Making a Multi-Language Version of an Application

[jlsvhmk]

Finally got the finances to order my version of MMF 2. Hopefully will get it soon (if I only will have time to toy around with it make some experiments!).

I was thinking that what would be the best and most efficient way, consuming as little memory as possible, to make a multi-language application in MMF? Surely the best way can't be just self editing all the objects and get them translated?

Is it ok to get the application read the legends (?)/object titles from a text file as "illustrated" below:

a1=This program was created by...

b1=Detta program är skapad av...

c1=Krng'le purgu'aa le-scuata'naa...

Using text files would allow others to translate the program into their native language if needed. That would eliminate the need to mess up with the source file itself? Or is there a better way to implement a multi-language version of an MMF application?

[Sarah]

Multi-language is not simple whatever you do. A three word phrase in one language can take fifteen words in another.

[raytrace]

What many games & applications have is a file which has all the different languages in it. If it's external you can also "patch" it or edit it.

Example ini file:
[lang]
currentlang=x
[lang1]
1=menuoption1
2=menuoption2
[lang2]
1=menuoption1
2=menuoption2
e.t.c...

at the start of the level set the group 'retrieve current lang, lang'. Then simply set each text to each item at runtime

[neat_Kliker2]

you could do "lang=" 1, 2 or 3 and have the strings in the ini like "001_1" and "002_2" then use INI_String("001_" + str$(INI_Value("lang"))) if that makes sence

[raytrace]

thats more difficult but you can have grouping that way
e.g. "english.help.001"

[Sphax]

Personally I use multi INI files in one "lang" folder.
For example :
./lang/en.ini
./lang/fr.ini
./lang/de.ini
...

With this method all languages files can be patched individually.

[Tiny]

I also use an INI file in a 'data/lang/' directory. That way everything can be translated more easy to other languages.

To compensate for "long worded languages" (which Sarah pointed out) I have made extra room in the places where texts are exposed.
If you already know (and have) the other languages you can test them and see how much space you need.

[DavidN]

Well, I was going to be all clever and say externalise your strings, but everyone else has already suggested it <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />