Dynamic multi-lingual software module system

• US 5,903,859 A
• Filed: 03/27/1996
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Finch, Richard W., Stone, Roderick W., McReynolds, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDOUARD, PATRICK NESTOR
• Application Number:
  US08/622,807
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 704/1, 704/8-9, 395/701, 395/704, 395/705
• US Class Current: 704/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/55 Rule-based translation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

A software system facilitates the translation of text strings into multiple languages. The software system includes a macro which substitutes for a text string and a message collection and source update utility which scans the source code, locates the macro in the source code, derives a key relating to the text string and updates a database with the text string and key. The macro is included into a source code.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a storage coupled to the processor, the storage for storing a source code; and

a software system executable on the processor, the software system including;

a macro which substitutes for a text string, the macro for inclusion into the source code; and

a message collection and source update utility which scans the source code, locates the macro in the source code, derives a key relating to the text string and updates a database with the text string and key.

2. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein the macro includes:

an option instructing the macro to embed text corresponding to the macro at the position of the macro in the source code or to insert a key representing the text string.

3. A computer according to claim 1 wherein the message collection and source update utility further includes:

a utility for verifying the format of the key and message with respect to a source code type.

4. A computer according to claim 1 wherein the message collection and source update utility includes a routine for deriving the key based on the text string.

5. A computer according to claim 1 wherein the message collection and source update utility includes a routine for deriving the key based on a cyclic redundancy check error checking procedure applied to the text string.

6. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein the message collection and source update utility further includes:

a utility for reconciling the text string and the key with an existing language database and adding the text string/key pair to the database so that one text string corresponds singularly and uniquely with one key and a single text string/key pair is included in the database without duplication.

7. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a message translation utility including a routine for displaying messages to be translated and a routine for writing translated messages to the database.

8. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a module load utility including a routine for selecting languages to be included in a software module, a routine for extracting translations of the selected languages from the database.

9. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a dynamic message selection routine including a routine for designating a language to be expressed by a software module, a routine for loading text for the selected language from the database, a routine operational at execution of the software module for locating a message in the selected language within the loaded text, and a routine for passing the located message to formatting and print routines operational during execution of the software module.

10. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a storage coupled to the processor, the storage for storing a source code and a database; and

a utility software program executable on the processor for configuring an executable module with text strings in a selected plurality of languages, the utility software program including;

a module build routine which builds an executable module including code derived from a message token in the source code;

an interactive input routine for interactively selecting one or more languages to be included with the executable module;

a text string extraction routine which extracts translated text strings of the selected languages from a multiple language database;

a reference file build routine which builds a reference file including the extracted translated text strings of the selected languages; and

a file attachment routine for attaching the reference file to the executable module.

11. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a storage coupled to the processor, the storage for storing a source code and a database; and

a utility software program executable on the processor for dynamically selecting text string messages from a multilingual database for operation of a software module, the utility software program including;

a source code scanning routine which scans the source code to locate a message token within the source code, the message token being associated with a text string;

a key derivation routine for deriving a message key based on the text string; and

a reconciliation routine for reconciling the message key and the text string with the database;

a language designation routine which designates a language to be expressed by a software module;

a text loading routine which loads text for the selected language from the database;

a message locating routine utilizing the source code scanning routine and operational at execution of the software module which locates a message in the selected language within the loaded text; and

a message passing routine which passes the located message to formatting and print routines operational during execution of the software module.

12. A method of operating a computer system to incorporate text strings of a selected language of a plurality of languages into a software executable code, the computer system including a processor and a storage coupled to the processor and storing a source code and a database, the method comprising:

substituting a macro for a text string in the source code;

scanning the source code;

locating the macro in the source code;

deriving a key relating to the text string; and

updating the database with the text string and key.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

instructing the macro to alternatively imbed text corresponding to the macro at the position of the macro in the source code;

or

instructing the macro to insert a key that represents the text string.

14. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

verifying the format of the key and message with respect to a source code type.

15. A method according to claim 12 wherein the key deriving operation comprises an operation of deriving the key based on the text string.

16. A method according to claim 12 wherein the key deriving operation comprises an operation of deriving the key based on a cyclic redundancy check error checking procedure applied to the text string.

17. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

reconciling the text string and the key with an existing language database;

adding the text string/key pair to the database so that one text string corresponds singularly and uniquely with one key and a single text string/key pair is included in the database without duplication.

18. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

displaying messages to be translated; and

writing translated messages to the database.

19. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

selecting languages to be included in a software module; and

extracting translations of the selected languages from the database.

20. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

designating a language to be expressed by a software module;

loading text for the selected language from the database;

locating a message in the selected language within the loaded text; and

passing the located message to formatting and print routines operational during execution of the software module.

21. A computer program product for use in a computer system having a processor, a storage coupled to the processor and for storing a source code, and a software system executable on the processor, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including;

a macro which substitutes for a text string, the macro for inclusion into the source code; and

a message collection and source update utility which scans the source code, locates the macro in the source code, derives a key relating to the text string and updates a database with the text string and key.

22. A computer program product according to claim 21 wherein the macro includes:

an option instructing the macro to embed text corresponding to the macro at the position of the macro in the source code or to insert a key representing the text string.

23. A computer program product according to claim 21 wherein the message collection and source update utility further includes:

a utility for verifying the format of the key and message with respect to a source code type.

24. A computer program product according to claim 21 wherein the message collection and source update utility includes a routine for deriving the key based on the text string.

25. A computer program product according to claim 21 wherein the message collection and source update utility includes a routine for deriving the key based on a cyclic redundancy check error checking procedure applied to the text string.

26. A computer program product according to claim 21 wherein the message collection and source update utility further includes:

a utility for reconciling the text string and the key with an existing language database and adding the text string/key pair to the database so that one text string corresponds singularly and uniquely with one key and a single text string/key pair is included in the database without duplication.

27. A computer program product according to claim 21 further comprising:

a message translation utility including a routine for displaying messages to be translated and a routine for writing translated messages to the database.

28. A computer program product according to claim 21 further comprising:

a module load utility including a routine for selecting languages to be included in a software module, a routine for extracting translations of the selected languages from the database.

29. A computer program product according to claim 21 further comprising:

a dynamic message selection routine including a routine for designating a language to be expressed by a software module, a routine for loading text for the selected language from the database, a routine operational at execution of the software module for locating a message in the selected language within the loaded text, and a routine for passing the located message to formatting and print routines operational during execution of the software module.

30. A computer program product for use in a computer system having a processor, and a storage coupled to the processor for storing a source code and a database, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including a utility software program for configuring an executable module with text strings in a selected plurality of languages, the utility software program including;

a module build routine which builds an executable module including code derived from a message token in the source code;

an interactive input routine for interactively selecting one or more languages to be included with the executable module;

a text string extraction routine which extracts translated text strings of the selected languages from a multiple language database;

a reference file build routine which builds a reference file including the extracted translated text strings of the selected languages; and

a file attachment routine for attaching the reference file to the executable module.

31. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a storage coupled to the processor, the storage for storing a source code and a database; and

a utility software program executable on the processor for dynamically selecting text string messages from a multilingual database for operation of a software module, the utility software program including;

a macro which substitutes for a text string, the macro for inclusion into the source code; and

a message collection and source update utility which scans the source code, locates the macro in the source code, derives a key relating to the text string and updates a database with the text string and key;

a language designation routine which designates a language to be expressed by a software module;

a text loading routine which loads text for the selected language from the database;

a message locating routine operational at execution of the software module which utilizes the message collection and source update utility to locate a message in the selected language within the loaded text; and

a message passing routine which passes the located message to formatting and print routines operational during execution of the software module.