---
name: "Locale::Msgcat"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "libmsgcat-perl"
version: "1.03-8+b4"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Locale::Msgcat"
---

# Locale::Msgcat(3pm)

Perl extension for blah blah blah

## NAME

Locale::Msgcat - Perl extension for blah blah blah

## SYNOPSIS

```
  use Locale::Msgcat;

  $cat = new Locale::Msgcat;
  $rc  = $cat->catopen(name, oflag);
  $msg = $cat->catgets(set_number, message_number, string);
  $rc  = $cat->catclose();
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **Locale::Msgcat** module allows access to the message catalog functions which are available on some systems. A new Locale::Msgcat object must first be created for each catalog which has to be open at a given time.

The **catopen** operation opens the catalog whose name is given as argument. The oflag can be either 0 or NL\_CAT\_LOCALE (usually 1) which is the recommended value.

The **catgets** message retrieves message\_number for the set\_number message set, and if not found returns string.

The **catclose** function should be used when access to a catalog is not needed anymore.

## EXAMPLES

```
  use Locale::Msgcat;
  $cat = new Locale::Msgcat;
  unless ($cat->catopen("whois.cat", 1)) {
      print STDERR "Can't open whois catalog.\n";
      exit(1);
  }
  printf "First message, first set : %s\n", $cat->catgets(1, 1, "not found");
  unless ($cat->catclose()) {
      print STDERR "Can't close whois catalog.\n";
      exit(1);
  }
```

The above example would print the first message from the first message set found in the whois catalog, or if not found it would print "not found".

## AUTHOR

Christophe Wolfhugel, wolf@pasteur.fr

## SEE ALSO

[**catopen**(3)](/catopen/3.md), [**catclose**(3)](/catclose/3.md), [**catgets**(3)](/catgets/3.md), [**perl**(1)](/perl/1.md).