Internationalizationg a program
lazarus / 31-LCL

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dcelso · 2013-03-02 23:47

Hello to all, Im trying to internationalize an application, so I have
activated internationalization in the option project.
I have obtained the .po file, I have translated it to two languages,
myproject.es.po, myproject.en.po
But now, I dont know how use those files. I would like that the end
user can change between the two languages manually. And by defaul, the
aplication use the locale variable envirotmen  to select the initial
language.

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Leledumbo · 2013-03-03 04:09

http://wiki.freepascal.org/Translations_/_i18n_/_localizations_for_pro
grams#Translating_Forms.2C_Datamodules_and_Frames

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dcelso · 2013-03-03 11:55

Yes, I saw it before. Else why will i ask here? .
I done an example to test it, and it continues without work,( I have
lastest SVN lazarus compiled, in debian wheezy)
I have activated internationalization, in projet, and I have two .po
translated.  project.en.po, and project.es.po in the LANG directory of
my appdir.
The form ins the next
Code: [Select]object Form1: TForm1
  Left = 402
  Height = 283
  Top = 319
  Width = 466
  Caption = 'Form1'
  ClientHeight = 254
  ClientWidth = 466
  Menu = MainMenu1
  LCLVersion = '1.1'
  object Button1: TButton
    Left = 288
    Height = 25
    Top = 216
    Width = 75
    Caption = '&Acept'
    OnClick = Button1Click
    TabOrder = 0
  end
  object Button2: TButton
    Left = 376
    Height = 25
    Top = 216
    Width = 75
    Caption = '&Cancel'
    TabOrder = 1
  end
  object Edit1: TEdit
    Left = 152
    Height = 31
    Top = 32
    Width = 80
    TabOrder = 2
    Text = '2'
  end
  object Label1: TLabel
    Left = 103
    Height = 21
    Top = 36
    Width = 30
    Caption = 'Age:'
    ParentColor = False
  end
  object Label2: TLabel
    Left = 103
    Height = 21
    Top = 83
    Width = 47
    Caption = 'Result:'
    ParentColor = False
  end
  object Label3: TLabel
    Left = 184
    Height = 21
    Top = 83
    Width = 47
    Caption = 'Is Even'
    ParentColor = False
  end
  object MainMenu1: TMainMenu
    left = 36
    top = 27
    object MenuItem1: TMenuItem
      Caption = '&File'
      object MenuItem2: TMenuItem
        Caption = '&Open'
      end
      object MenuItem5: TMenuItem
        Caption = '&Save'
      end
      object MenuItem3: TMenuItem
        Caption = '&Exit'
      end
    end
    object MenuItem4: TMenuItem
      Caption = '&Help'
      object MenuItem6: TMenuItem
        Caption = '&About ..'
      end
    end
  end
end

the .pas is the next
Code: [Select]unit Unit1;

{$mode objfpc}{$H+}

interface

uses
  Classes, SysUtils, FileUtil, Forms, Controls, Graphics, Dialogs,
Menus,
  StdCtrls, LResources, DefaultTranslator;

type

  { TForm1 }

  TForm1 = class(TForm)
    Button1: TButton;
    Button2: TButton;
    Edit1: TEdit;
    Label1: TLabel;
    Label2: TLabel;
    Label3: TLabel;
    MainMenu1: TMainMenu;
    MenuItem1: TMenuItem;
    MenuItem2: TMenuItem;
    MenuItem3: TMenuItem;
    MenuItem4: TMenuItem;
    MenuItem5: TMenuItem;
    MenuItem6: TMenuItem;
    procedure Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
  private
    { private declarations }
  public
    { public declarations }
  end;

var
  Form1: TForm1;

implementation

{$R *.lfm}

{ TForm1 }

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
  value : Integer;
begin
  value := StrToInt(Edit1.Text);
  if value mod 2 = 0 then
     label3.Caption:='Is Even'
  else
     label3.Caption:='Is Odd';
end;

initialization
  LRSTranslator := TPoTranslator.Create('./LANG');  (* I tested with
absoulte path, too*)
end.

In the lang directory i have project.en.po, and project.es.po

My envirotment LANG var is equal to es_ES.utf8

But the program continues show the values of captions and texts made
in the design time.

I don't see what  I need more to do.

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Leledumbo · 2013-03-03 13:09

QuoteI have activated internationalization, in projet, and I have two
.po translated.  project.en.po, and project.es.po in the LANG
directory of my appdir.I think you misunderstand the article and miss
the little explanation: LANG stands for the desired language
I'll update the article so that people don't think it's literal LANG,
but rather a variable.

Anyway, test the attached project, with any way you know to change
language (EnvVar LANG, --lang / -l switch, whatever), of course you
have to add your desired language to languages directory. You should
see the label caption changes.

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Blaazen · 2013-03-03 13:18

A few month ago I attached a TranslationDemo here: http://www.lazarus.
freepascal.org/index.php/topic,18939.msg107377.html#msg107377

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dcelso · 2013-03-03 23:56

Thanks to both,
After of see the example of leledumbo, I was surprised seeing how easy
is translate a lazarus application.
You only need:
* activate internationalization, selecting "language" directory (other
name does not work direcly) in your options project.
*translate the autogenerated language/projec1.so to a language and
rename it with correct name for selected language.
* Add to your project source uses section the unit defaultranslator
(going to projet-view source project menu)
* And run the application , configuring before LANG environment 
variable with the language to test.

Now I'll study the blazzen example to advanced options for translating
appications. So thanks to both again.

And other question, how can I add a new custom message (msgid, and
msgsrt) in my .po files, and dont lose it at recompile the
application? and how can I use it with gettext.
I want do it to put translated messages in my application that they
aren't on visual components properties.

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dcelso · 2013-03-04 00:18

, I can't test your example blaazen, when I open translatedemo.lpi,
lazarus sais vinfo.pas does not found, and after of open it, at
compile it sais  invalid x86_64 option, I change it to default option
in option project, and to try to compile again it sais. duplicate
identifier TRANSLATEDEMO in translatedemo.lpr 10,23
If I delete it of uses section, to try to compile again it sais,
fatal error cannot find unit vinfo used by translatedemo of the
project inspector.

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Blaazen · 2013-03-04 00:48

Try "transdemo.lpi" instead. The attached archive is messy, there's
too many files. I made the this demo by reducing my other project and
I wasn't proper.

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Leledumbo · 2013-03-04 13:37

Quote* activate internationalization, selecting "language" directory
(other name does not work direcly) in your options project.The search
logic is explained in the article.
QuoteAnd other question, how can I add a new custom message (msgid,
and msgsrt) in my .po files, and dont lose it at recompile the
application? and how can I use it with gettext.
I want do it to put translated messages in my application that they
aren't on visual components properties.Use resourcestring, I don't
know about gettext

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dcelso · 2013-03-04 21:39

Thanks blaazen. Those code works well. I'll study it.

Thanks leledumbo,too.  Resourcestring is what im searching.

Another thing that i have discovered is that i can change the language
in runtime with setdefaultlang. Very useful.

I have a related question more. How can i do that my appication uses
the design string instead of translated strings. I thougth with
setdefaultlang('') but i was wrong. Is there another function to do
it?

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Leledumbo · 2013-03-05 15:55

What do you mean by design string?

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dcelso · 2013-03-05 17:21

strings written in object inspector (like caption, or text fields)
while you was programmign the applications.
ie,
The values of  the strings of the application without
internationalization activated,
ie,
The values of the msgids in the .po files instead of the msgstr value.
ie,
default values of strings.

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Leledumbo · 2013-03-05 17:51

As the last resort, DefaultTranslator will look the default <app
name>.po (those with empty msgstr) in the same directory as the
application binary. This should not translate your app.

However, if you have <app name>.<your system locale>.po in the
languages directory (or whatever known to DefaultTranslator), it will
be preferred over the default .po.

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dcelso · 2013-03-06 12:02

, You does not understand me.
May be with an example.
I have designed an application in english language. If you open this
project with lazarus you will see it in english.
I have done internationalization to english and italian.
If you run the application you can select four languages.
Default: May be english, because is the programed language
System: using locale system, getting LANG variable of system.
Spanish; using .es.po
Italian; using .es.it.

The problem is the default language, it does nothing. It leaves the
last selected language instead of change it with the strings designed
values.

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Blaazen · 2013-03-06 13:32

Hi,
I don't see the difference between "System" and "Default".
In the demo I attached above, there is a choice "Default" which takes
the language setting form system
Code: [Select]{ If 'Default' then Get Language from Environment }
  if (Result='') or (LowerCase(Result)=LowerCase(csDefault)) then
    Result:=Copy(GetEnvironmentVariableUTF8('LANG'), 1, 5);or there is
setting "No translation" and it keeps english (because the demo is
developed in english).
What do you expect from "Default" in your case?

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dcelso · 2013-03-06 17:57

Yes,you are right.
System is for using the language defined in the system.
And default is for using the strings values put in the lazarus IDE in
developed time.
In this case, I developed it in english. But when I select it in my
demo. It does not do anything.  It leaves the language of before.
I'm searching a method to use the written strings in the lazarus IDE
instead of use .po file, when you select the defaul language.

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Blaazen · 2013-03-06 19:12

Well, you develop your app. in english, i.e. all button.captions
labels, etc. are in english and in your source you have your own
strings defined in section "resourcestrings".
And you have several *.po files with translations.

If you want to keep it in english, then simply do not do any
translation.

I don't know what translator you use but maybe that the translation is
done in "initialization" section of that unit therefore you cannot
keep it in english.

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dcelso · 2013-03-06 20:58

Exactly. That you sais work well. But i need do it in run time,ie,
while the app is runnig. If you see the example application i'm using
defaulttranslator unit given by lazarus. And when i change the
language with the combobox it automatically changes the language. But
i dont know how dissable translation in run time. I thought that using
setdefaultlan('') i get it.

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taazz · 2013-03-06 21:13

warning I haven't used the build in translation support so I can only
guess and only if I understand the problem correctly.

Your problem is that when you select the default translation at run
time the forms already open do not translate to the default language.
The problem as far as I understand is that the translation process
does not know or cares what is the default language it does not exists
on any outside file so it can not load them and set them.
Those strings are part of the applications resource table and are in a
form that only the internal streaming functionality can access them
correctly while the current translation environment uses property
names and values to set them it does not know and can not load the
data from resources.

This is to be expected and until a different translation environment
is used there is no way of doing that. The main problem is that a
resource based translation creates owned objects as it reads them from
the resource and does not try to find them in memory, this creates a
lot of problems and conflicts with existing data.
So for now I suggest to either
1) request a restart when the default language is chosen
2) create a default language external file and use that to translate
the application when the default is chosen only and do not translate
when the application starts.

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dcelso · 2013-03-06 21:27

, yeah. I understand. I didn't thougth it. Then I will use your second
solution. Thanks.