---
name: "msghack"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "translate-toolkit"
version: "3.15.1-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/msghack"
---

# msghack(1)

alter PO files in ways

## NAME

msghack - alter PO files in ways

## SYNOPSIS

**msghack** \[*OPTION*\] *file.po* \[*ref.po*\]

## DESCRIPTION

This program can be used to alter .po files in ways no sane mind would think about.

- **-o**

  result will be written to FILE

- **--invert**

  invert a po file by switching msgid and msgstr

- **--master**

  join any number of files in a master-formatted catalog

- **--empty**

  empty the contents of the .po file, creating a .pot

- **--append**

  append entries from ref.po that don't exist in file.po

Note: It is just a replacement of msghack for backward support.

This program can be used to alter .po files in ways no sane mind would think about.

- **-o**

  result will be written to FILE

- **--invert**

  invert a po file by switching msgid and msgstr

- **--master**

  join any number of files in a master-formatted catalog

- **--empty**

  empty the contents of the .po file, creating a .pot

- **--append**

  append entries from ref.po that don't exist in file.po

Note: It is just a replacement of msghack for backward support.