How to translate Smoresoft Sudoku

[David]

Smoresoft Sudoku localizable strings are stored in a Microsoft .NET resx file.  To create a new translation, you'll first need to download the latest version of the neutral language resx file (attached to this message), which is in US English (en-US).

Then, edit the file and replace the contents of the <value> XML tags that are inside <data> tags with the appropriate translation.  You can use notepad.exe for this (be sure to save the file in UTF-8 format), or your favorite XML file editor.

Be careful not to change anything except <value> tags that are inside <data> tags.

Do not change anything above the comment in the file that says "DO NOT LOCALIZE ABOVE THIS LINE".

For example, you might translate the following entry in the neutral language resx file:

Code: [Select]

  <data name="newPuzzleMenuText">
    <value xml:space="preserve">New</value>
    <comment>New puzzle menu item text</comment>
  </data>

as the following in French (fr-FR):

Code: [Select]

  <data name="newPuzzleMenuText">
    <value xml:space="preserve">Nouveaux</value>
    <comment>New puzzle menu item text</comment>
  </data>

Note that the only change is that the word "New" has been replaced with the word "Nouveaux".  Do not change any other portion of the entry.

Also note the contents of the <comment> tag.  This is descriptive text intended to help you, the translator, understand how the text is used in the software. There is no need to translate the comments. They do not appear in the software.

Repeat this step for for all of the <value>

Save the file as a new file and insert the .NET culture name into the file name just before the ".resx" file extension. For example, if the original file is named "Resources.resx", save the file as "Resources.fr-FR.resx" for culture "fr-FR". You will find a list of culture names at http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.globalization.cultureinfo.aspx.

Once you've completed the translation, post the translation to this forum as an attachment and let me know how you'd like your name to appear in the game credits.

You're done!

I'll then include your translation in the next release of Smoresoft Sudoku.

[David]

Updated Resources.resx with new strings in 1.1.0.3:

The changes are:

1. "Undo Mode" (instead of "Undo")
2. "Bookmark"
3. "Auto-play singles" (which I'm considering renaming to "Auto-play forced moves" in English)
4. "Backlight always on"

I know I need a better way to handle incremental changes.  When I get a chance, I'll write a utility to extract the diffs from the resx files.

[David]

Updated template file for 1.2 Preview 6.

[David]

Updated template for 1.2 Preview 8.

[Mats Bjur]

Just an idea regarding revisions, why not just put simple comment lines for the new additions/changes, like:

Code: [Select]

<!-- v.1.2 preview 8 change START -->
(the changed line(s))
<!-- v.1.2 preview 8 change STOP -->

Solves the problem, keeping it simple 

?

[David]

Thanks for the idea, Mats.  I'll give it a try the next time I update the strings.

[thomasho]

Could you please explain what does "Auto-play singles" do? I couldn't figure out, even with it set.  ???I need a better understanding to translate it. Thank you very much.

Updated Resources.resx with new strings in 1.1.0.3:

The changes are:

1. "Undo Mode" (instead of "Undo")
2. "Bookmark"
3. "Auto-play singles" (which I'm considering renaming to "Auto-play forced moves" in English)
4. "Backlight always on"

I know I need a better way to handle incremental changes.  When I get a chance, I'll write a utility to extract the diffs from the resx files.

[David]

Sure!  Auto-play singles will automatically complete any cell that has only one remaining candidate (also called a single or a "naked single").

For example, suppose cell A has two possible candidates (or pencil marks), 3 and 4.



Now suppose you enter a 3 in neighboring cell B.  Since cell B is neighboring cell A, cell A cannot have the value 3.



Since cell A then has only one candidate remaining, 4, it is now a naked single.  The "auto-play singles" option will automatically enter the value 4 in that cell.



This process will continue until there are no remaining naked singles on the grid.  Note that this option may complete the game automatically on easier levels.

[thomasho]

David, should we get a new resource file to translate the "keypad navigation" setting option?

[David]

Hi tomasho,

Yes, I'll post it shortly.  You may find it easier to just add the one new entry to the end of the file you've already translated.  But whichever way works best for you will be fine.

Thanks!

[David]

I've updated the Resources.resx attachment for version 1.3 Preview 4.  The following string was added in this release:

  <data name="keypadNavigationCheckboxText">
    <value xml:space="preserve">Keypad navigation</value>
    <comment>en="Keypad navigation"; Switch to keypad navigation mode, where the dialpad (instead of the joystick) is used to navigate around the grid.</comment>
  </data>

[haltman]

Hi!
I'd like to traslate your software in italian. I'd like to know if the attachment included in your post it's already the latest version.

thanks in advance.
ciao
h.

[David]

Hello haltman,

Yes, it's the latest version. Looking forward to your translation!

Thanks,
-David

[Mats Bjur]

David, please make a sticky thread like this one where (only) you post updates to the language-file and lock it so that only you can reply to it.

Then the translators can subscribe to that thread and get instant notifications whenever the language files needs updating

A tip is to name the subject to something like "Translation updates - Subscribe if you are a translator" or something so ppl immediately get the idea

(there's perhaps even an administration tool where you can specify which are translators and subscribe them to that thread)

[David]

An excellent idea, thanks Mats!  I'll do this now.