localedef(1M) localedef(1M)
NAME
localedef - generate a locale environment
SYNOPSIS
compiler_options] loader_options] method_file] charmap_file] locale_definition] code_set_name] locale_name
DESCRIPTION
The command sets up the language environment for the named locale. The command reads a file (see localedef(4) for a detailed description)
from standard input (default) or from locale_definition file, creates a locale file with the same name as specified for the locale_name
parameter, and optionally installs this locale in the appropriate directory. Installation of public locales (those accessible to all
users) requires appropriate privileges. Creation of locales (both private and public) requires access to the ANSI C compiler.
Options
The command recognizes the following options:
Create permanent output even if warning messages have been generated.
Generate 64-bit locale in addition to the 32-bit locale. This is the
default on a 64-bit operating system (and hence on Itanium(R)-based systems) and is included to allow cross platform devel-
opment.
(noinstall) Create the locale file in the current directory.
(verbose) Generate as many diagnostic messages as possible.
Generate additional warning messages for duplicate definitions and ellipses
use in the category.
If file contains symbolic names (of the form ) use charmap_file. See charmap(4) for a description of the format of a
charmap_file.
Use locale_definition file as input, instead of standard input (default).
Use the specified
method_file to overwrite use of default methods in processing the
Specify the name of a codeset used as the target mapping of character
symbols and collating element symbols whose encoding values are defined in terms of the Unicode (ISO/IEC 10646-1:2000)
scalar values.
Specify additional compiler options to be applied in compiling the locale.
See cc_bundled(1) for a complete list of options. Use with care on a 64-bit operating system since the additional default
option includes +DA2.0W on PA-RISC and +DD64 on Itanium-based systems.
Specify additional loader options to be applied in linking the locale.
See ld(1) for a complete list of options.
locale_name This argument is required, and identifies the name of the language following the naming convention of the environment vari-
able (see environ(5)):
language[_territory][.codeset]
The following is a brief description of the components that make up a locale. For a complete description of the form and syntax of a file,
see localedef(4). For a complete description of the form and effects of a charmap file, see charmap(4).
Six categories of data in the file are recognized by and make up a language definition:
Information in this category affects behavior
of regular-expressions and NLS string-collation functions.
Information in this category affects behavior
of character classification and conversion functions.
Information in this category affects behavior
of functions that handle monetary values.
Information in this category affects handling of the radix character
in formatted-input/output and string-conversion functions.
Information in this category affects behavior
of time-conversion functions.
This category contains information
affecting interpretation of yes/no responses.
A file also consists of six categories. The beginning of each category is identified by a having the form where category is one of the
following: or The end of each category is identified by a tag consisting of the word followed by a space and the category identifier; for
example, Categories can appear in any order in the file. At least one category specifications is required. If a category is not speci-
fied, sets up the default "C" locale for that category (see setlocale(3C) and lang(5)).
Each category is composed of one or more statements. Each statement begins with a keyword followed by one or more expressions. An expres-
sion is a set of well-formed metacharacters, strings, and constants. The command also recognizes comments and separators.
More than one definition specified for each category constitutes a hard error (causes the command to exit without generating a locale).
Any category can be specified by the keyword followed by the name of a valid locale. This causes the information for the category to be
identical to that in the named locale. Note that the keyword, if used for a category, must be the first and only keyword following the
category tag.
A methods file is used to create locales for user-specific character encoding schemes.
Operating System Requirements
For cross platform development and development on a 64-bit operating system several requirements must be observed. Both the 32-bit and
64-bit method libraries must exist. In the case of the 64-bit shared library it must be in the directory ( or in case of PA-RISC systems)
under the location where the 32-bit library is located. When the option is specified, or when executing on a 64-bit operating system, the
resulting locale is placed in the directory in case of PA-RISC systems) under the current working directory unless the install option has
been specified.
Notes
A locale built for one system cannot be used on other systems.
Users will not be able to generate PA-RISC locales on systems.
When the option is used, the code_set_name option argument is interpreted as a name of a codeset to which the ISO/IEC 10646-1:2000 standard
position constant values (Unicode scalar values) are converted. Both the Unicode scalar values (via the "u" character constants) and
other formats (decimal, hexadecimal, or octal) are valid as encoding values within the charmap file. The codeset can be any codeset that
is supported by the function on the system.
When conflicts occur between the charmap specification of or and the corresponding value for the codeset represented by the option argument
code_set_name, the command fails with an error.
If the keywords and are not specified in the locale source, the values of the keywords and will be used respectively for formatting mone-
tary quantities with international currency symbols.
EXTERNAL INFLUENCES
Environment Variables
determines the locale to use when neither or the other category variables specify a locale.
determines locale to be used. It overrides any values specified by or any other variables.
and have no effect on the processing of the localedef command, which behaves as if these two variables were set to the C locale.
determines the language in which messages are displayed.
International Code Set Support
Single and multi-byte character codesets are supported.
RETURN VALUE
The command returns the following values:
No errors occurred and the locale was successfully created.
Warnings occurred and the locale was successfully created.
The locale specification exceeded implementation limits or the
coded character set used is not supported.
Warnings or errors occurred, and no output was generated.
AUTHOR
The command was developed by OSF and HP.
FILES FOR PA-RISC SYSTEMS
FILES FOR ITANIUM-BASED SYSTEMS
In addition to the PA-RISC files, the following files are present on Itanium-based systems.
SEE ALSO
locale(1), setlocale(3C), charmap(4), localedef(4), environ(5).
STANDARDS CONFORMANCE
localedef(1M)