Comments on: Nihonngo wo hanasemasu ka? http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F Random blatherings Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:30:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Mac Mojo : Introducing a “certain je-ne-sais-quoi” http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-9488 Mac Mojo : Introducing a “certain je-ne-sais-quoi” Tue, 30 Jan 2007 11:52:17 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-9488 [...] Introducing a “certain je-ne-sais-quoi” A new year, a new blogger! Today’s post is all about me! I’m taking the plunge in the Mojo so let me introduce myself! I’m Eric Paquin, International Project Manager and totally new to the art of blogging (please be patient)! So, what can I bring to the Mojo? I’ll focus on the international perspective. Being a French Canadian (aka Québécois) living in Ireland (I’ll spare you the long story ;) ) it gives me an interesting viewpoint on all things international (well… most)! Mac head since 1989 (but also a PC user)… I’ve been working in localization for over 10 years. I was a tester in Corel – they had their localization centre in Dublin then. And I have been in the Ireland branch of MacBU for the last 7 years, first in test and now as a project manager. In the past, one thing I was never good at was using French products (on Mac or PC) as historically (many moons ago), it used to take near 6 months after the release of the English product - not only for Microsoft products - to have the privilege to install it in French in Canada… Then once I started to install French products, I was really confused being used to the English terminology. Things have change and for the last 3 years, my primary Mac at work is fully French! Talk about putting my software where my mouth is ;) It helps me understanding issues that our international users might run into. It also made me realize that most software I use have issues when you run them in another language. Especially highlighted when you have a configuration like this (in System preferences/International): French Canadian CSA keyboard Ireland (French) international format GMT / 24 hour clock About localization in Dublin… (I won’t cover the whole process - Schwieb has already given a good overview). Who are we? We are a team responsible for 6 languages (namely French, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish and Dutch). For Office 2004, each of these languages contained an average of 100000 new and updated words (translation we could not recycle from previous versions) in the software. To add a new language like we did for Dutch and Italian, it means 300000 words and another 750000 for the help. We released the software in various flavours – Standard Edition, Student and Teacher, Volume Licensing, Word and Excel Standalone in some languages, Entourage standalone for Volume Licensing, Test Drive. Altogether, for Office 2004, we were responsible for signing off on 23 CDs for Office and 15 for VPC (Virtual PC). We also localize Messenger, RDC (Remote Desktop Client) and all the various software updates… That’s a lot… We couldn’t do it without automation and working with vendors on the translation part and some of the testing… In a future post, I’ll give an overview of the problems this causes, how we work around these and a quick overview of some of the tools we use. I have a few more ideas for future posts but I would also like to hear from you if there are any particular international topics you’d like me to get into a little more… These include: Differences between European markets and the US – is it day and night or more like 13h and 1PM? International Features I’d like to see (and hopefully you do to!) Communications with our European customers And, pourquoi pas, “Le Mojo” – an occasional post in French? Until the next time… Au revoir! Published Tuesday, January 30, 2007 11:29 AM by eric.paquin Filed under: Other, Working in MacBU [...] [...] Introducing a “certain je-ne-sais-quoi” A new year, a new blogger! Today’s post is all about me! I’m taking the plunge in the Mojo so let me introduce myself! I’m Eric Paquin, International Project Manager and totally new to the art of blogging (please be patient)! So, what can I bring to the Mojo? I’ll focus on the international perspective. Being a French Canadian (aka Québécois) living in Ireland (I’ll spare you the long story ;) ) it gives me an interesting viewpoint on all things international (well… most)! Mac head since 1989 (but also a PC user)… I’ve been working in localization for over 10 years. I was a tester in Corel – they had their localization centre in Dublin then. And I have been in the Ireland branch of MacBU for the last 7 years, first in test and now as a project manager. In the past, one thing I was never good at was using French products (on Mac or PC) as historically (many moons ago), it used to take near 6 months after the release of the English product - not only for Microsoft products - to have the privilege to install it in French in Canada… Then once I started to install French products, I was really confused being used to the English terminology. Things have change and for the last 3 years, my primary Mac at work is fully French! Talk about putting my software where my mouth is ;) It helps me understanding issues that our international users might run into. It also made me realize that most software I use have issues when you run them in another language. Especially highlighted when you have a configuration like this (in System preferences/International): French Canadian CSA keyboard Ireland (French) international format GMT / 24 hour clock About localization in Dublin… (I won’t cover the whole process - Schwieb has already given a good overview). Who are we? We are a team responsible for 6 languages (namely French, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish and Dutch). For Office 2004, each of these languages contained an average of 100000 new and updated words (translation we could not recycle from previous versions) in the software. To add a new language like we did for Dutch and Italian, it means 300000 words and another 750000 for the help. We released the software in various flavours – Standard Edition, Student and Teacher, Volume Licensing, Word and Excel Standalone in some languages, Entourage standalone for Volume Licensing, Test Drive. Altogether, for Office 2004, we were responsible for signing off on 23 CDs for Office and 15 for VPC (Virtual PC). We also localize Messenger, RDC (Remote Desktop Client) and all the various software updates… That’s a lot… We couldn’t do it without automation and working with vendors on the translation part and some of the testing… In a future post, I’ll give an overview of the problems this causes, how we work around these and a quick overview of some of the tools we use. I have a few more ideas for future posts but I would also like to hear from you if there are any particular international topics you’d like me to get into a little more… These include: Differences between European markets and the US – is it day and night or more like 13h and 1PM? International Features I’d like to see (and hopefully you do to!) Communications with our European customers And, pourquoi pas, “Le Mojo” – an occasional post in French? Until the next time… Au revoir! Published Tuesday, January 30, 2007 11:29 AM by eric.paquin Filed under: Other, Working in MacBU [...]

]]> By: Pierre Igot http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-103 Pierre Igot Tue, 20 Jun 2006 19:06:40 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-103 Sorry, correct URL should be: http://www.betalogue.com/2006/06/20/erik-schwiebert-on-localized-versions-of-microsoft-office-for-mac-os-x/ Sorry, correct URL should be:

http://www.betalogue.com/2006/06/20/erik-schwiebert-on-localized-versions-of-microsoft-office-for-mac-os-x/

]]> By: Pierre Igot http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-102 Pierre Igot Tue, 20 Jun 2006 19:05:42 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-102 If you rely on "pseudo-localization" for testing Word with a variety of languages, it's no surprise that an obvious bug such as the one with the non-breaking space and Postscript (Type 1) fonts does not get caught in time: http://www.betalogue.com/2006/06/20/erik-schwiebert-on-localized- versions-of-microsoft-office-for-mac-os-x/ What I fail to comprehend, however, is why this bug is still not fixed TWO YEARS LATER (not in the English version of Word 2004 anyway). Care to comment? If you rely on “pseudo-localization” for testing Word with a variety of languages, it’s no surprise that an obvious bug such as the one with the non-breaking space and Postscript (Type 1) fonts does not get caught in time:

http://www.betalogue.com/2006/06/20/erik-schwiebert-on-localized-
versions-of-microsoft-office-for-mac-os-x/

What I fail to comprehend, however, is why this bug is still not fixed TWO YEARS LATER (not in the English version of Word 2004 anyway).

Care to comment?

]]> By: cortig http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-69 cortig Wed, 14 Jun 2006 13:07:23 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-69 Thanks for the info. I never paid much atetntion to this option up to now :-) Thanks for the info. I never paid much atetntion to this option up to now :-)

]]> By: Schwieb http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-66 Schwieb Wed, 14 Jun 2006 04:10:59 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-66 It's a feature in wordpress that you have enabled on your blog. See Options/Discussion, and then the first checkbox. "Attempt to notify any Weblogs linked to from the article (slows down posting.)" It’s a feature in wordpress that you have enabled on your blog. See Options/Discussion, and then the first checkbox. “Attempt to notify any Weblogs linked to from the article (slows down posting.)”

]]> By: cortig http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-65 cortig Wed, 14 Jun 2006 03:58:35 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-65 I had no idea that citing this post on my site would make it show up in the comments. Actually I'm not quite sure how it happened... I had no idea that citing this post on my site would make it show up in the comments. Actually I’m not quite sure how it happened…

]]> By: Alea jacta Ouest » Localization at the MacBU http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-62 Alea jacta Ouest » Localization at the MacBU Tue, 13 Jun 2006 20:51:28 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-62 [...] schwieb.com has a very interesting post on localization at the MacBU today. [...] [...] schwieb.com has a very interesting post on localization at the MacBU today. [...]

]]> By: MaLer http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-45 MaLer Fri, 09 Jun 2006 11:36:10 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-45 BAM, it's of course possible to buy spellchecker for Office X (but not grammar check), our company is making it (check www.dtpobchod.cz). I'm affraid, that's yet not possible to use system spellchecking services in Carbon apps (at least i'm not avare of any using it). BTW, there is one nice bug in Office, which makes Word document "jumping" to the cursor position, it's necessary to switch off something in preferences. It seems to be languace or script specific. BAM, it’s of course possible to buy spellchecker for Office X (but not grammar check), our company is making it (check http://www.dtpobchod.cz). I’m affraid, that’s yet not possible to use system spellchecking services in Carbon apps (at least i’m not avare of any using it).

BTW, there is one nice bug in Office, which makes Word document “jumping” to the cursor position, it’s necessary to switch off something in preferences. It seems to be languace or script specific.

]]> By: kurisu http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-43 kurisu Fri, 09 Jun 2006 07:02:36 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-43 Thanks anyways, it's not like I was expecting a yes/no answer... I guess it's just wishful thinking on our part, we the international bunch. But in any case, the way you describe your localisation process kind of makes me think the next version of Mac:Office will be pretty much the same on that front, since you clearly state in your original post that there always is a delay between the release of the English version and the other international versions. You do not need to breach any NDA to state the obvious... And let's face it, none of the Windows versions are multilingual in terms of the UI anyway, which means most of the strings are probably still hard-coded, thus it would be a pain in the neck for you guys to replace all those with .lproj resource files everytime the Win:Office team hands you the code for the new versions. That also is proof enough that the next version of Mac:Office will not use the multilingual facilities of OS X : you guys are on a tight schedule, and this alone would push the next release one more year, at the very least ! I just hope some day you guys will consider doing it, because it's getting pretty expensive to purchase 2 licenses of the same program *each time* just to have the interface in a different language. And sorry, but Mac:Office ain't cheap. Sorry if I sound a bit harsh, it's just that I expect a lot from a company like Microsoft. No personal attacks intended. I appreciate the insight you give us ! it is a step in the right direction. cheers Thanks anyways, it’s not like I was expecting a yes/no answer…

I guess it’s just wishful thinking on our part, we the international bunch.

But in any case, the way you describe your localisation process kind of makes me think the next version of Mac:Office will be pretty much the same on that front, since you clearly state in your original post that there always is a delay between the release of the English version and the other international versions. You do not need to breach any NDA to state the obvious…

And let’s face it, none of the Windows versions are multilingual in terms of the UI anyway, which means most of the strings are probably still hard-coded, thus it would be a pain in the neck for you guys to replace all those with .lproj resource files everytime the Win:Office team hands you the code for the new versions. That also is proof enough that the next version of Mac:Office will not use the multilingual facilities of OS X : you guys are on a tight schedule, and this alone would push the next release one more year, at the very least !

I just hope some day you guys will consider doing it, because it’s getting pretty expensive to purchase 2 licenses of the same program *each time* just to have the interface in a different language. And sorry, but Mac:Office ain’t cheap.

Sorry if I sound a bit harsh, it’s just that I expect a lot from a company like Microsoft. No personal attacks intended. I appreciate the insight you give us ! it is a step in the right direction.

cheers

]]> By: Schwieb http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-42 Schwieb Fri, 09 Jun 2006 06:28:09 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-42 Cortig, i should have called out more clearly that we do indeed recycle translations from previous versions. That would be a heck of a lot of duplicate work if we started from scratch each time. Pseudo-loc mostly helps us verify that code changes in existing features and new code in new features is properly 'localizable'. As for the questions about multi-lingual bundles in the next version of Mac Office, I decline to comment. That product is in active development. Sorry to leave you hanging... Cortig, i should have called out more clearly that we do indeed recycle translations from previous versions. That would be a heck of a lot of duplicate work if we started from scratch each time. Pseudo-loc mostly helps us verify that code changes in existing features and new code in new features is properly ‘localizable’.

As for the questions about multi-lingual bundles in the next version of Mac Office, I decline to comment. That product is in active development. Sorry to leave you hanging…

]]> By: [self setNeedsDisplay: YES]; » I still need to go to Tokyo http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-41 [self setNeedsDisplay: YES]; » I still need to go to Tokyo Fri, 09 Jun 2006 05:41:51 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-41 [...] From Schwieb: I don’t do any of the actual translations, however. I speak enough Japanese to wander around Tokyo and look for Studio Ghibli goods (I found a cel from the opening credits of となりのトトロ for my son’s room the last time I went to Tokyo), but not to do any official business work. I’ve forgotten almost all of my high-school French, and while my last name is German, I can’t even count to 10 in that language… [...] [...] From Schwieb: I don’t do any of the actual translations, however. I speak enough Japanese to wander around Tokyo and look for Studio Ghibli goods (I found a cel from the opening credits of となりのトトロ for my son’s room the last time I went to Tokyo), but not to do any official business work. I’ve forgotten almost all of my high-school French, and while my last name is German, I can’t even count to 10 in that language… [...]

]]> By: cortig http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-40 cortig Thu, 08 Jun 2006 22:44:19 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-40 Benjamin, I wholeheartedly agree with you on every single point you made here!!!!! Benjamin, I wholeheartedly agree with you on every single point you made here!!!!!

]]> By: BAM http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-38 BAM Thu, 08 Jun 2006 21:37:19 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-38 Ahoj MaLer, Nevim jestli pristi Office bude v Cestine, ale doufam, ze se bude dat objednat slovnik a gramatika... Like for Cortig, localization is an issue very close to my heart. And I think that the MacBU could think more International in two ways: - first, realize, like MaLer pointed out, that Office Mac will never have enough critical mass to support all the languages Office:Win (or OOo) has. Opening the door to the dictionary and grammar tools would be a first step (Aspell is a nice example of what open tools could add to Mac:Office) - seconde, and maybe the most important, get more feedback of international usage. For example, the way people in (continental) European business have to toggle all the time between languages would be a great hint to the MacBU to have an UI better suited that software designed by English speaking dev team, dealing with English Customers - and finally, yes, there are crashers, some quite old, in Office Mac in localized ressources. A famous example is word French proofing tools: just enter "Tu viens avec moi ou pas ?" followed by a ... this will crash Word X as Word 2004 But one thing for sure, is that Apple is worst than MS. Their are so many MacOS tools and services simply not supported in anything but US that we should get a discount ;-) Ahoj MaLer,

Nevim jestli pristi Office bude v Cestine, ale doufam, ze se bude dat objednat slovnik a gramatika…

Like for Cortig, localization is an issue very close to my heart. And I think that the MacBU could think more International in two ways:
- first, realize, like MaLer pointed out, that Office Mac will never have enough critical mass to support all the languages Office:Win (or OOo) has. Opening the door to the dictionary and grammar tools would be a first step (Aspell is a nice example of what open tools could add to Mac:Office)

- seconde, and maybe the most important, get more feedback of international usage. For example, the way people in (continental) European business have to toggle all the time between languages would be a great hint to the MacBU to have an UI better suited that software designed by English speaking dev team, dealing with English Customers

- and finally, yes, there are crashers, some quite old, in Office Mac in localized ressources. A famous example is word French proofing tools: just enter “Tu viens avec moi ou pas ?” followed by a … this will crash Word X as Word 2004

But one thing for sure, is that Apple is worst than MS. Their are so many MacOS tools and services simply not supported in anything but US that we should get a discount ;-)

]]> By: cortig http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-36 cortig Thu, 08 Jun 2006 14:00:18 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-36 MaLer: that's why I wish for a multi-lingual version of Office (with non-locked .nib :-\). That would be the open door for whoever whats to to add their own localization in Office. Last time I looked at Messenger though, most of the resouirces were locked, preventing further localization (or I messed-up something, which is equally possible ;-) ) :-\ MaLer: that’s why I wish for a multi-lingual version of Office (with non-locked .nib :-\). That would be the open door for whoever whats to to add their own localization in Office.
Last time I looked at Messenger though, most of the resouirces were locked, preventing further localization (or I messed-up something, which is equally possible ;-) ) :-\

]]> By: MaLer http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-35 MaLer Thu, 08 Jun 2006 13:56:59 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-35 Thanks for your blog and for postings about backyard of MacBU. This post is very interesting for me, as i'm user from Czech republic (obscure country from central Europe using even more obscure characters :),and i'm emploey of one major czech Mac distributor. We (users and dealers) realy would like to have localized version of Office, even without "blessing" from MS, but every negotations ended with result, that it's sold too few licenses here. So i hope, that with next version you will move to packages and it will be possible to make localization even unoficialy :) Anyway - thanks for you blog :). Thanks for your blog and for postings about backyard of MacBU. This post is very interesting for me, as i’m user from Czech republic (obscure country from central Europe using even more obscure characters :),and i’m emploey of one major czech Mac distributor. We (users and dealers) realy would like to have localized version of Office, even without “blessing” from MS, but every negotations ended with result, that it’s sold too few licenses here. So i hope, that with next version you will move to packages and it will be possible to make localization even unoficialy :)

Anyway - thanks for you blog :).

]]> By: cortig http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-34 cortig Thu, 08 Jun 2006 13:16:54 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-34 That's for this nice explanation. Localization is something really close to my heart (and I've localized a few apps myself so I *do* appreciate the ammount of work involved). As many others, I was also wondering whether the next version of Office will provide multilingual packaged apps with .lproj (Kurisu: VPC and Messenger are already packaged. When I launch the US version on my Mac, the GUI is in French). The fact that you have to rely on pseudo-localization to automate the process between versions of Office sounds weird to me. I would have thought that you'd have easier tools to re-use what has already been done in the past (glossaries, tables with specific resources in all the languages...). That’s for this nice explanation. Localization is something really close to my heart (and I’ve localized a few apps myself so I *do* appreciate the ammount of work involved).
As many others, I was also wondering whether the next version of Office will provide multilingual packaged apps with .lproj (Kurisu: VPC and Messenger are already packaged. When I launch the US version on my Mac, the GUI is in French).
The fact that you have to rely on pseudo-localization to automate the process between versions of Office sounds weird to me. I would have thought that you’d have easier tools to re-use what has already been done in the past (glossaries, tables with specific resources in all the languages…).

]]> By: kurisu http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F07%2Fnihonngo-wo-hanasemasu-ka%2F&seed_title=Nihonngo+wo+hanasemasu+ka%3F#comment-33 kurisu Thu, 08 Jun 2006 07:30:04 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/16#comment-33 Thanks for the explanation. I know first hand how hard it is to work in 2 or 3 different languages on a project (I live and work in Tokyo...). However, Mac OS X makes it quite easy (or at least for "from scratch" projects) to have one binary and several localisations. None of Microsoft's products support this, and I find it quite frustrating, because when I share my machine with my girlfriend, she logs into a Japanese environment, and I log into an English environment. Most (if not all) programs launch correctly in the appropriate language. But if you buy the Japanese version of Office 2004, no matter on which environment you launch it, it will be all Japanese. Since you are moving to Xcode, and thus I assume Mach-O binaries, will you adopt the "one binary, many languages" approach, or will I be forced to buy 2 different licences of Office 200x just to have the interface in English AND Japanese ? oh, and by the way, もちろん、日本語話せます。 宜しくお願いします。 Thanks for the explanation. I know first hand how hard it is to work in 2 or 3 different languages on a project (I live and work in Tokyo…).
However, Mac OS X makes it quite easy (or at least for “from scratch” projects) to have one binary and several localisations. None of Microsoft’s products support this, and I find it quite frustrating, because when I share my machine with my girlfriend, she logs into a Japanese environment, and I log into an English environment. Most (if not all) programs launch correctly in the appropriate language. But if you buy the Japanese version of Office 2004, no matter on which environment you launch it, it will be all Japanese.

Since you are moving to Xcode, and thus I assume Mach-O binaries, will you adopt the “one binary, many languages” approach, or will I be forced to buy 2 different licences of Office 200x just to have the interface in English AND Japanese ?

oh, and by the way, もちろん、日本語話せます。

宜しくお願いします。

]]>