Language-Specific Message Text Definitions

After the message definition statements, you specify one or more message text definitions.

Syntax

Language=language_name
messagetext
.

Each message begins with a Language statement that identifies the binary output file for this message. The first line of the message text begins with the next line. The message text is terminated by a line containing a single period at the beginning of the line, immediately followed by a new line. No spaces are allowed around the terminating period. Within the message, blank lines and white space are preserved as part of the message.

You can specify several escape sequences for formatting the message when the message text is used by the application or an event viewer. The percent sign character (%) begins all escape sequences.

%0

Terminates a message text line without a trailing newline. This can be used to build up long lines or to terminate the message without a trailing newline, which is useful for prompt messages.

%n[!printf-format-specifier!]

Identifies an insert. Each insert refers to a parameter used in a call to the FormatMessage function. FormatMessage returns an error if the message text specifies an insert that was not passed to FormatMessage.

The value of n can be between 1 and 99. The printf format specifier must be enclosed in exclamation marks. It is optional and defaults to !s! if not specified.

The printf format specifier can contain the * specifier for either the precision or width components. When specified, they consume inserts numbered n+1 and n+2 for their values at run time. MC prints a warning message if these inserts are specified elsewhere in the message text.

Any character following a percent sign other than a digit is formatted in the output message without the percent sign.

You can specify the following additional escape sequences:

%%

Generates a single percent sign in the formatted message text.

%\

Generates a hard line break when it occurs at the end of a line. Useful when FormatMessage is supplying normal line breaks so the message fits in a certain width.

%r

Generates a hard carriage return, without a trailing newline character.

%b

Generates a space character in the formatted message text. This can be used to ensure there are the appropriate number of trailing spaces in a message text line.

%.

Generates a single period in the formatted message text. This can be used to get a period at the beginning of a line without terminating the message definition.

%!

Generates a single exclamation point in the formatted message text. This can be used to specify an exclamation point immediately after an insert.