Hi all,

This is not a technical question, more a request for language help.

I've developed a large app for my client in english.  They have
indicated that they will probably want it to be translated into most
european languages.

Now, I set off on the right foot ( i think ) as all the labels,
strings etc are loaded dynamically from resource files.  The main doc
( approx 10k words ) is in ms word and we used helpbreeze to make the
help files.

My problem is I dont speak any languages other than english and bad.

I would rather pay a fellow delphi developer to do the translation
work than go to a translation agency if I can because :

  You'll probably be more sympathetic

  We'll probably develop other synergy as well :-)

Oh yeh, its a medical application - but there is very little technical
content.

If you are fluent in another language as well as english why not give
me a call and lets see what we can do - expected start is around
dec/jan.
Andy Rennison
________________

The longest journey starts with a single step.

Andy -

I can't help you with the translations, and I would recommend that you not find
another programmer to help you.  What you want is a _USER_ to help.  Preferably
a native speaker of the target language.  Talk to the distributor about getting
together with a beta tester in the target markets who speaks English.  Work with
them.

My first application was translated into 14 different languages.  We wrote a
translation aide that displayed all the text out of the resource file one at a
time, and saved their translation.  We even limited the size of the translation
so that it would fit where the English text was.  The problem was that many of
the English words and phrases could be interpreted several ways, since they were
out of context.  We had to go through all the translations with a user anyway to
straighten out all the misconceptions.

My last project that got translated (this past spring) worked much better, but I
also had the luxury of working with a computer literate translator.  I simply
added resource strings for the target language, gave the text copy of the
resource file to the translator, and had her type in to the resource file
directly while viewing a running copy of the program.  She could then run a
batch file which recompiled the resource file.  Then she re-ran the application
testing her translation right then.  It worked very well.

--
Clayton Neff
Software Project Leader
The Personal Marketing Company, Inc.
11843 West 83rd Terrace
Lenexa, KS  66214
(913)492-0322
clay...@tpmco.com

Clayton

Thanks for the advice.  

What you say makes a lot of sense, i'll discuss it with my client.

I suppose the ideal person would be a specialist nurse, i'm sure we
can dig one up for each country.

Thanks again

Andy Rennison
________________

The longest journey starts with a single step.