APPENDIX E Language localization.
For the string language localization, was
implemented in VEGA the Locale Technology of AmigaOS.
This method allows to translate the language strings without recompile the source code. A
simply translation of a template text file and a conversion with an included utility is
needed.
Each language requires a translation file (called catalog) that has the name of
the program that use it, and the .catalog extension (e.g. VEGA.catalog,
WINDD.catalog). Each file must be placed in a subdirectory with the name of the language
(e.g. italiano, français, deutsch, etc) of the Catalogs folder, present in
the same directory where the program is located.
All softwares that have this technology can run without catalog files because the default
language (e.g. english) is built-in.
In order to translate all VEGA messages in your preferred language, you need the language localization package (VEGA_XX_Locale.tar.gz) or the complete source package (VEGA_XX_Source.tar.gz). In this two archives you must identify:
FlexxCat:
the catalog builder.
The AmigaOS, Irix 6.2 and Windows 9x/NT executables are included. If your
operating system is another, you must compile the included source code (© Marcin Orlowski).
Catalogs/VEGA.cd file.
This is the text file used to generate the built-in language.
Catalogs/VEGA.ct file.
This is the catalog template to edit in order to perform the language translation.
A text editor compatible with your operating system.
How to make a new VEGA.catalog file:
Open the VEGA.ct file with your text editor.
Change the first three lines:
## version $VER: XX.catalog XX.XX ($TODAY)
## language X
## codeset 0
with:
## version $VER: VEGA.catalog 1.0 (compilation_date)
## language your_language
## codeset 0
The compilation_date must be in DD.MM.YYYY format and your_language must
be in lower case.
In each blank line, translate the string in the next line. Please use ANSI/ISO character set only.
Make sure that the special control characters are present in your translation also (e.g. %s, %.4f, \n, etc).
Save the VEGA.ct file.
Build the VEGA.catalog typing:
flexxcat VEGA.cd VEGA.ct CATALOG VEGA.catalog
Move VEGA.catalog in the appropriate directory (e.g. Catalog/YOUR_LANGUAGE/). Please note that the YOUR_LANGUAGE directory must be in lower-case, otherwise the Unix systems can't find the file.
Set the LANGUAGE key of VEGA prefs file with YOUR_LANGUAGE. This step is needed if your operating system is Unix-like or if your PC don't recognize the operating system language.
For more information about FlexxCat, please consult the documentation included in the language package.
The catalog file is in binary format and has the standard IFF structure. More information about Interchange File Format (IFF) can be found in Native Developer Kit of Amiga Inc.