A simple localization question

[rentzk]

Exactly which strings are automatically translated in IA9? After using InstallAware for many years, we are finally thinking about creating an internationalized installer for one of our new products. I ran a test installation script through the automatic routines, and it seems to translate text in buttons, etc, but not any of the default text in any of the dialogs such as "Collecting information", or "please click next to continue". Do these strings need to be converted manually? I fully expect any custom strings we add to need manual conversion, but I would think that the strings provided with the dialogs would be handled.

[giaviv]

Dear rentzk,

If you use our official dialogs, all of the strings should be localized. That being said, note that the newest runtimes are not localized yet (specifically the .NET 4 related components). Check out the reference.<language> files in the your InstallAware installation folder, you will find all the string that are translated there.

[rentzk]

That's what I thought. any idea what could be causing the sort of behavior shown in the attached snapshot? It seems to have a strange mix of English and French on the dialogs.

[giaviv]

Dear rentzk,

Did you follow the Automatically Localizing Strings section in the Localization Wizard article in our InstallAware help files?

[rentzk]

Yes. I used the wizard to export the strings, automatically perform the translation, and then re-import the strings. I just looked in the French translation file, and it contains the same mix of English and French that is displayed in the installer.

[giaviv]

Dear rentzk,

Which dialogs are you using? Again, only the Official dialogs are automatically translated.

[rentzk]

I am not using any custom dialogs, only the ones from InstallAware. The above screenshot was taken from the Emerald style of dialogs.

As an experiment, I created an empty installer using the wizard. I then localized the strings, and they seemed to all be translated. I then changed the theme to Emerald, and ran the localization steps again. This time I had the combination of English and French. When I get the chance, I'll try again starting out with the Emerald themed UI.

[giaviv]

Dear rentzk,

Again, only the Official dialog style would work - not any other dialog styles (including the emerald one). Right-click on Dialogs, Add Dialogs to Project, "Official" under the Add a Pre-Built, Themed Collection of Dialogs.

[rentzk]

Now I understand. I misunderstood what you meant by Official. I thought this meant that only the dialogs from InstallAware were translatable.

[giaviv]

I was a little unclear - no problem. Let me know if you have any further questions!