DYNAMIC 3i Language Translation

DYNAMIC 3i LANGUAGE TRANSLATION

Dynamic3i comes translated or translation-ready for other languages, including a facility to add your own variations in terminology for your national language.

Since the Language translation of Dynmaic3i is stored in the database and rendered on the fly, refining language translations is as simply as an update. To lend to the ease of applicaiton translation there is even a useful 'Right-Cllick' menu option which will automatically take you to the 'Translate Program' option of the application you are currently running.

It is important to understand the structure of a Dynamic3i application as it relates to the different levels where a language needs to be considered. Starting with the menu there is the application name or menu selection. Within an application there are titles, screen prompts, pop-list values, hint lines, system as well as application specific error or help messages. On reports there are titles and headings.

A suite of applications, 'Translation' sub menu, within the ‘System Administration’ seleciton allows for direct update of the items above. Also, actual ‘Language’ translation does not have to be the intent for using any of these processes. It may be simply an issue of terminology. For example throughout Dynamic3i and for any one given language you may want to change “Product No” to “SKU #”.

Certain applications lend themselves to globally change an item while others may be specific to just an application. There are also four areas that cover messages and pop-lists throughout Dynamic3i. Program messages, Standard Messages, Status Messages (pop-list values) and Order Types (pop-list values).

Maintain Translations – By Program

This program provides for the update of existing translated text. For example if you are working on the French version of any application and noticed that some of the text is in error, you can correct this text right at that time by using the Translate Program. You can run this program by using the drop-down ‘Help’ toolbar menu at the top of the application and selecting ‘Translate Program’. The application will run and automatically display the base (in English) and the translated text in application’s language (for example above it would be in French). You can then find the text in error and correct it. You also have the opportunity by using query mode to select the same or any other program in any language and do correction of that translated text as well. For example after correcting the French version you can select the same program for Spanish and make the same correction.

Maintain Translations – By String

This Program Translation Maintenance is also used to update/change existing translated text. It acts on all program applications within a module. A word, a phrase or the entire translated text can be changed through this program without going thru each individual program translation and changing the translation text. The program displays distinct base text and translated text for the language specified and application module. The translated text or a portion of the translated text can be substituted for a particular detail record or for all occurrences of that text in all detail records. To update a particular detail, navigate to the corresponding translated text and edit the text. To do a mass update/substitution (all occurrences on all detail records), highlight the word (using standard windows select functionality), the entire translated text or a portion of the text to be substituted then do a right mouse click. The system will go automatically to the ‘New Translation’ field at the bottom of the screen. In that field, enter the substitute word, phrase or text then press the Update button. The system will then go thru all the translated text displayed on the screen that contains the highlighted text and substitute it with the text entered on the New Translation field.

Application Message Translation

The Program Messages Maintenance allows for definition or refining of application specific messages.

The language is entered and then the Dynamic3i application (eg. AP1000) queried. The message code and original message line text in the base language (always English) is displayed. If a pre existing translation definition is defined it will be displayed. Refining this is done by simply editing the translated text to what ever is required in the language code displayed at the top.

Standard Message Translation

Standard messages are messages that occurring across multiple Dynamic3i applications. An example of a standard message is “Record Not Found” or

‘Insert or Update has failed on …’. Dynamic3i standard messages have a message code starting with the letter ‘s’ to denote ‘Standard’.

Status Message Translation

Within Dynamic3i there are database tables driven by statuscodes/values.An example would be in an order entry cycle where an order would go from ‘Stock Allocated’ to ‘Packing Slip Printed’ to ‘Shipping Confirmed’ and so on. These statuses are actually coded as numeric values in the database but to applications and reports they are equated to text. The Status Message Translation allows these messages to be defined in different languages.

The tables containing these status type columns are already defined. To edit or refine the translation simply query the form and the system will display the table and column name and then the base text (always English) and any translated text. Select the language to translate to from the pop-list and enter or update the translated text.

This section of the Translation utilities is Dynamic3i’s most powerful. Program Translation allows for the maintenance and refinement of the Dynamic3 application screen titles, text/prompts and report titles, text/headings.

Translation Glossary

The Translation Glossary application acts on all of the translated text stored within the database for any given language translation. It can be equated to a ‘Find and Change’ occurrence utility found in most word processors or text editors. Note also that this is an on-the-fly glossary.

Simply enter the language to be acted upon and then in the ‘Scope’, choose to match exactly (‘Full’) or Partially (‘Partial’) the string you enter in the Base Text. In the Translated Text enter the value you would like it to be.

As you can see this does not have to be any language specific match. It could be a short form term, symbol or title. Note. Keep in mind that at this level all applications and text strings in the database will be searched upon.

Some examples of where this might be used are:

· Through out the package you would like to change ‘Product’ to ‘Sku #’

· If in the United states you may want to change ‘Cheque’ to ‘Check’

· Change ‘Description’ to ‘Short Spec/Desc

Document Text

Document Text within Dynamic3i is also language driven and can be used to communicate specific, required text on documents such as packing slips and invoices. This Document Text feature is available at the Branch, Customer and Vendor levels. It is driven by the language code defined to any given one. An Example of Customer Document text is shown here. For further explanation of the Document Text and document code see the individual applications help.

Product Translation

The Product Translation is also available in order to translate the product descriptions into the language of your Vendors and/or Customers. If the definitions exist then the defined language of the Vendor or Customer will drive what is printed for the product description on such things as the Purchase Order or Invoice.