초록 ▼

Method and apparatus for the on-demand localization of files. Embodiments may provide a file format-independent localization mechanism that automates the extraction of localizable text content from localizable files, the process of generating translations for the extracted localizable text content,

Method and apparatus for the on-demand localization of files. Embodiments may provide a file format-independent localization mechanism that automates the extraction of localizable text content from localizable files, the process of generating translations for the extracted localizable text content, and the generation of localized versions of the localizable files including the translations for the extracted localizable content. The localized versions of the files may be automatically generated with correct structure and content, correct file names, and automatically placed in correct file locations by the localization mechanism, and are thus readily available to and locatable by an automated build process for the localized version of the product, thus reducing or eliminating the necessity for human intervention during the localization process.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for localizing a software product, the method comprising: an automated localization mechanism implemented in a computer extracting localizable text strings, to be translated into a language for which the product is to be localized, from one or more localizable files

What is claimed is: 1. A method for localizing a software product, the method comprising: an automated localization mechanism implemented in a computer extracting localizable text strings, to be translated into a language for which the product is to be localized, from one or more localizable files of the software product; the localization mechanism searching a localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings, wherein the localization database comprises text strings and associated translations of the text strings in the language for which the product is to be localized; the localization mechanism writing translations for the localizable text strings found in the database into localized versions of the localizable files at locations from which the corresponding localizable text strings were extracted such that the localized versions match an original file structure of the localizable files; and the localization mechanism storing the localized versions of the localizable files in file system locations in accordance with a file organization scheme for the product, wherein the localized versions of the localizable files in the file system locations have the original file structure and are ready for a final build into a localized version of the software product such that all translations in the localized versions relative to the localizable files are obtained by the localization mechanism performing said extracting, said searching, said writing and said storing. 2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: in said searching of the localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings, in response to a translation for a localizable text string not being found in the localization database, the localization mechanism generating an entry in a translation kit for the localizable text string, wherein the translation kit is formatted in accordance with a canonical translation kit format, wherein the same canonical format is used for the translation kit regardless of the format of the localizable files, and wherein the translation kit is separate from the localizable files; after said searching the localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings, in response to the translation kit including or more localizable text strings to be translated: providing the translation kit to a translator for translation of the localizable text strings in the translation kit, wherein translations of the localizable text strings are added to the translation kit in accordance with the canonical translation kit format; and importing the translations of the localizable text strings from the translation kit into the translation database in accordance with the canonical translation kit format. 3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the localization mechanism is operable to localize a different software product, wherein, in said localizing the different software product, the localization mechanism is operable to search the localization database including the imported translations to locate translations for the localizable text strings extracted from the localizable files of the different software product. 4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: repeating: the localization mechanism searching the localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings; the localization mechanism writing translations for the localizable text strings found in the database into localized versions of the localizable files at locations from which the corresponding localizable text strings were extracted; in response to translations for one or more localizable text strings not being found in the localization database: the localization mechanism generating entries in a translation kit for the localizable text strings not found in the localization database, wherein the translation kit is formatted in accordance with a canonical translation kit format, wherein the same canonical format is used for the translation kit regardless of the format of the localizable files, and wherein the translation kit is separate from the localizable files, and wherein the translation kit is configured to be provided to a translator for translation of the localizable text strings for which entries were made in the translation kit; and providing the translation kit to a translator for translation of the localizable text strings in the translation kit; and importing translations of the localizable text strings from the translation kit into the translation database in accordance with the canonical translation kit format; wherein said repeating is performed until the translation kit includes no entries for localizable text strings to be translated. 5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said extracting localizable text strings to be translated into a language for which the product is to be localized from one or more localizable files associated with the software product comprises the localization mechanism masking each localizable file with a corresponding shade file, wherein each shade file comprises content of the corresponding localizable file with the localizable text strings removed. 6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the localization mechanism is configured to operate on the localizable files independent of the particular file formats of the localizable files. 7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising; a localized version build process for the software product accessing the localized versions of the localizable files to generate a localized version of the software product. 8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the localization mechanism is operable to localize the software product for each of one or more other languages. 9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein there are two or more localizable files, and wherein different ones of the localizable files are of different file formats. 10. A system, comprising: one or more processors; a memory coupled to the processor and comprising a localization database comprising text strings and associated translations of the text strings in a different language, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions executable by the one or more processors to: extract localizable text strings, to be translated into a language for which a software product is to be localized, from one or more localizable files associated with the software product; search the localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings; write translations for the localizable text strings found in the database into localized versions of the localizable files at locations from which the corresponding localizable text strings were extracted such that the localized versions match an original file structure of the localizable files; and store the localized versions of the localizable files in file system locations in accordance with a file organization scheme for the product, wherein the localized versions of the localizable files in the file system locations have the original file structure and are ready for a final build into a localized version of the software product such that all translations in the localized versions relative to the localizable files are obtained by the program instructions performing said extracting, said searching, said writing and said storing. 11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the program instructions are further executable to: in said search of the localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings, if a translation for a localizable text string is not found in the localization database, generate an entry in a translation kit for the localizable text string, wherein the translation kit is formatted in accordance with a canonical translation kit format, wherein the same canonical format is used for the translation kit regardless of the format of the localizable files, and wherein the translation kit is separate from the localizable files; wherein, after said search of the localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings, if the translation kit includes one or more localizable text strings to be translated, the translation kit is configured to be provided to a translator for translation of the localizable text strings in the translation kit, wherein translations of the localizable text strings are added to the translation kit in accordance with the canonical translation kit format; and wherein the translations of the localizable text strings from the translation kit are configured to be imported into the translation database in accordance with the canonical translation kit format. 12. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the program instructions are further executable to: repeat: search the localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings; write translations for the localizable text strings found in the database into localized versions of the localizable files at locations from which the corresponding localizable text strings were extracted; if translations for one or more localizable text strings are not found in the localization database, generate entries in a translation kit for the localizable text strings not found in the localization database, wherein the translation kit is formatted in accordance with a canonical translation kit format, wherein the same canonical format is used for the translation kit regardless of the format of the localizable files, wherein the translation kit is separate from the localizable files, and wherein the translation kit is configured to be provided to a translator for translation of the localizable text strings for which entries were made in the translation kit, and wherein translations of the localizable text strings are configured to be imported from the translation kit into the translation database in accordance with the canonical translation kit format; until the translation kit includes no entries for localizable text strings to be translated. 13. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein, to extract localizable text strings to be translated into a language for which the product is to be localized from one or more localizable files associated with the software product, the program instructions are further executable to mask each localizable file with a corresponding shade file, wherein each shade file comprises content of the corresponding localizable file with the localizable text strings removed. 14. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the program instructions are further configured to operate on the localizable files independent of the particular file formats of the localizable files. 15. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the program instructions are further executable to localize the software product for each of one or more other languages. 16. A computer-accessible medium, comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement an automated localization mechanism configured to: extract localizable text strings to be translated into a language for which a software product is to be localized from one or more localizable files associated with the software product; search a localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings, wherein the localization database comprises text strings and associated translations of the text strings in the language for which the product is to be localized; write translations for the localizable text strings found in the database into localized versions of the localizable files at locations from which the corresponding localizable text strings were extracted such that the localized versions match an original file structure of the localizable files; and store the localized versions of the localizable files in file system locations in accordance with a file organization scheme for the product, wherein the localized versions of the localizable files in the file system locations have the original file structure and are ready for a final build into a localized version of the software product such that all translations in the localized versions relative to the localizable files are obtained by the program instructions performing said extracting, said searching, said writing and said storing. 17. The computer-accessible medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the localization mechanism is further configured to: in said search of the localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings, if a translation for a localizable text string is not found in the localization database, generate an entry in a translation kit for the localizable text string, wherein the translation kit is formatted in accordance with a canonical translation kit format, wherein the same canonical format is used for the translation kit regardless of the format of the localizable files, and wherein the translation kit is separate from the localizable files; wherein, after said search of the localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings, if the translation kit includes one or more localizable text strings to be translated, the translation kit is configured to be provided to a translator for translation of the localizable text strings in the translation kit, wherein translations of the localizable text strings are added to the translation kit in accordance with the canonical translation kit format; and wherein the translations of the localizable text strings from the translation kit are configured to be imported into the translation database in accordance with the canonical translation kit format. 18. The computer-accessible medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the localization mechanism is further configured to: repeat: search the localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings; write translations for the localizable text strings found in the database into localized versions of the localizable files at locations from which the corresponding localizable text strings were extracted; if translations for one or more localizable text strings are not found in the localization database, generate entries in a translation kit for the localizable text strings not found in the localization database, wherein the translation kit is formatted in accordance with a canonical translation kit format, wherein the same canonical format is used for the translation kit regardless of the format of the localizable files, and wherein the translation kit is separate from the localizable files, and wherein the translation kit is configured to be provided to a translator for translation of the localizable text strings for which entries were made in the translation kit, and wherein translations of the localizable text strings are configured to be imported from the translation kit into the translation database in accordance with the canonical translation kit format; until the translation kit includes no entries for localizable text strings to be translated. 19. The computer-accessible medium as recited in claim 16, wherein, to extract localizable text strings to be translated into a language for which the product is to be localized from one or more localizable files associated with the software product, the localization mechanism is further configured to mask each localizable file with a corresponding shade file, wherein each shade file comprises content of the corresponding localizable file with the localizable text strings removed. 20. The computer-accessible medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the localization mechanism is further configured to operate on the localizable files independent of the particular file formats of the localizable files.