Page 2 Language packs - Language and Internationalization

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6/1/2011 4:34 PM

Peter Donker

www.bring2mind.net
Joined: 12/1/2003

Posts: 714

Re: Language packs

Breaking? No. These files are "passive". If they are wrong the worst thing that can happen is that the translation doesn't show up or is wrong. You can FTP files or upload them in the DNN installer as a pack, it's all the same. The installer just copies the files to their place.

If you do find that what is out there is deficient you may need to hire someone to do the translation for you and generate the packs. Open source is great, but you can't enforce people to work for you for free in this world. But I think there are quite a few out there who'll be happy to help out if you wave some money in front of them ;-)

Peter

Peter Donker

http://www.bring2mind.net
Home of the Document Exchange,
the professional document management solution for DNN

6/1/2011 6:28 PM

Sebastian Leupold

www.dnnwerk.de
Joined: 3/8/2004

Posts: 46212

Re: Language packs

Hi Franco,

sorry I missed your question due to time consuming other activities, e.g. taking care of DNN extension release testing and especially Web Connections - European DotNetNuke Conference in Hamburg June 16/17.

Regarding your questions:

most of the language packs work regardless of the DNN version used, although there might be keys missing (english text is shown instead) or being obsolete (no effect) - this does not apply to Telerik Editor localization!
Language packs cover either DNN core framework (no modules or HTML only), a single module/provider/skin, which may be bundled with DNN (core extension) or provided separately (3rd party extension) - or full language packs for DNN packages covering core framework and all bundled extensions
There are a couple of tools built into DNN to support translation (created originally by core team fellow Vicenç Masanas):
- The language editor is used to modify a language pack (System mode) OR create persistant customizations for all portals (Host mode) or current site only (Site mode)
- The language package creator is used to package system mode translations into installable zip files
- The language pack installer is used to install a language pack (since DNN 5 this is part of the extension installer)
- The most valuable tool for translators is the resource verifier, which compares translations with original language and lists missing files, missing items, obsolete files or obsolete items
there are also 3rd party tools for translation, some I know of are created and used internally by professional translators and are really sophisticated, others are specialized in shared translation processes. For single volunteers like me, IMHO the built in tools are most appropriate, because they allow translation and review the result per control immediately after saving a resource file.
Why are German language packs outdated? I used taking care of language packs for de-DE, de-ATand de-CH since DNN 3.0, creating more than 700 language packs in total. In DNN 5.0.0, language pack format was modified for introducing useless dependencies, and localization tools were broken, making it nearly impossible to create language packs as before and full language packs could be provided as zip of resource files only (DNN 5.0 and 5.1 German language packs). To get it fixedI tried numerous times and all options I had, but did not succeed and finally terminated any translation effort. After nearly 3 years, original function has still not been repaired - but fortunately, most of our German User Group members and our own customers still use most stable DNN version 4.9.5.
I apologize for any inconvenience for foreign tongued users to navigate on www.dnn-usergroup.de, I'll try to fix it after the conference.
other sites with extensive numbers of language packs:
- www.dotnetnuke.fr (French)
- Marc Huijbregts used to maintain Dutch language packs, but I am unable to retrieve it atm
- http://www.dnncastellano.com/ provides professional Spanish and English language packs commercially
if you are really savvy with the ressource file concept, you may replace and edit resource files as you like, otherwise I suggest using built in tools or installation instructions.

If you have any difficulties, you may contact me via support [at] dnnwerk.de.

Cheers from Germany,
Sebastian Leupold

Speed up your DNN Websites with TurboDNN

6/2/2011 3:36 AM

Franco Prati

Joined: 10/13/2007

Posts: 269

Re: Language packs

Thank you both, Peter and Sebastian, for your fairly exhaustive answers on this crucial yet overlooked aspect of DNN. I have the picture now, as others too following this forum, I hope.
What you say about German is worrying though, as this is one of the languages most used in this part of the world. Not sure that I want to go back to DNN 4.9.5 either.
Are there plans to get this fixed in DNN 6, perhaps?

Franco

6/3/2011 7:06 AM

Sebastian Leupold

www.dnnwerk.de
Joined: 3/8/2004

Posts: 46212

Re: Language packs

Peter recently identified the cause of a remaining bug in installer, if more than one extension is installed. Once it get fixed in DNN 6, most of the issues should be solved.

Cheers from Germany,
Sebastian Leupold

Speed up your DNN Websites with TurboDNN

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