---
name: "msgconv"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gettext"
version: "1.0-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/msgconv"
---

# msgconv(1)

character set conversion for message catalog

## NAME

msgconv - character set conversion for message catalog

## SYNOPSIS

**msgconv** \[*OPTION*\] \[*INPUTFILE*\]

## DESCRIPTION

Converts a translation catalog to a different character encoding.

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 -.

### Conversion target:

- **-t**, **--to-code**=*NAME*

  encoding for output

The default encoding is the current locale's encoding.

### 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**

  indented output style

- **--no-location**

  suppress '#: filename:line' lines

- **-n**, **--add-location**

  preserve '#: filename:line' lines (default)

- **--strict**

  strict Uniforum output style

- **-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

## AUTHOR

Written by Bruno Haible.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs in the bug tracker at \<https://savannah.gnu.org/projects/gettext\> or by email to \<bug-gettext@gnu.org\>.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2001-2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://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 **msgconv** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **msgconv** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info msgconv**

should give you access to the complete manual.