Re: gettext documentation not accurate for Debian?

[Raja R Harinath <harinath@cs.umn.edu>]

Martin Schulze <joey@finlandia.infodrom.north.de> writes:
> Avery Pennarun wrote:
> > >   b) "remove these definitions" will end up in the following errors:
> > > 
> > >      this.o: In function `main':
> > >      this.o(.text+0x28): undefined reference to `_'
> > > 
> > >      Instead you have to turn these definitions into the following in
> > >      order to get your program compiled.
> > > 
> > >      #define _(String) (String)
> > >      #define N_(String) (String)
> > 
> > Hmm, my understanding was that _(String) was just another way to say
> > gettext(String).  So, you can #define this:
> > 
> > 	#define _(String) gettext(String)
> 
> Indeed.  I quoted the wrong line.  I added your line to my program
> and it worked.
> 
> > And you should be okay.  Now, I've never actually used gettext, so I don't
> > know if this macro used to be defined, but now isn't in libc6.
> > 
> > In any case, libintl.h certainly doesn't seem to have the _() define
> > nowadays.  I don't know what N_() does, but perhaps something else in
> > libintl.h will look right.
> 
> _(string) will be added to the pot file, N_(string) won't be added.

Nope.  Both _() and N_() marked strings are added to the pot file.  If
you don't want it to be added, don't mark the string.  The usual usage is

	#define _(s) gettext(s)
	#define N_(s) (s)

This is useful to mark static strings, since you can't initialize a
static string with a function call return.

	char *string_table[] ={ N_("Hi"), N_("Howdy"), N_("Do") };

	int main()
	{
	  for (i = 0; i < sizeof string_table/sizeofstring_table[0];++i)
            puts(gettext(string_table[i]));
        }

- Hari
-- 
Raja R Harinath ------------------------------ harinath@cs.umn.edu
"When all else fails, read the instructions."      -- Cahn's Axiom
"Our policy is, when in doubt, do the right thing."   -- Roy L Ash