Multi-Language-Interface-design-approach

Multiple Language Interface - The database approach

• Make list of Menu Items from a list in a database so they can be added dynamically
• MUST: Include code to create database file > because each language will be a database file of its own

Language Menus

• ADD NEW WORD
• ADD NEW LANGUAGE
• SELECT LANGUAGE
  • ENGLISH
  • POLISH
  • ....

Pages

• add a menu in the upper bar for LANGUAGE

• ADD A LANGUAGE: PopUp a small window to enter a new language name
  • adds language name to the language database
  • creates a new database table for that language

• ADD TRANSLATIONS: Data Base full language display & entry > works with language tables
  • 1st column = english KeyWord
  • 2nd column = *ADDED LANGUAGE*
  • behavior - highlight the untranslated column rows?
  • limit length of translation

Functional Examples

Example #1

• Header1=deg '-- set the header of a column on the temperature profile sheet to 'deg'...short for degrees

Change to:

• Header1= Translate(deg)

Translate will be a function that queries a database for a foreign language entry: Language='POLISH' Word='deg'

Example #2

Display function can be used to intercept all UserPrompt text messages > Translate(Message)

Features

• Design of language interface should learn. The user should be the source of the translation! Should accumulate source language=English AND other languages inputed
• Must have a language database interface that allows a user to input his language. Even allow an english respin on my terminology.
• must save off language selection to disk config file

What needs to be translated?

• Form.captions should be translated
• TextBox.text: user prompts
• labels.captions
• FlexGrid: profile sheet headers
• ToolTipText
• Menu Captions
• Button.Captions

Methods

Method #1

• Use *.frm file parsing to generate a list of objects to be altered > Open the *.frm file and parse
• Also generate list of ENGLISH phrases used in program with this tool > grab all the .caption =, .text= , .label= from the program text
• Initialization Module: Stuff into a VB file that is already added to the project
• at FORM_LOAD run the Initialization Module to translate and set the property == translated version.

Method #2

• At form_load must run thru the list of properties that must be updated to the current language setting - when a new item is added to program it must be added to this list
• Use *.frm file parsing to generate a list of objects that need to be altered to : xlate("english phrase")
• Use search function to track down all references to these objects and alter to the xlate("english phrase")