Translating Advanced English

These are detailed instructions for translating Advanced English 97 to a given language. Similar methods can be used to translate any learning material developed with SuperMemo, not only for CD-ROM publishing

Creating translation registry

To translate part (or all) Advanced English 97 to a selected language start with creating the translation registry:

  1. Install Advanced English 97 (choose English as the default interface)
  2. Click Advanced English icon and get yourself acquainted with the system
  3. Choose File : SuperMemo to activate SuperMemo 8 (if the menu is not available, press Ctrl+Alt+F12)
  4. Choose Tools : Options : Language
  5. At System translation type the name of the language (as this will be used for storing translation registry files, your name should use not more than 8 characters)
  6. Close the Options dialog by choosing OK.
  7. Translate the system using either interactive translation (simpler and more reliable) or using text files (easier in teams and does not require knowledge of SuperMemo 8). See for detail below.

Interactive translation (single translator)

To proceed with interactive translation of Advanced English 97 do the following (recommended for an individual translator):

  1. Make sure that no repetitions have been done in your newly installed Advanced English (pending queue will be used to proceed in the optimum translation sequence).
  2. Make sure the translation registry for your language has been created (i.e that you passed all steps from the previous paragraph).
  3. Press Ctrl+Home in Advanced English to get to the first page.
  4. Right-click the button Next and choose Next pending element (this way you will be moving along the pending queue why pressing PgUp and PgDn).
  5. Use PgUp and PgDn to move between pages (or Ctrl+G to jump to a specific page; note that page numbers are not related to the order in the pending queue).
  6. On each page, locate all text components and use Shift+click to open translation dialog box for each.
  7. Type in the translation in the lower pane (the original stays unchanged in the upper pane).
  8. See useful tips below for more information.

Team translation

To proceed with translation in text files (recommended for team translation):

  1. Make sure the translation registry for your language has been created (i.e that you passed all steps from the paragraph devoted to creating the translation registry).
  2. Decide which branches of the Contents should be translated by individual translators.
  3. Create subset files for each branch. For this purpose click the branch in the Contents window, right-click and choose Save as subset from pop-up menu.
  4. Export individual branches as text files with File : Export : Translation. Choose: (1) Sorting : By occurrence, (2) Output texts : Not translated, (3) Output elements : Subset. Use Browse to select the subset files created in the previous step. Leave Do not output duplicated entries unchecked and Output context checked.
  5. In exported text files replace ??? strings with appropriate translations (do not change anything else in the file).
  6. As soon as individual translated files are becoming available, import them with File : Import : Translation.
  7. Note that the same strings translated differently by different authors will be merged. This is not an error-proof procedure and you will have to manually resolve the import conflicts. Import : Translation will generate a report with all merged entries listed. The fastest way to resolve merged strings is:
    • copy the original string from the import report file to the clipboard
    • using Search : Text, paste the string in the search input box
    • correct the translation directly in the text registry as it appears on the screen

Useful tips:

  1. If PgUp or PgDn cannot be used (e.g. in spelling exercises), use Ctrl+PgUp and Ctrl+PgDn.
  2. Do not change the original text in English! If you find a mistake, report it to SuperMemo World. Otherwise, your translation will not be importable to mother system at SuperMemo World.
  3. You can easily review, search for and change translations by using Search : <Language> translation. The same can be accomplished with Search : Text with this difference that search and sorting will concern only the original texts.
  4. The percent of translations in the system can be viewed in the caption of the translation registry (Search : <Language> translation).
  5. When working in a team, try to minimize the differences in translating individual entries by frequently exporting and importing back partly translated files. This will also reduce the duplicated effort of translators working on different branches
  6. To see untranslated entries in text registry, you can choose Select untranslated on the pop-up menu. Untranslated members will be displayed as a registry subset.

If you still have questions write to SuperMemoMail for help