TranslatingTheProject

• Introduction
• Details
• How to translate WebcamStudio step by step guide

Introduction

Here are described the steps required to participate in the translation of WebcamStudio

Details

Java has the internal ability to support multi-language applications. WebcamStudio implements this ability as it is using the Languages.properties file (sourceforge.net) as the base for the English labels.

The content of the file is quite simple:

 The Tag Name = The Tag Descripton

One line for each tag. The text must be in Unicode, so it is best to use the NetBeans environment to edit those files especially if the language contains accents like French.

For each specific language, a new file is created in the format: Languages_fr.properties, fr being for French.

To add a new language, one must import the base file Languages.properties (sourceforge.net), and copy it to the desired language (using the 2 letters of the language). And then, you just translate each label as needed.

On the next build, the new file will be integrated and upon loading, Java looking at the current locale, will load the proper language file. If no proper language file is found, then the default file Languages.properties (sourceforge.net) (in this particular case the default is English) will be loaded.

How to translate WebcamStudio step by step guide

You have two options translating the application:

1. Using NetBeans IDE
   • Download and install the latest version of the NetBeans IDE
   • Checkout the source code of WebcamStudio in a folder. Alternatively you can use this command line:
     svn checkout svn://svn.code.sf.net/p/webcamstudio/code/trunk webcamstudio-code
   • Open the project in NetBeans
   • In the sources of the project, go to webcamstudio
   • All Languages.properties files are in there
   • Add or Update the proper language file
   • Rebuild and test
   • Once everything is working, commit the modification (if you are a project developer and have commit permissions). If you are not a project developer with commit permissions, please create a new ticket and add your file/changes as an attachment.
   • Important for developers, set the commit message as a comment saying what was changed and why
2. Using an ordinary code editor like Kate, GEdit etc
   • Download the raw Languages.properties (sourceforge.net) file.
   • Rename it to the desired language (using the 2 letters of the language). For example for French the file must be named: Languages_fr.properties
   • Translate each label in the file as needed.
   • When ready please create a new ticket and add your file/changes as an attachment.