NLSPATH Environment Variable

The NLSPATH environment variable specifies the search path for message catalogs. The catopen function uses it unless an absolute path is specified in a function parameter. The locale category environment variable LC_MESSAGES can also affect the search path.

The run-time messages for an executing program must be in a message file (.msg) that is in your current directory or in a directory specified by the DPATH or NLSPATH environment variable. NLSPATH is searched first, then your current directory, and finally the DPATH environment variable.

When you set NLSPATH, you use the following variables to represent values that are substituted when catopen is executed:

Variable Replaced by
%N catalog name in the call of catopen
%L the value of LC_MESSAGES
%l ISO 2-character language code
%t ISO 2-character territory code
%c code page


Application Run-Time Environment Variables
Localization and Locales


Set Windows Run-Time Environment Variables
Set OS/2 Run-Time Environment Variables


Locale Category Environment Variables