# phpman > man > MSGINIT(1)

> **TLDR:** Generate language specific translation files based on Portable Object Templates.
>
- Generate Portable Object files in system locale from `messages.pot`:
  `msginit`
- Define locale to generate from a specific template:
  `msginit {{-l|--locale}} {{locale}} {{-i|--input}} {{path/to/messages.pot}}`
- Display help:
  `msginit {{-h|--help}}`

*Source: tldr-pages*

---

[MSGINIT(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MSGINIT/1/markdown)                                  User Commands                                 [MSGINIT(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MSGINIT/1/markdown)



## 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 environ‐
       ment.

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

### Input file location:
### -i --input
              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
              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 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
              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
              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 © 2001-2020 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  **ms**‐‐
       **ginit** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

              **info** **msginit**

       should give you access to the complete manual.



GNU gettext-tools 0.21                       March 2022                                   [MSGINIT(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MSGINIT/1/markdown)