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General

• How do I translate weird strings like 'super user' OR <application>Root Terminal</application> OR _Update Server OR <xref linkend=\"qg-archivemanager\" endterm=\"title-qg-archivemanager\"/>List? Can I have a full list of examples and an explanation of each translation?

  • You should not translate anything inside < >, for example, <interface>. You shouldn't translate anything preceeded by the character &, for example &apos. For example, <application> Root Terminal</application>, you only translate "Root Terminal". Another example, 'super user&apos, you only translate "super user". Also, sometimes appears a word with underscore, for example, "_Update". The underscore means the character that will be used for fast access with your keyboard. You can translate it like, for example in Portuguese, "_Actualização", "A_ctualização"... "Actualizaçã_o", i.e., it doesn't matter where you put the underscore. There is a pratical issue! If you have a program interface with the same fast access character in different options/tabs/checkboxes/etc., you will have to press the shortcut several times in the keyboard to walk through all of them. Because of this reason, try to avoid a repetition of the underscored character. Also, try to make them reasonable! It is more reasonable to have the underscore in the first character of the word than in the end, so if there are no repetitions with other interface options, put it there:-)

• How do I translate menu entries?

  • You can examine the .PO file to see if the desktop entry is in there. In affirmative case just translate it through Rosetta. If not, talk to the mantainers of the package and send them a translated .desktop entry directly. For Dapper, probably everything will work through Rosetta (reformulate if you know better what's the current status).

• How can we coordinate uniform translations of the same terms in a given team?

  • In Rosetta you have suggested and accepted translations boxes that can give you an idea of how other translators translated similar strings to the one you are looking at. You can also coordinate using your team mailing lists or putting in the web some translations which you agreed on for common reference to all the translators.

• How can I review a translation?

  • Reviewing is mostly about exactly that - re-viewing.The best way is to check if the translation is good and concise, and if it isn't - fix it or keep the reviewing mark checked. If you think the translation is good, or you've fixed it, you just remove the check mark.Usually the one who translated a string would ask for reviewing as (s)he might have considered the translation to be only half-good. (LP Answer # 42817) This is certainly something that could've been documented.

Rosetta specific

• Which packages have translations released via "langpacks"? All of the packages available in Rosetta?

  • No, only packages that belong to "main" have translations periodically released through "langpacks".

• How do I Download or Upload files into Rosetta. What are these strange formats PO or MO? What Software can be used to work on them? Is it recommended to work on the files in my local computer instead of editing the files online?

  • To Download a PO you use Rosetta interface and after confirming that you want to download the file it will be sent shortly to your email address, defined in the launchpad. To edit PO files locally you can use POEdit or Gtranslator, for example, both available through synaptic (main+universe) repositories or a simple text editor. In the latter case remember not to change the "msgid" strings. The translations in ubuntu are stored locally in /usr/share/locale or /usr/share/locale-langpack. Let us see one example. Portuguese translation for SERPENTINE is stored in the file "serpentine.mo" which is in /usr/share/locale-langpack/pt/LC_MESSAGES. Now that you know where the translation files are stored you can change them and test your translations locally. Following the previous example, if you download the SERPENTINE .PO file using Rosetta, you change it through POedit, and then you can compile it using also POedit. If you do this a new serpentine.mo file will be created. Copy this new serpentine.mo file to /usr/share/locale-langpack/pt/LC_MESSAGES and you will be able to test your new portuguese translation of SERPENTINE. Do a backup of your original /usr/share/locale-langpack/pt/LC_MESSAGES/serpentine.mo file first:-). After testing your translations you can send the file back to Rosetta using the Upload tool being careful to not override someone else work (more info on this needed).
  • Now, generally speaking, it will happen sometimes that you have difficulties putting in context some strings when you are using the web-based Rosetta translation portal. If you can, use the program that you are translating and see where the string appears. Also, if you can, try the example mentioned above or something similar to see your translations in action.

• In Rosetta, if the option "Someone should review this translation" is on, is the translation accepted? When is it accepted? If it is turned off, the translation will be automatically accepted without any reviewing?

  • No, the translation is not accepted. It is accepted when you turn it off or someone else does that for you. If it is turned off the translation will be automatically accepted without any reviewing.

• Is there someone with the responsibility of looking to the translations marked as "Someone should review this translation" and correct them if necessary?

  • In the current implementation, no.

• When should I turn on the option "Someone should review this translation"?

  • Simple answer: when you are not sure if the translation is correct.

• If no one turns off the option "Someone should review this translation" during several weeks what should I do? Will the translation be automatically accepted?

  • Some options: wait; send emails to your team mailing list asking to someone look at it; talk to translators in the IRC, irc.freenode.net, #ubuntu-translators. The translations will NOT be automatically accepted when marked "Someone should review this translation" for a long period of time.

• How is the Karma measured?

  • Karma is measured with points for different activities, that can be categorized as: "The Registry","Bug Management","Support Tracker", "Specification Tracking", "Miscellaneous", "Translations in Rosetta", "Bounty Tracking". Karma decays over time so you have to be active to keep it up.

• Can I subscribe to Rosetta template changes such that I can control if it's necessary further action when the original strings change?

  • This feature is being prepared. Check https://launchpad.net/products/rosetta/+spec/translation-subscriptions.

• How do I know if my translations are being reused upstream or not?