it is -.

Message selection:
      --translated            keep translated, remove untranslated messages
      --untranslated          keep untranslated, remove translated messages
      --no-fuzzy              remove 'fuzzy' marked messages
      --only-fuzzy            keep 'fuzzy' marked messages
      --no-obsolete           remove obsolete #~ messages
      --only-obsolete         keep obsolete #~ messages

Attribute manipulation:
      --set-fuzzy             set all messages 'fuzzy'
      --clear-fuzzy           set all messages non-'fuzzy'
      --set-obsolete          set all messages obsolete
      --clear-obsolete        set all messages non-obsolete
      --previous              when setting 'fuzzy', keep previous msgids
                              of translated messages.
      --clear-previous        remove the "previous msgid" from all messages
      --empty                 when removing 'fuzzy', also set msgstr empty
      --only-file=FILE.po     manipulate only entries listed in FILE.po
      --ignore-file=FILE.po   manipulate only entries not listed in FILE.po
      --fuzzy                 synonym for --only-fuzzy --clear-fuzzy
      --obsolete              synonym for --only-obsolete --clear-obsolete

Input file syntax:
  -P, --properties-input      input file is in Java .properties syntax
      --stringtable-input     input file is in NeXTstep/GNUstep .strings syntax

Output details:
      --color                 use colors and other text attributes always
      --color=WHEN            use colors and other text attributes if WHEN.
                              WHEN may be 'always', 'never', 'auto', or 'html'.
      --style=STYLEFILE       specify CSS style rule file for --color
  -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

Report bugs in the bug tracker at <https://savannah.gnu.org/projects/gettext>
or by email to <bug-gettext@gnu.org>.
Options (38)
OptionDescriptionSource
-D, --directory DIRECTORYadd DIRECTORY to list for input files searchhelp + man
-o, --output-file FILEwrite output to specified filehelp + man
--translatedkeep translated, remove untranslated messageshelp + man
--untranslatedkeep untranslated, remove translated messageshelp + man
--no-fuzzyremove 'fuzzy' marked messageshelp + man
--only-fuzzykeep 'fuzzy' marked messageshelp + man
--no-obsoleteremove obsolete #~ messageshelp + man
--only-obsoletekeep obsolete #~ messageshelp + man
--set-fuzzyset all messages 'fuzzy'help + man
--clear-fuzzyset all messages non-'fuzzy'help + man
--set-obsoleteset all messages obsoletehelp + man
--clear-obsoleteset all messages non-obsoletehelp + man
--previouswhen setting 'fuzzy', keep previous msgids of translated messages.help + man
--clear-previousremove the "previous msgid" from all messageshelp + man
--emptywhen removing 'fuzzy', also set msgstr emptyhelp + man
--only-file FILE.pomanipulate only entries listed in FILE.pohelp + man
--ignore-file FILE.pomanipulate only entries not listed in FILE.pohelp + man
--fuzzysynonym for --only-fuzzy --clear-fuzzyhelp + man
--obsoletesynonym for --only-obsolete --clear-obsoletehelp + man
-P, --properties-inputinput file is in Java .properties syntaxhelp + man
--stringtable-inputinput file is in NeXTstep/GNUstep .strings syntaxhelp + man
--coloruse colors and other text attributes alwayshelp + man
--style STYLEFILEspecify CSS style rule file for --colorhelp + man
-e, --no-escapedo not use C escapes in output (default)help + man
-E, --escapeuse C escapes in output, no extended charshelp + man
--force-powrite PO file even if emptyhelp + man
-i, --indentwrite the .po file using indented stylehelp + man
--no-locationdo not write '#: filename:line' lineshelp + man
-n, --add-locationgenerate '#: filename:line' lines (default)help + man
--strictwrite out strict Uniforum conforming .po filehelp + man
-p, --properties-outputwrite out a Java .properties filehelp + man
--stringtable-outputwrite out a NeXTstep/GNUstep .strings filehelp + man
-w, --width NUMBERset output page widthhelp + man
--no-wrapdo not break long message lines, longer than the output page width, into several lineshelp + man
-s, --sort-outputgenerate sorted outputhelp + man
-F, --sort-by-filesort output by file locationhelp + man
-h, --helpdisplay this help and exithelp + man
-V, --versionoutput version information and exithelp + man

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.