Creating a new translation file

This help topic refers to a previous version of InstallMate. It has not been updated for InstallMate 11 yet.

InstallMate projects can be extensively localized. Once created, each .im9 project file contains all translations that are required for the project. However, when you create a new project, InstallMate uses a two-pronged approach:

1. The project contents proper are taken from the project template that you selected in the New Project wizard page Project template. The project template files are stored in the InstallMate\Projects folder on your system and are listed on the Project template wizard page.
2. The available translations for the various languages are taken from a separate set of files, stored in the InstallMate\Languages folder on your system. These files are listed on the Project languages page of the New project wizard.

If desired, you can add your own translation files to the InstallMate\Languages folder (or any other folder). The recommended procedure to do so is as follows:

1. Create a new blank project that only uses English and save it under the English name of the language that you are translating into, for example Dutch.im9, Italian.im9, or Russian.im9.
2. Go to the Languages project page. You will find the English (United States) language there. Right-click on this language, choose Change Language... from the popup menu, then select the language that you are translating into.
3. Save the project file (Ctrl+S). While you are working on the translation, keep saving on a regular basis.
4. Work through the project on a page-by-page basis, using the notes below as a guide while you are translating.
   • (Optional) items are optional
   • (Recommended) items are also optional, but have higher priority
5. Do NOT change the following:
   • Items that are marked "Do NOT translate" below.
   • Items that are enclosed in <angle brackets>
   • Items that are enclosed in [square brackets]
   • Items that are not specifically listed for translation
6. When you are done, go back to the Languages project page, select the new language, right-click and choose Export Translations... In the Select Objects for Export dialog box that appears, select all objects in the list (use Shift+Click), click Select, then select an output file name. Please observer the following:
• Do NOT overwrite any of the pre-existing language files.
• Set the Encoding field to Unicode UTF-16 (the default) or Unicode UTF-8.
7. Please consider submitting your .im9 file (not the translation file) to Tarma Software Research for conversion to a generic language file and inclusion with the InstallMate distribution.

Tip: You might find it useful to start a second instance of InstallMate and create a second blank project in that one. You can then switch between the two instances and compare your translation with the original English version.

Once you have exported the translations to a separate file, you can re-import them in subsequent projects. If you saved the translations file in the InstallMate\Languages folder it will automatically appear on the Project languages page of the New project wizard; if you saved it elsewhere, you can use the Import translations command on the Languages project page to import it.

Translation notes for specific pages

Use the notes below as a guideline during your translation.