nl_langinfo(3C)

NAME
     nl_langinfo - language information

SYNOPSIS
     #include <nl_types.h>
     #include <langinfo.h>

     char *nl_langinfo (nl_item item);

DESCRIPTION
     nl_langinfo returns a pointer to a null-terminated string containing
     information relevant to a particular language or cultural area defined in
     the program's locale.  The manifest constant names and values of item are
     defined by langinfo.h.

     For example:

          nl_langinfo (ABDAY_1);

     would return a pointer to the string ``Dim'' if the identified language
     was French and a French locale was correctly installed; or ``Sun'' if the
     identified language was English.

     Another example follows which shows the mechanism to change a locale's
     messages related to the following items given in nl_types(5):  T_FMT,
     D_FMT, D_T_FMT, YESSTR, NOSTR. These items are treated specially within
     nl_langinfo().  The items T_FMT, D_FMT, D_T_FMT, YESSTR, and NOSTR are
     retrieved from a special message catalog named Xopen_info which should be
     generated for each locale supported and installed in the appropriate
     directory.  All of the following steps should be done as userid root.

          Create the file: /tmp/Xopen_info.src containing the following five
          lines corresponding to the items: T_FMT, D_FMT, D_T_FMT, YESSTR, and
          NOSTR, respectively:

               %H:%M:%S
               %m/%d/%y
               %a %b %e %H:%M:%S %Y
               yes
               no

          Execute the following command in order to create the new message
          catalog file:  /usr/lib/locale/C/LC_MESSAGES/Xopen_info:

               mkmsgs -i C /tmp/Xopen_info.src Xopen_info

          Execute the following command in order to create the new message
          catalog file:  /usr/lib/locale/VSX4L0/LC_MESSAGES/Xopen_info:

               mkmsgs -i VSX4L0 /tmp/Xopen_info.src Xopen_info
SEE ALSO
     gettxt(3C), localeconv(3C), setlocale(3C), strftime(3C), langinfo(5),
     nl_types(5).

DIAGNOSTICS
     If setlocale has not been called successfully, or if langinfo data for a
     supported language is either not available or item is not defined
     therein, then nl_langinfo returns a pointer to the corresponding string
     in the C locale.  In all locales, nl_langinfo returns a pointer to an
     empty string if item contains an invalid setting.

NOTES
     The array pointed to by the return value should not be modified by the
     program.  Subsequent calls to nl_langinfo may overwrite the array.

     The nl_langinfo function is built on the functions localeconv, strftime,
     and gettxt [see langinfo(5)].  Where possible users are advised to use
     these interfaces to the required data instead of using calls to
     nl_langinfo.