If gcc.pot is regenerated on mainline, the help information for options moved to .opt files, other than those for the current target, are missing from the generated gcc.pot file. A special version of options.c with the messages for all languages and targets may need generating for the use of exgettext. The same problem applies for lang.opt files on the 4.0 branch - messages for languages which aren't enabled are missing from gcc.pot - though it can be worked around by enabling all languages, if the system used has all the prerequisites for all languages. If there is a safe fix, I think it should be applied to 4.0 branch as well to avoid problems with missing messages there.
Thanks for the heads-up. Will try to fix this ASAP.
Patch posted here: http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc-patches/2005-04/msg00708.html
Subject: Bug 20792 CVSROOT: /cvs/gcc Module name: gcc Changes by: rsandifo@gcc.gnu.org 2005-04-06 22:42:46 Modified files: gcc : ChangeLog Makefile.in optc-gen.awk gcc/po : ChangeLog exgettext gcc.pot Log message: gcc/ PR other/20792 * Makefile.in (gcc.pot): Remove options.c dependency. * optc-gen.awk: Don't quote help strings with N_(). gcc/po/ PR other/20792 * exgettext: Don't scan options.c. Scan .opt files for help strings. * gcc.pot: Regenerate. Patches: http://gcc.gnu.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/gcc/gcc/ChangeLog.diff?cvsroot=gcc&r1=2.8175&r2=2.8176 http://gcc.gnu.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/gcc/gcc/Makefile.in.diff?cvsroot=gcc&r1=1.1464&r2=1.1465 http://gcc.gnu.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/gcc/gcc/optc-gen.awk.diff?cvsroot=gcc&r1=2.2&r2=2.3 http://gcc.gnu.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/gcc/gcc/po/ChangeLog.diff?cvsroot=gcc&r1=1.140&r2=1.141 http://gcc.gnu.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/gcc/gcc/po/exgettext.diff?cvsroot=gcc&r1=1.10&r2=1.11 http://gcc.gnu.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/gcc/gcc/po/gcc.pot.diff?cvsroot=gcc&r1=1.34&r2=1.35
Fixed.