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

# msgunfmt(1)

uncompile message catalog from binary format

## NAME

msgunfmt - uncompile message catalog from binary format

## SYNOPSIS

**msgunfmt** \[*OPTION*\] \[*FILE*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

Convert binary message catalog to Uniforum style .po file.

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

### Operation mode:

- **-j**, **--java**

  Java mode: input is a Java ResourceBundle class

- **--csharp**

  C# mode: input is a .NET .dll file

- **--csharp-resources**

  C# resources mode: input is a .NET .resources file

- **--tcl**

  Tcl mode: input is a tcl/msgcat .msg file

### Input file location:

- FILE ...

  input .mo files

If no input file is given or if it is -, standard input is read.

### Input file location in Java mode:

- **-r**, **--resource**=*RESOURCE*

  resource name

- **-l**, **--locale**=*LOCALE*

  locale name, either language or language\_COUNTRY

The class name is determined by appending the locale name to the resource name, separated with an underscore.  The class is located using the CLASSPATH.

### Input file location in C# mode:

- **-r**, **--resource**=*RESOURCE*

  resource name

- **-l**, **--locale**=*LOCALE*

  locale name, either language or language\_COUNTRY

- **-d** DIRECTORY

  base directory for locale dependent .dll files

The **-l** and **-d** options are mandatory.  The .dll file is located in a subdirectory of the specified directory whose name depends on the locale.

### Input file location in Tcl mode:

- **-l**, **--locale**=*LOCALE*

  locale name, either language or language\_COUNTRY

- **-d** DIRECTORY

  base directory of .msg message catalogs

The **-l** and **-d** options are mandatory.  The .msg file is located in the specified directory.

### 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 -.

### 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 indented output style

- **--strict**

  write strict uniforum 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

### Informative output:

- **-h**, **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **-V**, **--version**

  output version information and exit

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  increase verbosity level

## AUTHOR

Written by Ulrich Drepper and 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 © 1995-2026 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 **msgunfmt** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **msgunfmt** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info msgunfmt**

should give you access to the complete manual.