# phpman > man > MSGFMT(1) > **TLDR:** Compile message catalog to binary format. > - Compile a file to `messages.mo`: `msgfmt {{file.po}}` - Convert a `.po` file to a `.mo` file: `msgfmt {{path/to/file.po}} {{-o|--output-file}} {{path/to/file.mo}}` - Display help: `msgfmt {{-h|--help}}` *Source: tldr-pages* --- [MSGFMT(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MSGFMT/1/markdown) User Commands [MSGFMT(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MSGFMT/1/markdown) ## NAME msgfmt - compile message catalog to binary format ## SYNOPSIS **msgfmt** [_OPTION_] _filename.po_ ... ## DESCRIPTION Generate binary message catalog from textual translation description. Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too. Similarly for op‐ tional arguments. ### Input file location: filename.po ... input files ### -D --directory add DIRECTORY to list for input files search If input file is -, standard input is read. ### Operation mode: ### -j --java Java mode: generate a Java ResourceBundle class ### --java2 like **--java**, and assume Java2 (JDK 1.2 or higher) ### --csharp C# mode: generate a .NET .dll file ### --csharp-resources C# resources mode: generate a .NET .resources file **--tcl** Tcl mode: generate a tcl/msgcat .msg file **--qt** Qt mode: generate a Qt .qm file ### --desktop Desktop Entry mode: generate a .desktop file **--xml** XML mode: generate XML file ### Output file location: ### -o --output-file write output to specified file ### --strict enable strict Uniforum mode If output file is -, output is written to standard output. ### Output file location in Java mode: ### -r --resource resource name ### -l --locale locale name, either language or language_COUNTRY ### --source produce a .java file, instead of a .class file ### -d base directory of classes directory hierarchy The class name is determined by appending the locale name to the resource name, separated with an underscore. The **-d** option is mandatory. The class is written under the specified directory. ### Output file location in C# mode: ### -r --resource resource name ### -l --locale locale name, either language or language_COUNTRY ### -d base directory for locale dependent .dll files The **-l** and **-d** options are mandatory. The .dll file is written in a subdirectory of the spec‐ ified directory whose name depends on the locale. ### Output file location in Tcl mode: ### -l --locale locale name, either language or language_COUNTRY ### -d base directory of .msg message catalogs The **-l** and **-d** options are mandatory. The .msg file is written in the specified directory. ### Desktop Entry mode options: ### -l --locale locale name, either language or language_COUNTRY ### -o --output-file write output to specified file **--template**=_TEMPLATE_ a .desktop file used as a template ### -d base directory of .po files ### -kWORD --keyword look for WORD as an additional keyword ### -k --keyword do not to use default keywords The **-l**, **-o**, and **--template** options are mandatory. If **-D** is specified, input files are read from the directory instead of the command line arguments. ### XML mode options: ### -l --locale locale name, either language or language_COUNTRY ### -L --language recognise the specified XML language ### -o --output-file write output to specified file **--template**=_TEMPLATE_ an XML file used as a template ### -d base directory of .po files The **-l**, **-o**, and **--template** options are mandatory. If **-D** is specified, input files are read from the directory instead of the command line arguments. ### Input file syntax: ### -P --properties-input input files are in Java .properties syntax ### --stringtable-input input files are in NeXTstep/GNUstep .strings syntax ### Input file interpretation: ### -c --check perform all the checks implied by **--check-format**, **--check-header**, **--check-domain** ### --check-format check language dependent format strings ### --check-header verify presence and contents of the header entry ### --check-domain check for conflicts between domain directives and the **--output-file** option ### -C --check-compatibility check that GNU msgfmt behaves like X/Open msgfmt **--check-accelerators**[=_CHAR_] check presence of keyboard accelerators for menu items ### -f --use-fuzzy use fuzzy entries in output ### Output details: ### -a --alignment align strings to NUMBER bytes (default: 1) **--endianness**=_BYTEORDER_ write out 32-bit numbers in the given byte order (big or little, default depends on platform) ### --no-hash binary file will not include the hash table ### Informative output: ### -h --help display this help and exit ### -V --version output version information and exit ### --statistics print statistics about translations ### -v --verbose increase verbosity level ## AUTHOR Written by Ulrich Drepper. ## REPORTING BUGS Report bugs in the bug tracker at <> or by email to <>. ## COPYRIGHT Copyright © 1995-2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <> 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 **msgfmt** is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the **info** and **msgfmt** programs are properly installed at your site, the command **info** **msgfmt** should give you access to the complete manual. GNU gettext-tools 0.21 March 2022 [MSGFMT(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MSGFMT/1/markdown)