Internationalisation

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Comment: Added some info on the import queue and other details
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= Translations in Ubuntu (from a developer perspective) = = Ubuntu Internationalization Guide =
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This page tries to outline
 * how Ubuntu deals with translations (and i18n in general) from a developer's perspective
 * which tools are interesting for developers to make sure that translations and i18n work fine		 This document tries to outline:
 * How Ubuntu deals with translations (and i18n in general) from a developer's perspective
 * Which tools are interesting for developers to make sure that translations and i18n work fine
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Be sure to read TranslationLifecycle in the [[TranslatingUbuntu|translations wiki pages]] for a general overview of how translations work in Ubuntu.  * [[TranslationLifecycle|Overview of the translations lifecycle]]
 * [[/Glossary|Glossary of i18n-related terms]]
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<<Anchor(LanguagePacks)>>
== Language Packs ==
=== General ===
Packages in `main` and `restricted` don't contain translations (*.mo) files themselves, they are stripped during the build on the Launchpad buildds and put into `language-pack-*` packages instead. This is done in an attempt to bundle the translations you're interested in and cut down the occupied space.		 == Packaging ==
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Note: once a package is promoted to `main`, it only needs to be rebuilt the first time after promotion so that [[https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pkgbinarymangler|pkgbinarymangler]] can strip the translations. After this, import to Launchpad Translations and export in language packs "will just happen".  * [[/Packaging|Internationalization of packages]]
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Comparing the contents of a package built by Launchpad Soyuz and a locally built one:
{{{
daniel@bert:~$ debdiff --nocontrol gcalctool_5.27.2-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb /var/cache/pbuilder/result/gcalctool_5.27.2-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb
[The following lists of changes regard files as different if they have
different names, permissions or owners.]		 == Coding ==
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Files in second .deb but not in first
-------------------------------------
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/af/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/am/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ar/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/as/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ast/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/az/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/be/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/be@latin/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/bg/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/bn/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/bn_IN/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/bs/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ca/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ca@valencia/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/cs/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/cy/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/da/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/de/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/dz/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/el/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/en_CA/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/en_GB/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/en_US/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/es/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/et/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/eu/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/fa/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/fi/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/fr/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ga/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/gl/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/gu/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/he/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/hi/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/hr/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/hu/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/id/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/it/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ja/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ka/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/kn/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ko/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ku/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/lt/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/lv/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/mai/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/mg/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/mk/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ml/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/mn/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/mr/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ms/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/nb/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ne/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/nl/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/nn/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/oc/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/or/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/pa/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/pl/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/pt/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/pt_BR/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ro/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ru/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/rw/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/si/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/sk/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/sl/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/sq/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/sr/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/sr@latin/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/sv/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/ta/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/te/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/th/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/tk/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/tr/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/uk/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/vi/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/xh/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/zh_CN/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/zh_HK/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
-rw-r--r-- root/root /usr/share/locale/zh_TW/LC_MESSAGES/gcalctool.mo
daniel@bert:~$
}}}		  * [[/Coding|Internationalizarion of source code]]
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== Translation process ==
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=== Translations Templates ===
For `pkgstriptranslations` (in the `pkgbinarymangler` package) to do the job right, please make sure that your package in `main` or `restricted` builds a .pot during the build. It does not necessarily need to be shipped in the source or in the binary package. Generating it during the build is good enough. This can be achieved by running the following in `debian/rules`:
{{{
cd po; intltool-update -p}}}
''If there's more than one `./po/` directory (or it has a different name), please make sure to adjust the call above.''		 TODO
 * String freeze
 * Translation
 * Translation deadline
 * Language pack updates
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== The import queue == == Launchpad ==
=== The import queue ===
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Some of the import queues: Some of the Ubuntu import queues:
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== General Advice == === If your project is hosted in Launchpad ===


== Recipes ==
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 * For GNOME packages:
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Note: ''this is only worth trying if the package uses intltool for i18n (i.e. look for intltool.m4 in the top-level source directory)''

 * For GNU packages:

 * For KDE packages:
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== Kubuntu-specific notes ==

== Additional notes on packages not using the Gettext format ==

=== Mozilla ===

=== OpenOffice.org ===
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CategoryTranslations

Ubuntu Internationalization Guide

This document tries to outline:

  • How Ubuntu deals with translations (and i18n in general) from a developer's perspective
  • Which tools are interesting for developers to make sure that translations and i18n work fine

General information

Packaging

Coding

Translation process

TODO

  • String freeze
  • Translation
  • Translation deadline
  • Language pack updates

Launchpad

The import queue

All translation templates (.pot files) and translations (.po) end up in the Launchpad Translations import queue before being imported into Launchpad.

Some of the Ubuntu import queues:

Templates generally get approved automatically, but sometimes there is some manual work involved in approving them. The Ubuntu Translations Coordinators Team manages the import queue. We've got a mailing list where issues can be discussed and we welcome the help of any community members experienced with translations.

If your project is hosted in Launchpad

Recipes

If you want to make sure that your packages translations are set up correctly, try running:

  • For GNOME packages: 

cd po; intltool-update -m

and be sure to either fix the issues or report them upstream.

Note: this is only worth trying if the package uses intltool for i18n (i.e. look for intltool.m4 in the top-level source directory)

  • For GNU packages:
  • For KDE packages:

Sometimes empty .po files caused packages to build from source.

CategoryUbuntuDevelopment CategoryTranslations

UbuntuDevelopment/Internationalisation (last edited 2010-08-18 14:21:17 by 140)