04
Mon, Nov
6 New Articles

Partner TechTip: Creating Multilingual Software Doesn't Have to Be Scary

General
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Don't be effrayé. Making your software multilingual is easier than you think.

By Tom Wallin

Have you avoided making your software multilingual because you don't have the budget or people power? Does the task seem too daunting?

 

There is more to it than changing your screens to message IDs. What about your RPG and CL programs? Internal printer files? Compile-time arrays? Constants defined in programs? CL messages? Alternating tables?

 

All of these things need to be changed to make your software truly multilingual.

 

Making your software multilingual gives your company a competitive edge when expanding your products into other countries. Some foreign companies require that your software already be in their native language to even consider buying it.

 

You can also make training in a multilingual world easier by providing screens and reports that are displayed in the users' own language.

 

Oasis Software International's NLS product does this for you so that you don't need to learn special skills. Your entire application could be language-neutral in just a few hours.

 

Most developers know that you can change constants in DDS to message IDs and store the display or printer text in message files. They may have even written a utility to do it automatically. But there is more to it than just changing the constants in DDS.

 

There are things to consider when changing constants to message IDs. For example, F3=Exit is F3=Sortie in French. You must make enough room for the entire word, if possible. You don't want your screen to say F3=Sort.

 

NLS not only converts your DDS screens and printer files, it also converts your RPG, RPGLE, and CL programs to be language-neutral using message files.

 

Developers do not need to do anything differently when creating screens and programs. The conversion is done at the end the development, and the original code is never touched. You just recompile your new source to a new library and add that library above your current object library.

 

To change to a new language, just add a library with that language message file to the top of your library list. The screens and programs will now be in that language.

 

There is no programming required.

What if I Want to Change the Language While I'm in the Application?

It's easy to add code to your existing programs to switch languages when running an application.

 

Simply close the display file, issue an Override Message File (OVRMSGF) command to your other language message file, and reopen the display file.

Everything Is Language-Neutral. Now What?

Now you have to translate the text from your application to other languages. One way to do that is with the NLS command WRKNLSMSG.

 

As shown in Figure 1, this NLS command allows you to display multiple message files at the same time. You can see what has been translated, change the translation of any text, or look for new messages that need to be translated.

 103108Oasisfigure1.gif

Figure 1: Display multiple message files at the same time. (Click images to enlarge.)

 

You can search and replace text within the languages. For example, you could replace all instances of "exit" with "sortie."

 

You can also enter a program name and translate your most critical applications first.

But What if I Can't Write in Other Languages?

Many companies don't have people to translate the screens by themselves. However, there are many translation companies that will do this for you (for example, LionBridge and Systran).

 

NLS provides a command to export the contents of a message file to a database file.

Send this file to a translation service and have them return the file with the original and translated text. From that translated file, you can import the text into your language library.

 

Be sure when working with a translation company that they have a basic understanding of your business. In one case, a company converted everything to French and later realized the translation company had change "Order" to "Commande" instead of "Ordre." Be careful of those double-meaning words.

Displaying Dates

You may have to change the way you display and edit dates for other languages. In many countries, they want to see October 10, 2008, as 27/10/08 not 10/27/08.

 

You can use *JOBRUN when testing and moving dates to match the current job's date format.

 

103108OasisFigure3.JPG

Figure 2: Change the way you display and edit dates for other languages.

 

Now that you know how easy it is to make your software multilingual, veille de la toussaint heureuse (happy Halloween).

 

Tom Wallin is president of Oasis Software International. Tom and his partner in Germany, Mike Augel ("Mr. Blue Suit") are the authors of NLS, Create Help Utility, and File Access (PFE). They have been creating and marketing AS/400, iSeries, System i, and IBM i software since 1991. You can reach Tom at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Check out the Oasis Web site in the U.S. at http://www.oasis400.com/ or in Europe at http://www.sss-software.de/.  

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: