Mock translation system, method, and program using multi-byte placeholder characters to test translatability of software that will display multi-byte languages
US6453462B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 29, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 29, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/454
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A mock translation system, method, and program is provided which converts single-byte base-language data and performs a mock translation on it to produce internationalization test data, which incorporates double-byte expansion characters having a second byte as “5C”, such as a double wide dash character. These expansion characters are used as a placeholder to accommodate the additional space needed for later translating the text into a different language. In addition, field boundary characters, such as brackets, are used to designate the beginning and end of the text with the placeholders. This data is stored in localization files and displayed in a software application in place of the English or foreign-language text. By visually inspecting each screen, the programmer or proofreader is able to easily recognize many internationalization errors, without requiring the ability to read any foreign language. These errors include truncation, alignment, or other formatting errors, and programming errors such as text that is hard-coded, localization files missing from the program build, text missing from localization files, and text composed of more than one translated message.…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.