space: other languages are up to 20% longer • Look for ways to shorten space-constrained strings • Custom font? Does it do special characters? What did we learn?
/* No comment provided by engineer. */ "server_down" = "We are working on it and expect to restore service by %s."; Day of the week? am Dienstag Date? am 24.12.2014 Time? um 23:00 Uhr What could %s be?
/* %s will be replaced by local time, e.g. 3:00 AM. */ "server_down" = "We are working on it and expect to restore service by %s."; What could %s be? ✓ /* %s e.g. 3:00 AM. */ "server_down" = "We are working on it and expect to restore service by %s."; or
Solution? "notification" = "%1$@ sent you a %2$@"; "text_message" = "text message"; "video" = "video"; "notification" = "%1$@ sent you %2$@"; "text_message" = "a text message"; "video" = "a video"; Add articles and prepositions to the placeholder content.
- what did we learn? • Use the comment for vital information • Communicate what type of data the placeholder represents • Just because something works in English, this does not necessarily apply to other languages
"BBB will clone <sourceWhole> to <destWhole>."; "desc_local_vol" = "the volume %@"; "desc_network_vol" = "the network volume %@"; "desc_folder_network_vol" = "the folder %1$@ on the network volume %2$@"; "desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; "desc_local_vol" = "the volume %@";
"BBB will clone <sourceWhole> to <destWhole>."; "desc_network_vol" = "the network volume %@"; "desc_folder_network_vol" = "the folder %1$@ on the network volume %2$@"; "desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; "desc_local_vol" = "the volume %@"; ✓ "desc_network_vol" = "the network volume %@"; ✓ "desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; ?
"BBB will clone <sourceWhole> to <destWhole>."; "desc_folder_network_vol" = "the folder %1$@ on the network volume %2$@"; "desc_local_vol" = "the volume %@"; ✓ "desc_network_vol" = "the network volume %@"; ✓ "desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; ✗ ✗ "desc_folder_network_vol" = "the folder %1$@ on the network volume %2$@";
"BBB will clone <sourceWhole> to <destWhole>."; "desc_backup_everything" = "BBB will clone <sourceWhole> to <destWhole>."; "desc_backup_everything" = "BBB will clone <sourceWhole> to <destWhole>."; Why do we fail here? "desc_local_vol" = "the volume %@"; "desc_network_vol" = "the network volume %@"; "desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; "desc_folder_network_vol" = "the folder %1$@ on the network volume %2$@";
clone <sourceWhole> to the folder %1$@ on network volume %2$@. CCC clonerà <sourceWhole> sulla cartella %1$@ sul volume di rete %2$@. BBB will clone <sourceWhole> to the network volume %@. CCC clonerà <sourceWhole> sul volume di rete %@.
"BBB will clone <sourceWhole> to <destWhole>."; "desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; How do we succeed? "desc_backup_everything" = "BBB will clone <sourceWhole> to <destWhole>."; "desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; <sourceWhole> & <destWhole> use the same pool of strings
Step 1 "desc_backup_everything" = "BBB will clone <sourceWhole> to <destWhole>."; "source_desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; "source_desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; "dest_desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; "desc_backup_everything" = "BBB will clone <sourceWhole> to <destWhole>."; Separate strings pools for <sourceWhole> & <destWhole>
"BBB will clone <sourceWhole> to <destWhole>."; Solution - Step 2 "desc_backup_everything" = "BBB will clone <sourceWhole> <destWhole>."; Move the preposition “to” into the ‘Destination’ string. "source_desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; "dest_desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; "source_desc_folder_local" = "the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@"; "dest_desc_folder_local" = "to the folder %1$@ on the volume %2$@";
"desc_backup_everything" = "BBB kopiert <sourceWhole> <destWhole>."; "source_desc_folder_local" = "den Ordner %1$@ auf dem Volume %2$@"; "dest_desc_folder_local" = "in den Ordner %1$@ auf dem Volume %2$@";
did we learn? • Works in one language ≠ works in other languages • Move mean little fellas such as prepositions or articles into the placeholder strings • Provide for order changes by using %1$@
there are languages that use a different syntax • You do not need to know the syntax of every single language • If in doubt: ask someone who is good at this stuff • Important: You don’t have to be an expert. But expect this to need time during the translation.
resources • Possible specialization in a certain topic • Customization level and complexity of the UI • Your internationalization efforts • Thoroughness of the translators
not the translation, but the Review • Plan for sufficient time – also consider time zone related losses • Inform your translators ahead of time • Ecosystem biorhythm: WWDC, Xmas, OS releases, iTC downtimes, …
formats • xibs, plist, strings, stringsdict, … • json, … • xliff, … • xlsx, docx, … The bigger / complex your project is, the better it is to use native files.
formats • Can be versioned easily • Contain ALL context • Are context themselves • Versioning difficult • Prone to loosing context • Error source Include translators in the decision
web Full services on the web • No file format hassle • Easy and quick • Anonymous translators • Status tracking and statistics • Q&A handling • No file format hassle • Easy and quick • You bring your own translators • Status tracking and statistics • Q&A handling Made for your comfort, typically inefficient for translators
or online platforms - include translators • Most online platforms are very inefficient for translators • Choose wisely and be aware of dependencies and error sources
realm
kno3a87
dero1to
junk0612
oheyadam
nekomatu
taro28
yusukeito
ivargrimstad
kakao
tkikuc
tutinoko
thekraken
chriscoyier
moore
palkan
pedronauck
bryan
quramy
wjessup
samlambert
geeforr
holman
brettharned
