Internationalization offline instructions

These instructions apply if you intend to do the translation in your own computer. There is also the possibility to work on the translation online.

Instructions for translators of JChemPaint: how to start a new language translation or update an existing one

Adding a new translation for the JCP application and applets is quite easy. Only a few steps are required to add the translation.

1. Download the files for the translation

New translation:

Download (from SVN) and rename it to

Update of translation:

Download (from SVN) for your language.

Note: ''LANG'' means the 2-letter code of your language, or the 2-letter + underscore + 2-letter code of language and variant.

Examples: de, es, fr, nl, pl, pt_BR

2. Install an editor for .po files

Both for new and update of translation:

The .po files can be edited with many editors. You may:

• use a plain-text editor. But be careful with format and charset code!
• use a dedicated tool, like
  • poEdit (GUI and cross-platform: Windows, Unix and Mac OSX).
  • KBabel
  • Gtranslator
  • Emacs po-mode
  • ...

It's probably easier to use a dedicated editor, so the explanations below are based on poEdit, but feel free to use the editor you prefer.

3. Configure

Only for new translation:

Open with poEdit.

Select Catalog > Settings in the menu.

Type the followings values in the fields:

• Project name and version: JChemPaint
• Team: CDK developers
• Team's email address: cdk-jchempaint@lists.sourceforge.net
• Language: Your language
• Country: Your country
• Charset: UTF-8

Save the modifications.

4. Translate

Both for new and update of translation:

The main window of poEdit is divided into several areas.

The top area contains the list of text strings to translate, with their current translation. The background color of each line depends on the status of the translation:

• Blue: Not translated yet.
• Yellow: Fuzzy translation (needs verification).
• White: Translated.
• Red: Error.

When you select a line in the top area, the bottom area is updated with the following:

• Top sub-area: String to translate.
• Bottom sub-area: Current translation. Just type your translation in here. Be careful to retain any punctuation signs.

Save the modifications.

5. Send the translation

Send the .po file to a JCP developer. (If you have the proper permissions at the project's page, you can commit the file yourself)

That way, the translation will be included in the next release of the software.

Emails:

• Stefan Kuhn shk3@users.sourceforge.net
• Christoph Steinbeck steinbeck@users.sourceforge.net

(sourceforge mail addresses may refuse mails with .zip attachments, so don't zip the files)