What is the standard way to extract references in a PO file?

[Etienne Rouxel]

Hi,

Is there a standard way to extract references in a PO file?

Must we extract each reference in a dedicated line line so:

> ```po
> #: src/msgcmp.c:338
> #: src/po-lex.c:699
> ```
>

or join them all in a single reference line like so:

> ```po
> #: src/msgcmp.c:338 src/po-lex.c:699
> ```
>

The documentation (https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/manual/html_node/PO-Files.html) hints a the second style by giving an example of it. However, there is no explicit mention about what is the right way, if there is any.

This creates compatibility problems with tools involved in working with PO files. A program can extract the references from the source code using one style and the translation program used by the translator can rewrite the references with the other style. That leads to complicated merges of the translations back into the code repository.

Could the documentation clarify this point?

Regards,

Etienne Rouxel

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