Validating content of localization data files

• US 20040064807A1
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Soor, Baldev S., Rose, Daniel A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/145
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

The invention provides for extracting language and culture information from a POSIX™* conforming locale source file for the purpose of formatting sample data for country and language expert validation. The invention is performed on a computer system by obtaining a locale source file, in a preferred form, containing a plurality of elements having language and culture information, extracting and then using those elements and their associated values cooperatively with sample data, to generate readable text representations, thereby providing a country and language expert reviewer with textual data formatted according to the conventions embodied in the locale source file.

The invention provides representative results without requiring compilation of a locale object, thereby increasing the efficiency of validation efforts.

Claims

1. A method implemented on a computer system for validating the contents of a locale source file, which comprises information arranged by categories, keywords and elements, said method comprising:

detecting one or more of each of said categories, keywords and elements in said locale source file;

extracting one or more of said elements with associated values from said locale source file;

storing each of said extracted elements as textual data in an element storage area;

formatting a text string of data using said textual data; and

validating said text string.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each said element further comprises at least one value.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the steps of extracting one or more or said elements and storing each said extracted element comprises:

labeling each said element storage area with a storage identifier;

obtaining a set of keyword directives; and

extracting each said keyword, and each said element and associated value within said keyword from said categories into said element storage area in accordance with said set of keyword directives.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein, said storage area identifier further comprises:

a locale source file category identifier and associated keyword identifier.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of formatting a text string of data comprises:

obtaining said textual data from said element storage area;

obtaining a set of text generation rules, patterns and substitution information;

formatting said text string of data, using said textual data, element by element, by applying said set of text generation rules, patterns and substitution information to each said text string of data.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising;

displaying one or more of said text string of data to users.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of validating said text string comprises the steps of;

comparing said text string of data with a reference string;

determining when said text string of data differs from said reference string;

providing an associated change for said text string of data when indicated by said determining step; and

applying said change to said textual data.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein, said locale source file is a POSIX form.

9. An article comprising a data storage medium embodying a program of machine readable instructions executable by an electronic processing apparatus to perform method steps for validating the contents of a locale source file, which comprises information arranged by categories, keywords and elements, said method steps comprising the steps of:

detecting one or more of each of said categories, keywords and elements in said locale source file;

extracting one or more of said elements from said locale source file;

storing said extracted elements as textual data in an element storage area;

formatting a text string of data from said textual data; and

validating said text string.

10. The article of claim 9, wherein the instructions for extracting and storing element steps further embody instructions to perform steps comprising:

labeling each said element storage area with a storage identifier;

obtaining a set of keyword directives; and

extracting each said keyword, and each said element and associated value within said keyword from each said categories into said element storage area in accordance with said set of keyword directives.

11. The article of claim 10 wherein the instructions for performing the labeling step further embody instructions to perform steps comprising:

identifying each said element storage area by said storage area identifier composed of a locale source file category identifier and an associated keyword identifier.

12. The article of claim 11 wherein instructions for formatting a text string of data step further embody instructions to perform steps comprising:

obtaining said textual data from said element storage area;

obtaining a set of text generation rules, patterns and substitution information; and

formatting said text string of data, element by element, using said textual data, and applying said set of text generation rules, patterns and substitution information to each said text string of data.

13. The article of claim 12, further embodying instructions to perform steps comprising;

displaying one or more of said text string of data to users.

14. The article of claim 9 wherein the instructions for validating said text string include instructions to perform steps comprising;

comparing said text string of data with a reference string;

determining when said text string of data differs from said reference string;

providing an associated change for said text string of data when indicated by said determining step; and

,

applying said changes to said textual data.

15. The article of any one of claims 9 to 15 wherein, said locale source file is a POSIX form.

16. A computer system for validating the language and country information contained in a locale source file, said computer system comprising:

means for detecting one or more of each of said categories, keywords and elements in said locale source file;

means for extracting one or more of said elements with associated values from said locale source file;

means for storing said extracted element as textual data in an element storage area;

means for formatting a text string of data from said textual data; and

means for validating said text string.

17. The computer system of claim 16 wherein said means for extracting one or more element and for storing said extracted element comprises:

means for labeling each said element storage area with a storage identifier;

means for obtaining a set of keyword directives; and

means for extracting each said keyword, and each said element and associated value within said keyword, from said categories into said element storage area in accordance with said set of keyword directives.

18. The computer system of claim 17 further comprising;

means for identifying said element storage area by a storage area identifier composed of a locale source file category identifier and an associated keyword identifier.

19. The computer system of claim 16 wherein said means for formatting a text string of data comprises:

means for obtaining said textual data from said element storage area;

means for obtaining a set of text generation rules, patterns and substitution information;

means for formatting said text string of data, using said textual data, element by element, applying said set of text generation rules, patterns and substitution information to each said text string of data.

20. The computer system of claim 16 wherein said means for validating said text string comprises;

means for comparing said text string of data with a reference string;

means for determining when said text string of data differs from said reference string;

means for providing an associated change for said text string of data when indicated by said determining means; and

means for applying said associated changes to said textual data.

21. The computer system of claim 16 further comprising;

means for configuring said system to operate in a distributed computing environment.

22. The computer system of any one of claims 16 to 21 wherein, said the locale source file is a POSIX form.

23. The computer system of any one of claims 16 to 21 further comprising means for configuring said system to display one or more text string of data to users.