Locale Definition Source File Format

Purpose

Contains one or more categories that describe a locale.

Description

A locale definition source file contains one or more categories that describe a locale. Files using this format can be converted into a locale by using the localedef command. Locales can be modified only by editing a locale definition source file and then using the localedef command again on the new source file. Locales are not affected by a locale definition source file unless the file is first converted using the localedef command.

The locale definition source file sections define categories of locale data. A source file should not contain more than one section for the same category. The following categories are supported:

The category definition consists of:

• The category header (category name)
• The associated keyword/value pairs that comprise the category body
• The category trailer (which consists of END category-name)

For example:

LC_CTYPE
source for LC_CTYPE category
END LC_CTYPE

The source for all of the categories is specified using keywords, strings, character literals, and character symbols. Each keyword identifies either a definition or a rule. The remainder of the statement containing the keyword contains the operands to the keyword. Operands are separated from the keyword by one or more blank characters. A statement may be continued on the next line by placing a / (backslash) as the last character before the new-line character that terminates the line. Lines containing the comment_char entry in the first column are treated as comment lines. The default is # (pound sign).

The first category header in the file can be preceded by a line that changes the comment character. It has the following format, starting in column 1:

comment_char character

where character is the new comment character.

Blank lines and lines containing the comment character in the first position are ignored.

A character symbol begins with the < (less-than) character, followed by up to 30 non-control, non-space characters, and ends with the > (greater-than) character. For example, <A-diaeresis> is a valid character symbol. Any character symbol referenced in the source file should either be one of the portable character set symbols or should be defined in the provided character set description (charmap) source file.

A character literal is the character itself, or else a decimal, hexadecimal, or octal constant. A decimal constant is of the form:

\dxxx

where x is a decimal digit. A hexadecimal constant is of the form:

\xddd

where d is a hexadecimal digit. An octal constant is of the form:

\ddd

where d is an octal digit.

A string is a sequence of character symbols, or literals enclosed by " " (double-quotation marks). For example:

"<A-diaeresis> \d65\d120 <B>"

The explicit definition of each category in a locale definition source file is not required. When a category is undefined in a locale definition source file, it defaults to the C locale definition.

The first category header in the file can be preceded by a line that changes the escape character used in the file. It has the following format, starting in column 1:

escape_char character

where character is the new escape character.

The escape character defaults to the / (backslash).

Implementation Specifics

This source file format is part of the Base Operating System (BOS) Runtime.

Files

Related Information

The locale command, localedef command.

Character Set Description (charmap) Source File Format, Locale Method Source File Format.

For specific information about the locale categories and their keywords, see the LC_COLLATE category, LC_CTYPE category, LC_MESSAGES category, LC_MONETARY category, LC_NUMERIC category, and LC_TIME category for the locale definition source file format.

Changing Your Locale and Understanding the Locale Definition Source File in AIX Version 4.3 System Management Guide: Operating System and Devices.