Validating translations of externalized content for inclusion in an application

• US 9,122,497 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Baumann, Warren J., Bouz, Firas, Brown, Douglas S., Higginbotham, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen, Li B
• Assistant Examiner(s): BODDEN, EVRAL E
• Application Number:
  US14/520,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20150046907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

An approach is provided for validating translated files for inclusion in an application being developed. Content in a natural language is translated into another language and received as a first translation in a first translated file. Based on an error condition indicated by simulations of loading and presenting the first translation in a user interface of the application, a syntax error that causes the error condition is determined. The syntax error can include a lack of a match between a key and exactly one value, a missing key, or a mismatch of placeholders in the first translated file. Responsive to a receipt of a second translation of the content that includes the correction of the syntax error, and based on simulations of loading and presenting the second translation in the interface not indicating the error condition, the second translation is presented at runtime without causing the application to stop running.

Claims

1. A method of validating translated files for inclusion in an application being developed, the method comprising the steps of:

a computer sending a translatable file having externalized content in a single base natural language to a plurality of other computers, wherein the externalized content is external to code of the application being developed;

in response to a generation of a first translated file including a first translation of the externalized content into a natural language other than the base natural language by another computer included in the plurality of other computers, the computer receiving the first translated file from the other computer;

in a simulation environment, a processor of the computer simulating a loading of the first translation of the externalized content into a user interface of the application at a runtime of the application and simulating a presentation of the first translation of the externalized content in the user interface at the runtime, by calling one or more functions included in the application, without an actual presentation of the first translation of the externalized content in the user interface, wherein an execution at the runtime of the one or more functions displays the externalized content in the user interface;

the computer determining whether the simulating of the loading of the first translation of the externalized content into the user interface and the simulating of the presentation of the first translation of the externalized content in the user interface by the calling the one or more functions indicates an error condition that causes the application to stop running at the runtime;

based in part on the error condition being indicated by the simulating of the loading of the first translation and the simulating of the presentation of the first translation, the computer;

determining the first translation of the externalized content includes a syntax error that causes the error condition, generating a report including an identification of a portion of the first translation of the externalized content that includes the syntax error and an error message that is generated by the application at the runtime in response to the error condition, and initiating a correction of the syntax error by sending the report to the other computer, wherein the syntax error includes at least one of;

(1) a first key included in the first translated file is not matched with exactly one corresponding first value in the first translated file, the first translated file being a first property file including first key-value pairs including the first key and the first value as one of the pairs;

(2) a second key in the translatable file is not in the first translated file, the translatable file being a second property file including second key-value pairs, one of the second key-value pairs including the second key; and

(3) one or more placeholders in the first translated file are not matched to respective one or more placeholders in the translatable file, the one or more placeholders in the first translated file and the one or more placeholders in the translatable file providing variable substitution by being filled in with actual values by the code of the application at the runtime; and

based in part on the error condition being indicated by the simulating of the loading of the first translation and the simulating of the presentation of the first translation, subsequent to a completion by the other computer of the correction of the syntax error included in the first translation, and in response to a receipt by the computer of a second translation of the externalized content which includes the correction of the syntax error, the second translation included in a second translated file generated by the other computer;

the computer simulating a loading of the second translation of the externalized content into the user interface of the application at the runtime and simulating a presentation of the second translation of the externalized content in the user interface at the runtime, by calling the one or more functions, without an actual presentation of the second translation of the externalized content in the user interface; and

the computer determining whether the simulating of the loading of the second translation and the simulating of the presentation of the second translation by the calling the one or more functions indicates the error condition that causes the application to stop running at the runtime; and

based in part on the error condition not being indicated by the simulating of the loading of the second translation and the simulating of the presentation of the second translation, the computer at the runtime presenting the second translation of the externalized content in the user interface without causing the application to stop running at the runtime.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

the computer presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays entries of the first translated file in proximity to corresponding entries of the translatable file;

the computer receiving and storing an identification of a second error in the first translated file based on a comparison, via the GUI, of the entries of the first translated file against the corresponding entries of the translatable file;

the computer initiating a correction of the second error by the other computer; and

based in part on a completion of the correction of the second error by the other computer and a generation by the other computer of the second translate file which includes the correction of the second error, the computer receiving the second translated file and validating the second translated file by determining the second error is not included in the second translated file,

wherein the step of presenting at the runtime of the second translation of the externalized content in the user interface is further based on the determining the second error is not included in the second translated file.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of prior to the step of sending the translatable file, the computer identifying and correcting one or more errors in the translatable file to conform to syntax rules of translation systems running on the other computers.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

subsequent to the step of receiving the first translated file, the computer reformatting the first translated file to conform to requirements of the application;

subsequent to the step of receiving the first translated file, the computer renaming the first translated file with a unique corresponding file name consisting of first, second and third portions, wherein the first portion of the file name indicates a language of the plurality of languages, the second portion of the file name indicates a country of a plurality of countries, and the third portion of the file name indicates a region of a plurality of regions, the region being within the country, and wherein the country and the region within the country together specify a variant of the language;

the computer generating a file structure; and

subsequent to the step of renaming, the computer storing the first translated file in a portion of the file structure identified by the first, second and third portions of the file name.

5. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable memory; and

a computer readable program code stored in the computer readable memory, the computer readable program code containing instructions that are executed by a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to implement a method of validating translated files for inclusion in an application being developed, the method comprising the steps of;

the computer system sending a translatable file having externalized content in a single base natural language to a plurality of other computer systems, wherein the externalized content is external to code of the application being developed;

in response to a generation of a first translated file including a first translation of the externalized content into a natural language other than the base natural language by another computer system included in the plurality of other computer systems, the computer system receiving the first translated file from the other computer system;

in a simulation environment, the computer system simulating a loading of the first translation of the externalized content into a user interface of the application at a runtime of the application and simulating a presentation of the first translation of the externalized content in the user interface at the runtime, by calling one or more functions included in the application, without an actual presentation of the first translation of the externalized content in the user interface, wherein an execution at the runtime of the one or more functions displays the externalized content in the user interface;

the computer system determining whether the simulating of the loading of the first translation of the externalized content into the user interface and the simulating of the presentation of the first translation of the externalized content in the user interface by the calling the one or more functions indicates an error condition that causes the application to stop running at the runtime;

based in part on the error condition being indicated by the simulating of the loading of the first translation and the simulating of the presentation of the first translation, the computer system;

determining the first translation of the externalized content includes a syntax error that causes the error condition, generating a report including an identification of a portion of the first translation of the externalized content that includes the syntax error and an error message that is generated by the application at the runtime in response to the error condition, and initiating a correction of the syntax error by sending the report to the other computer system, wherein the syntax error includes at least one of;

(1) a first key included in the first translated file is not matched with exactly one corresponding first value in the first translated file, the first translated file being a first property file including first key-value pairs including the first key and the first value as one of the pairs;

(2) a second key in the translatable file is not in the first translated file, the translatable file being a second property file including second key-value pairs, one of the second key-value pairs including the second key; and

(3) one or more placeholders in the first translated file are not matched to respective one or more placeholders in the translatable file, the one or more placeholders in the first translated file and the one or more placeholders in the translatable file providing variable substitution by being filled in with actual values by the code of the application at the runtime; and

based in part on the error condition being indicated by the simulating of the loading of the first translation and the simulating of the presentation of the first translation, subsequent to a completion by the other computer system of the correction of the syntax error included in the first translation, and in response to a receipt by the computer system of a second translation of the externalized content which includes the correction of the syntax error, the second translation included in a second translated file generated by the other computer system;

the computer system simulating a loading of the second translation of the externalized content into the user interface of the application at the runtime and simulating a presentation of the second translation of the externalized content in the user interface at the runtime, by calling the one or more functions, without an actual presentation of the second translation of the externalized content in the user interface; and

the computer system determining whether the simulating of the loading of the second translation and the simulating of the presentation of the second translation by the calling the one or more functions indicates the error condition that causes the application to stop running at the runtime; and

based in part on the error condition not being indicated by the simulating of the loading of the second translation and the simulating of the presentation of the second translation, the computer system at the runtime presenting the second translation of the externalized content in the user interface without causing the application to stop running at the runtime.

6. The program product of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

the computer system presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays entries of the first translated file in proximity to corresponding entries of the translatable file;

the computer system receiving and storing an identification of a second error in the first translated file based on a comparison, via the GUI, of the entries of the first translated file against the corresponding entries of the translatable file;

the computer system initiating a correction of the second error by the other computer system; and

based in part on a completion of the correction of the second error by the other computer system and a generation by the other computer system of the second translate file which includes the correction of the second error, the computer system receiving the second translated file and validating the second translated file by determining the second error is not included in the second translated file,

wherein the presenting at the runtime of the second translation of the externalized content in the user interface is further based on the determining the second error is not included in the second translated file.

7. The program product of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises the step of prior to the step of sending the translatable file, the computer system identifying and correcting one or more errors in the translatable file to conform to syntax rules of translation systems running on the other computer systems.

8. The program product of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

subsequent to the step of receiving the first translated file, the computer system reformatting the first translated file to conform to requirements of the application;

subsequent to the step of receiving the first translated file, the computer system renaming the first translated file with a unique corresponding file name consisting of first, second and third portions, wherein the first portion of the file name indicates a language of the plurality of languages, the second portion of the file name indicates a country of a plurality of countries, and the third portion of the file name indicates a region of a plurality of regions, the region being within the country, and wherein the country and the region within the country together specify a variant of the language;

the computer system generating a file structure; and

subsequent to the step of renaming, the computer system storing the first translated file in a portion of the file structure identified by the first, second and third portions of the file name.

9. A computer system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a memory coupled to the CPU;

a computer-readable, tangible storage device coupled to the CPU, the storage device containing instructions that are executed by the CPU via the memory to implement a method of validating translated files for inclusion in an application being developed, wherein the method comprises the steps of;

the computer system sending a translatable file having externalized content in a single base natural language to a plurality of other computer systems, wherein the externalized content is external to code of the application being developed;

in response to a generation of a first translated file including a first translation of the externalized content into a natural language other than the base natural language by another computer system included in the plurality of other computer systems, the computer system receiving the first translated file from the other computer system;

in a simulation environment, the computer system simulating a loading of the first translation of the externalized content into a user interface of the application at a runtime of the application and simulating a presentation of the first translation of the externalized content in the user interface at the runtime, by calling one or more functions included in the application, without an actual presentation of the first translation of the externalized content in the user interface, wherein an execution at the runtime of the one or more functions displays the externalized content in the user interface;

the computer system determining whether the simulating of the loading of the first translation of the externalized content into the user interface and the simulating of the presentation of the first translation of the externalized content in the user interface by the calling the one or more functions indicates an error condition that causes the application to stop running at the runtime;

based in part on the error condition being indicated by the simulating of the loading of the first translation and the simulating of the presentation of the first translation, the computer system;

determining the first translation of the externalized content includes a syntax error that causes the error condition, generating a report including an identification of a portion of the first translation of the externalized content that includes the syntax error and an error message that is generated by the application at the runtime in response to the error condition, and initiating a correction of the syntax error by sending the report to the other computer system, wherein the syntax error includes at least one of;

(1) a first key included in the first translated file is not matched with exactly one corresponding first value in the first translated file, the first translated file being a first property file including first key-value pairs including the first key and the first value as one of the pairs;

(2) a second key in the translatable file is not in the first translated file, the translatable file being a second property file including second key-value pairs, one of the second key-value pairs including the second key; and

(3) one or more placeholders in the first translated file are not matched to respective one or more placeholders in the translatable file, the one or more placeholders in the first translated file and the one or more placeholders in the translatable file providing variable substitution by being filled in with actual values by the code of the application at the runtime; and

based in part on the error condition being indicated by the simulating of the loading of the first translation and the simulating of the presentation of the first translation, subsequent to a completion by the other computer system of the correction of the syntax error included in the first translation, and in response to a receipt by the computer system of a second translation of the externalized content which includes the correction of the syntax error, the second translation included in a second translated file generated by the other computer system;

the computer system simulating a loading of the second translation of the externalized content into the user interface of the application at the runtime and simulating a presentation of the second translation of the externalized content in the user interface at the runtime, by calling the one or more functions, without an actual presentation of the second translation of the externalized content in the user interface; and

the computer system determining whether the simulating of the loading of the second translation and the simulating of the presentation of the second translation by the calling the one or more functions indicates the error condition that causes the application to stop running at the runtime; and

based in part on the error condition not being indicated by the simulating of the loading of the second translation and the simulating of the presentation of the second translation, the computer system at the runtime presenting the second translation of the externalized content in the user interface without causing the application to stop running at the runtime.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

the computer system presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays entries of the first translated file in proximity to corresponding entries of the translatable file;

the computer system receiving and storing an identification of a second error in the first translated file based on a comparison, via the GUI, of the entries of the first translated file against the corresponding entries of the translatable file;

the computer system initiating a correction of the second error by the other computer system; and

based in part on a completion of the correction of the second error by the other computer system and a generation by the other computer system of the second translate file which includes the correction of the second error, the computer system receiving the second translated file and validating the second translated file by determining the second error is not included in the second translated file,

wherein the presenting at the runtime of the second translation of the externalized content in the user interface is further based on the determining the second error is not included in the second translated file.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the step of prior to the step of sending the translatable file, the computer system identifying and correcting one or more errors in the translatable file to conform to syntax rules of translation systems running on the other computer systems.

12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

subsequent to the step of receiving the first translated file, the computer system reformatting the first translated file to conform to requirements of the application;

subsequent to the step of receiving the first translated file, the computer system renaming the first translated file with a unique corresponding file name consisting of first, second and third portions, wherein the first portion of the file name indicates a language of the plurality of languages, the second portion of the file name indicates a country of a plurality of countries, and the third portion of the file name indicates a region of a plurality of regions, the region being within the country, and wherein the country and the region within the country together specify a variant of the language;

the computer system generating a file structure; and

subsequent to the step of renaming, the computer system storing the first translated file in a portion of the file structure identified by the first, second and third portions of the file name.