Open System Services Shell and Utilities Reference Manual (G06.27+, H06.04+)

User Commands (g - j) gencat(1)
message_number text
Inserts text as a message with the identifier message_number. There must be exactly
one blank, space, or tab character between message number and text. Numbers must
be ascending within each set, but need not be contiguous. If the message text is empty,
and a space field separator is present, an empty string is stored in the message catalog.
If a message source line has a message number and nothing else, the existing message
associated with message number (if any) is deleted from the catalog. The length of text
must be in the range 0 through NL_TEXTMAX.
$delset set_number
Deletes the set of messages indicated by set_number. You cannot use symbolic
identifiers with the $delset command.
$quote character
Sets the quote character to character. See the explanation later in this section for more
information. By default, or if the $quote command was last used with no argument, no
quote character is defined.
$len [max_length]
Sets the maximum length allowed for messages in your catalogue. If this command is
not used, or if you use it without the max_length argument, or if the specified value of
max_length is not between 1 and the value of NL_TEXTMAX, inclusive, the max-
imum length defaults to the value of NL_TEXTMAX.
$set set_number
Indicates that all messages entered after this command are placed in the set indicated
by set_number. You can change the set by entering another $set command. However,
set numbers must be entered in ascending order; you can not go back to a lower-
numbered set during the gencat session. If the command is not used, the default set
number is 1.
A line beginning with a digit marks a message to be included in the catalog. The first blank
(space or tab) character following the digit is the field separator. The rest of the line is con-
sidered to be message text unless the first character after the blank is the quote character. In this
case the message text extends from just after the initial quote character to just before the next
unescaped quotation mark character. The rest of the line is ignored.
Escape sequences, like those recognized by the C language, can be used in text; they are listed
after the commands. Use a backslash (\) character to continue message text on the following
line.
The gencat command does not accept symbolic identifiers. If you use symbolic identifiers you
must use the mkcatdefs utility to preprocess a message source file and change symbolic
identifiers into numeric constants.
The Escape character \ (backslash) can be used to include the following special characters in the
message text:
\n Inserts a newline character.
\t Inserts a horizontal tab character.
\v Inserts a vertical tab.
\b Performs a backspace function.
\r Inserts a carriage return.
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