Multilingual related suggestions

fundawang · 05-05-2002, 10:26 AM

I've used many utilities written using Delphi/C++Builder. Most of them takes a INI-format language file as a method to implement multilingual support.

Take an example:

Code:

[frmMain]
btnOK.caption=&OK
btnCancel.Hint=Close this dialog without saving modifications

FlashFXP may use this way, too. But there are something you must notice:
1. Some languages use different speaking orders than English. In English, we might say "1 of 100 downloaded", but in another language may be "100 over 1 downloaded". So, when such situation occurs, you should place a complete sentence in language file, "%1 of %2 downloaded".
2. As for FarEast languages, such as Chinese, Japanese, they use double byte characters. So, it is nessesary that allow customizing font that program uses, including font name,size,charset. Thus, you can't use any nonANSI characters or character byte-related operations. Any standard functions and methods provided by Delphi/C++Builder are fully MBCS-compatible.

bigstar · 05-05-2002, 01:57 PM

This is the type of method we will be using. However it will not be directly editable by the user. Perhaps there will be a special editor.

I suspect if custom fonts are used there may be many instances where the text does not fit the location and this may be a problem. We will have to wait and see. We may allow a default appclication font be assigned for each specific language.

I have been so busy lately I haven't had any time to research and design the multi-language support. At the rate things are going now, I don't know when I'll find time.