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

# msginit(1)

initialize a message catalog

## NAME

msginit - initialize a message catalog

## SYNOPSIS

**msginit** \[*OPTION*\]

## DESCRIPTION

Creates a new PO file, initializing the meta information with values from the user's environment.

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

### Input file location:

- **-i**, **--input**=*INPUTFILE*

  input POT file

If no input file is given, the current directory is searched for the POT file. If it is -, standard input is read.

### Output file location:

- **-o**, **--output-file**=*FILE*

  write output to specified PO file

If no output file is given, it depends on the **--locale** option or the user's locale setting. If the output file already exists, it is merged with the input file, as if through 'msgmerge'. If it is -, the results are written to standard output.

### 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:

- **-l**, **--locale**=*LL\_CC\[*.ENCODING\]

  set target locale

- **--no-translator**

  assume the PO file is automatically generated

- **--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**

- **-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

### 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 **msginit** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **msginit** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info msginit**

should give you access to the complete manual.