## gnu.gettext
Class GettextResource

    java.lang.Object
      |
      +--java.util.ResourceBundle
            |
            +--gnu.gettext.GettextResource

public abstract class GettextResource
extends java.util.ResourceBundle

This class implements the main GNU libintl functions in Java.

Using the GNU gettext approach, compiled message catalogs are normal Java ResourceBundle classes and are thus interoperable with standard ResourceBundle based code.

The main differences between the Sun ResourceBundle approach and the GNU gettext approach are:

- In the Sun approach, the keys are abstract textual shortcuts. In the GNU gettext approach, the keys are the English/ASCII version of the messages.
- In the Sun approach, the translation files are called "Resource_locale.properties" and have non-ASCII characters encoded in the Java `\``unnnn` syntax. Very few editors can natively display international characters in this format. In the GNU gettext approach, the translation files are called "Resource.locale.po" and are in the encoding the translator has chosen. Many editors can be used. There are at least three GUI translating tools (Emacs PO mode, KDE KBabel, GNOME gtranslator).
- In the Sun approach, the function `ResourceBundle.getString` throws a `MissingResourceException` when no translation is found. In the GNU gettext approach, the `gettext` function returns the (English) message key in that case.
- In the Sun approach, there is no support for plural handling. Even the most elaborate MessageFormat strings cannot provide decent plural handling. In the GNU gettext approach, we have the `ngettext` function.

To compile GNU gettext message catalogs into Java ResourceBundle classes, the `msgfmt` program can be used.

Field Summary
`static boolean` `verbose`

Fields inherited from class java.util.ResourceBundle
`parent`

Constructor Summary
`GettextResource()`

Method Summary
`static java.lang.String` `gettext(java.util.ResourceBundle catalog, java.lang.String msgid)` Returns the translation of msgid.
`static java.lang.String` `ngettext(java.util.ResourceBundle catalog, java.lang.String msgid, java.lang.String msgid_plural, long n)` Returns the plural form for n of the translation of msgid.

Methods inherited from class java.util.ResourceBundle
`getBundle, getBundle, getBundle, getKeys, getLocale, getObject, getString, getStringArray, handleGetObject, setParent`

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object
`clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

Field Detail

### verbose

    public static boolean verbose

Constructor Detail

### GettextResource

    public GettextResource()

Method Detail

### gettext

    public static java.lang.String gettext(java.util.ResourceBundle catalog,
                                           java.lang.String msgid)

  Returns the translation of msgid.
  Parameters:
    `catalog` - a ResourceBundle
    `msgid` - the key string to be translated, an ASCII string
  Returns:
    the translation of msgid, or msgid if none is found

### ngettext

    public static java.lang.String ngettext(java.util.ResourceBundle catalog,
                                            java.lang.String msgid,
                                            java.lang.String msgid_plural,
                                            long n)

  Returns the plural form for n of the translation of msgid.
  Parameters:
    `catalog` - a ResourceBundle
    `msgid` - the key string to be translated, an ASCII string
    `msgid_plural` - its English plural form
  Returns:
    the translation of msgid depending on n, or msgid or msgid_plural if none is found