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Translation Tools and How To Do It

TSetup 3.00 has the ability to accept new translations without extensive programming - or any real code changes.  All that it needs is either an resource file (RES file) or a resource DLL (RES file compiled into a DLL).  This ease of translation allows for quick localization or even preference changes.

List of languages being worked on for TSetup v3.0

Here's how it's done:

  1. Download the LANGEDIT.ZIP file.   This contains LANGEDIT.EXE, and all the current TXT files for each language. LANGEDIT.EXE is a 32bit program, so you will need a 32bit operating system to run it.
  2. Extract all the files in LANGEDIT.ZIP file to a directory.
  3. If you want to want to change the wording of the English translation, you must open the LANG_CUS.TXT file in a text editor, then perform a search and replace option -- replace the triple asterisk followed by a space ("*** ") with nothing.  When selecting a language, you will need to edit the Custom language.
  4. Start the LANGEDIT.EXE utility.  This will read the English translation (the base translation) and all the other languages.
  5. Select the target language in the Language drop down box.  You will not be able to edit the English phrases.  If you want to completely new language translation, then select the Custom language.  If you are going to reword an already existent language, then select that language.
  6. Go through all the phrases in the Phrases list box.  The English translation will appear in the Text To Translate box.  You enter the translated text into the Translation field.  Any comments on the particular phrase will appear in the Comments On Phrase box.
  7. The LANGEDIT utility has the ability to recognize if a particular has not yet been translated and can jump to it when you press the arrow button.  All phrases that have not yet been translated have a triple asterisk (***) at the beginning of the phrase.   When you translate the phrase, remove the *** and the LANGEDIT utility will assume that you have translated that phrase.
  8. When finished with the translation, save the file.
  9. If the translation is being done for a free registration, then the TXT file associated with the target language must be mailed back to me.  Please ZIP the file up; some of the email systems seem to mess up extended ASCII characters which will destroy the translation.

If you want to incorporate the translation directly into TSetup immediately, then do the following:

  1. Open the LANGEDIT utility with the English and target language TXT files.
  2. Select Phrase | Build RC Files.
  3. This will convert the LANG_xxx.TXT file into a TSLXXxxx.RC file.
  4. You must compile the TSLXXxxx.RC file into the correct resource file.  If you want to use the language in a 16bit install, you must use BRCC.EXE - located in the Delphi 1 BIN directory.  If you want to use the language in a 32bit install, you muse use BRCC32.EXE - located in the BIN directory of any of the Delphi32 compilers.  The TSLXXxxx.RC must be compiled to either TSL16xxx.RES (if for a 16bit install) or to TSL32xxx.RES (if for a 32bit install).
  5. Now add a {$R TSLyyxxx.RES} line to your setup program (yy is either 16 or 32).
  6. Set the Language property of the TSetupInfo to the xxx value.  Make sure that the xxx value is allowed via the TSetupInfo.AllowedLanguages property.

Download the LANGEDIT.ZIP file.


Questions? Comment?  Write to jswager@alohaoi.com.
Page last modified on Saturday, August 05, 2006 08:39:44 AM