[development] Translating database fields

[Michael Prasuhn]

I'm sure others have a better handle on this, than I, and I'm sure  
they will chime in here.

My understanding is that you could run the output through t() but you  
would have to make sure that the users know and the edit page explains  
that the strings must be entered in English, and then in turn  
translated for each language by hand, using Locale.

One important point to note though, is that you will want to make sure  
that the default strings are run through t() somewhere in your code so  
that the extractor picks them up, and they are included in packaged  
translations. Do not however use the output of t() to insert as  
defaults into the database, as the default strings in the database  
must remain in English.

I believe I've read somewhere that some modules accomplish this by  
including a module_name.locale.php file or some similar with something  
like:

<?php

$foo = t('A string my module stores in the database');
$foo = t('Another string my module stores in the database');

So that the extractor will find these strings and include them in  
translation templates.

-Mike
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Michael Prasuhn
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On Sep 22, 2009, at 6:23 PM, Jeremy Andrews wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I'm looking for advice on the proper way to resolve this issue:
>  http://drupal.org/node/571742
>
> Summary:
> The support module [1] defines four default states ("new", "active",
> "pending", "closed") and four default priorities ("low", "normal",
> "high", "critical").  These fields are defined in the database to  
> allow
> the easy creation of custom states and priorities.  Because of this,  
> I'm
> unsure on how to correctly make them translatable.
>
> The t() api documentation page [2] explicitly states, "however  
> tempting
> it is, custom data from user input or other non-code sources should  
> not
> be passed through t()."  It goes on to explain that doing so can  
> lead to
> orphaned words, mistranslation of non-English words, etc.  My question
> then is, what is the correct way to make these states and priorities
> translatable?
>
> Yes, they can simply be changed in the database if you'd like to  
> change
> them to another language, but some websites want the ability to
> translate them into multiple languages.
>
> If replying, please do so in the issue linked above.
>
> Thanks,
> -Jeremy
>
> [1] http://drupal.org/project/support
> [2] http://api.drupal.org/api/function/t/6
>
>