xmitmsgx is a library and xmitmsg is program for presenting
enumerated messages. The command works similarly to that of IBM VM/CMS
'XMITMSG' but with Unix syntax (dashed options before positional arguments)
rather than CMS syntax (positional args, open paren, then options).
The message file source format is the same as that of CMS except it
does not have to be pre-processed.
Application messages in context can be referenced by number. The text of the message can be made available in any local language. Tokens, for lack of a better term, can be inserted into the message with correct placement.
This is suitable for ...
- error messages
- non-error status messages
- logging, reporting
- decorations: button labels, title bars, field identifiers
... anything textual intended for human consumption.
For an example from actual traffic in the FUZIX project,
consider both English and Spanish for a failing make target:
fallo en las instrucciones para el objetivo 'stty.rel'
recipe for target 'stty.rel' failed
Here, "stty.rel" varies so is represented by a token. It also moves within the message to accommodate the language. So message 1234 would be coded in the message file as:
1234 E fallo en las instrucciones para el objetivo '&1'
1234 E recipe for target '&1' failed
"E" because this is an error condition. Using an application ID of "MAK" and a caller tag representing the recipe processor "RCP", the resulting message might look like:
MAKRCP1234E fallo en las instrucciones para el objetivo 'stty.rel'
MAKRCP1234E recipe for target 'stty.rel' failed
The message code MAKRCP1234E can be used for reference even if the local language is neither English nor Spanish.