msgunfmt

Output conversion

$ msgunfmt [path/to/file.mo]

$ msgunfmt [path/to/file.mo] > [path/to/file.po]

msgunfmt [OPTION] INPUTFILE

-o, --output-file=FILE
    Writes the converted PO output to the specified FILE instead of standard output.

-c, --check
    Checks the validity of the input file without producing any output file. Useful for validation.

-e, --encoding=ENCODING
    Specifies the character encoding for the input file, overriding auto-detection.

--force-check
    Similar to --check, but continues checking for errors even after the first one is encountered.

--textdomain=TEXTDOMAIN
    Used in conjunction with --check to specify the text domain for validity checks.

--color[=WHEN]
    Colorizes diagnostic messages; WHEN can be always, never, or auto.

--no-color
    Disables color output for messages, equivalent to --color=never.

--color-always
    Forces color output for messages, equivalent to --color=always.

--color-never
    Disables color output, equivalent to --color=never.

--help
    Displays a help message and exits.

--version
    Displays version information and exits.

msgunfmt is a utility from the GNU Gettext toolset, designed to reverse the action of the msgfmt --unformatted command. While msgfmt compiles a human-readable PO (Portable Object) file into a machine-optimized MO (Machine Object) file, the --unformatted option of msgfmt creates an "unformatted" message file. This unformatted file, typically used for specific internal processing or intermediate steps, is not a standard PO file. msgunfmt takes such an unformatted file as input and converts it back into a standard, editable PO file.

This is particularly useful in localization workflows where an intermediate unformatted representation might be generated, and there's a need to revert it to a more manageable and human-editable format for further translation or review. It ensures the integrity of the localization process by allowing round-tripping of message data.

msgunfmt specifically expects an input file that was generated by msgfmt --unformatted. It cannot convert arbitrary binary MO files or other message formats.
It assumes the input file adheres to the internal format generated by msgfmt's unformatted option.
Errors in the input format can lead to incorrect output or failures during conversion.

msgunfmt is typically not used in the primary xgettext -> msginit -> translate -> msgfmt workflow. Instead, it addresses specific scenarios where an unformatted message file (possibly an intermediate representation for specialized tools or archival) needs to be converted back into a human-readable PO file for editing or review. Its niche role makes it a powerful tool for certain advanced or recovery scenarios within the Gettext ecosystem.

msgunfmt is an integral part of the GNU Gettext utilities, a widely used framework for internationalization and localization (i18n and l10n) in GNU/Linux and other Unix-like systems. Developed as part of the Free Software Foundation's efforts, Gettext provides a standardized way to manage multi-language support in software. msgunfmt was introduced to provide a reverse operation for the less common msgfmt --unformatted output, ensuring a complete set of tools for various localization workflows. Its development has been consistent with the evolution of the broader Gettext project, focusing on robustness and compatibility.

msgfmt(1), xgettext(1), msgmerge(1), msginit(1), gettext(1)