Talk:VideolanStringGuidelines

Target / Item

When refering to playlist items, some of the current strings use "target" (like "Plays the next target in the playlist"), and some use "item" (like "Go to next item in the playlist"). Which one should we use (for consistency's sake)? I put my vote for 'item' as it seems more sensical. --tonsofpcs 07:45, 2 April 2006 (CEST)

strings are similar but different...

... were mentioned by somebody. So I had a look at the pot-file. Note: I did not check this in a running vlc, nor do I have that much experience in this field (giving advices how to translate software, or prepare for translation). So feel free to comment, state other points of view, or simply say that some points are wrong.

The best example so far: src/libvlc-module.c:875 - 899 quoted for possible changes:

/* DVD and VCD devices */
#define DVD_DEV_TEXT N_("DVD device")
#define VCD_DEV_TEXT N_("VCD device")
#define CDAUDIO_DEV_TEXT N_("Audio CD device")

#if defined( WIN32 ) || defined( __OS2__ )
# define DVD_DEV_LONGTEXT N_( \
    "This is the default DVD drive (or file) to use. Don't forget the colon " \
    "after the drive letter (e.g. D:)")
# define VCD_DEV_LONGTEXT N_( \
    "This is the default VCD drive (or file) to use. Don't forget the colon " \
    "after the drive letter (e.g. D:)")
# define CDAUDIO_DEV_LONGTEXT N_( \
    "This is the default Audio CD drive (or file) to use. Don't forget the " \
    "colon after the drive letter (e.g. D:)")
# define DVD_DEVICE     NULL
# define CD_DEVICE      "D:"

#else
# define DVD_DEV_LONGTEXT N_( \
    "This is the default DVD device to use.")
# define VCD_DEV_LONGTEXT N_( \
    "This is the default VCD device to use." )
# define CDAUDIO_DEV_LONGTEXT N_( \
    "This is the default Audio CD device to use." )

I would suggest a split. Don't think splitting a sentence in more than 3 parts makes sense. Would be even more difficult to build a sentence around a string, because the translators won't even notice that this are parts of the same line. This is my suggestion:

"This is the default drive (or file) to use. Don't forget the colon after the drive letter (e.g. D:)"

respectivly

 "This is the default device to use."

And the short form in the line above. Or in the same line right in front. Should give something like:

Audio CD device
This is the default device to use.

OR

Audio CD device: This is the default device to use.

modules/access/dshow/dshow.cpp:191 This part is used for audio and video. Could possibly be split, too. Caution: Sentence in line 188 uses audio and video. Don't know, if this is intentional.

Listing up the choices of a select box

If there is a select box, I don't see any use in listing the possible choices in a string next to it. An example is fine, some special hints or a link to faq/wiki/whatever...

Opening the pot-file and search for ", \" (the end of one element, a comma, a space and the beginning of the next element) will give you what I found, too:

", \"

modules/demux/subtitle.c:56

modules/access/dshow/dshow.cpp:172

modules/audio_output/file.c:81

Just make sure there really is a select box. If the strings are displayed elsewhere, they might be of use.

Another way to find interesting parts of the translation:

vlc -H | grep "1="

Additionally you will find several "position on the video" which is another example of similar but different.

Binary variables/flags

Those are fine for translation normally. With the right text (look at the guidelines here).

modules/audio_filter/audiobargraph_a.c:48 and following lines show several integers instead. I would prefer simple checkboxes.

"Defines if BarGraph information should be sent (default 1)"

Would become:

"Send BarGraph information" or similar.

No se 15:06, 31 December 2011 (UTC)