Translation
GOWrite translation tool is build into GOWrite. This makes translation work easy to start.
Translation Steps
Translation requires number of steps:
- Set up translation environmet.
- Create translation for texts.
- Test translation.
- Distribution translation.
Setting translation up
Following screen shots present making of translation.
Translation tools are located in GOWrite Development and test menu.
First step in translation is selection of language. In screen below Chinese language translation is being created.
When selecting language, not all languages are show by default. Show All button expands list to contain all languages known in system. This list can be quite long!
New language takes effect only after restart of GOWrite.
Before closing GOWrite, you can also Enable interactive translation in translation tool.
Translating
When GOWrite is started interactive translation enabled, GOWrite interface uses selected language (or English, if translation has not yet been done).
In interactive translation, translatable user interface strings are marked with square.
In order to translate string, press F12 key and then click string in screen. This opens dialog, where translations can be entered. In dialog below, menu entry File has been selected after F12. Some of these translations take effect immediately after closing the dialog. However some of translations take effect only after GOWrite restart.
Hints:
-
Menus are translated by clicking items in menu tool bar.
-
Dialog titles can be translated by clicking to empty space in dialog.
Any of strings listed in left-hand side list can be translated by first selecting string in the list.
Manual translation
It is also possible to look at all of translations. In Translation tool Edit Translation button opens window, where different translation groups can be seelcted for editing. File menu can be used open each of strings sets (property files).
Each translation is divided into several separate sets of strings. Each set contains certain string types.
To start translation:
- Gui Text contains most interesting strings. Start by translating those whose identifier starts with MENU_. Other strings are not so easy to translate.
-
Action Text contains string relating to specific editing operations. When translating, note
that everything is translatable, EXCEPT string ending _ICON. These string indicate icon
file names, and those are never translated. Note following notations:
- _TT is descriptive sentence (tool-tip),
- _NAME is menu text,
-
_ACCEL and _MN indicates accelerator and mnemonic keys. Translation requires some care, as key name format (used in Java) must be followed. In first translation phase these can be left as they are.
Each string value has identifier in left column. Middle column contains default text. Current translated string value is in rightmost columns and can be edited by double clicking it.
Note that few string values allow new line in string. At the moment translation tool does not allow easy editing of these string.
Some of String contain constructions like {0}. These indicate place where values are inserted when GOWrite uses strings. Also more complex constructions are used in some special cases. If you feel unsure or have problems with them, please contact GOWrite author for help.
Testing translation
After translation looks reasonable, it can be tested using translation tool button Test Translation.
Sending translation
When translation is usable, it can be sent to gowrite.net using translation tools Send button.
Please provide name and email address, so that GOWrite author can contact you if needed.
Minimal Translation for localized publications
GOWrite generates some texts, most notably exception messages in diagrams. In order to produce publications completely in ones local language, these messages should be translated.
Fastest way to translate these is using manual translation. During manual translation, translate only message in SGF file whose name starts with EXCEPTION_.
Translation file location
Translation file will be located in same directory as GOWrite configuration file. Translation files are names translation_xx_YY_v, where xx is language, YY is country and v is GOWrite version.
Distributing translation
In order to be useful translation needs to be distributed to end users. There are basically two possible ways to this.
Distribute translation by yourself.
This has several practical problems.
- Cannot cope well with regular new version of GOWrite.
- No coordination between different translations.
Incorporate translation to standard GOWrite
Widest distribution for translations is obtained by incorporating translation into standard GOWrite distribution.
Copyright
If translation is to be incorporated into GOWrite, copyright issues must be taken care of. Translator has copyright for translation work. Thus translator permission is needed in order to incorporate translation into GOWrite. This permission has couple of possible forms.
One possible solution is to set translation into public domain. This requires only statement from translator in that effect. As result anyone can use and improve translation. As alternative one may retain translation copyright, but give sufficient permissions for incorporating translation into GOWrite. Required permissions include:
- Free distribution along with GOWrite.
- Right to change translation as required.
Help translation
- Technically translations for help are possible to do. However help translation must be organized case-by-case at this moment. If you are interested in doing help translation, please contact GOWrite author.