---
syntax: markdown
tags: [tldr, common]
source: https://github.com/tldr-pages/tldr.git
---
# xgettext

> Extract gettext strings from code files.
> More information: <https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/manual/html_node/xgettext-Invocation.html>.

- Scan file and output strings to `messages.po`:

`xgettext {{path/to/input_file}}`

- Use a different output filename:

`xgettext --output {{path/to/output_file}} {{path/to/input_file}}`

- Append new strings to an existing file:

`xgettext --join-existing --output {{path/to/output_file}} {{path/to/input_file}}`

- Don't add a header containing metadata to the output file:

`xgettext --omit-header {{path/to/input_file}}`
