Ubuntu Wiki

Unlike other distributions we do not ship upstream translations from source packages directly in binary application packages in main and restricted, since this does not allow us any flexibility in editing them on a central place (Launchpad), update them independently from the applications, and update them post release. That is why we separate packages and their translations in Ubuntu and maintain/package them independently.

The complete lifecycle of translations (import, maintenance, export, and language pack structure) is described on TranslationLifecycle.

You can check the latest language packaged (.mo files) from the https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-langpack/+archive.

You can get the source language packs (.po files) from Language packs for Jaunty.

Inclusion conditions

• All packages that generate .mo files in a compile time configurable location ($LOCALEDIR) will be included in lang-packs.
• Only packages from the 'main' repository are included in language packs.

Priority policy

This is an ordered list: lower numbers in the list have a higher priority.

1. Templates included only on the Live-CD
2. Templates not included in language packs
3. Ubuntu-specific templates
4. Templates changed in Ubuntu
5. Ubuntu-docs
6. Kbuntu-docs
7. Xbuntu-docs
8. Edubuntu-docs
9. All other translations

Package maintainer notes

The package maintainer will only need to check if, at compile time, the package generates a .mo file in a preconfigurable location. He will upload the package just like a normal one, and the language pack script will take care of everything else.

Those packages which are imported in Rosetta but do not generate .mo files in a standard location will have to be manually exported by the package maintainer. Examples:

Translations in Rosetta but not included in language packs

There are a couple of exceptions for translations done using Rosetta but not included or updated via language pack.

Those translations are Ubuntu Documentation, Ubuntu Start Page and other tools only available on the Live CD or install media. Please see the following list:

• Name	Contact	Update notes
  ubuntu-docs	MatthewEast or AdiRoiban	The are manualy extracted from Rosetta and converted to xml by Matthew East Usually there are 2 updates per cycle and before an export there is an announcement on the ubuntu-translators mailing list
  kubuntu-docs	Richard A. Johnson
  xubuntu-docs	Jim Campbell
  edubunu-docs	JordanMantha
  installation-guide	ColinWatson	currently not updated
  Ubuntu Start Page	MatthewNuzum or AdiRoiban	Sparse updates, there is an announcement on the ubuntu-translators mailing list before an export
  Debian Installer and other install tools	Colin Watson
  OpenOffice.org	ChrisCheney
  ubuntu-wallpapers

More is listed on the NonLanguagePackTranslationDeadline page.

CategoryTranslations