How to translate AC3Filter

Translation is easy! This manual describes how to make a new translation of AC3Filter or fix bugs in an existing one with help of poEdit program.

First, you need to install the latest official AC3Filter package. This guarantees that you have the latest translation template file (file with a list of all original untranslated strings).

Next, you need to download Windows version of poEdit. Install and run it. On first run it will ask for your name and email. It will be written to translation files you create, so people can contact you about bugs in translation.

Note, that this program is fully translated to many languages (it would be strange if it was not :) so you can work comfortably. But in this manual I will use English interface, so you may need to set it to English to understand what menu to navigate, etc.

Creating a new translation

In poEdit choose menu File->New translation from POT file. POT file is a translation template file, a file with a list of original untranslated strings. This file is installed with the filter into AC3Filter_dir\lang folder (where AC3Filter_dir is a folder where AC3Filter is installed; by default it is C:\Program Files\AC3Filter). Choose ac3filter.pot file.

Next dialog describes your new translation. Fill it like this:

Fill Project name and version field with the filter version you're making translation for. Leave charset as utf8 as most portable format.

After filling the form above the program will ask you where to save the result. Write PO file (the resulting file with translated messages) back to the AC3Filter_dir\lang. The name of the file must be a 3-letter code of you language. See the list of language codes.

After this you'll see something like this:

It is a list of all strings at the top of the window. In the example above IDC_CHK_JITTER is selected. Below are fields for untranslated string, developer's comment (not editable) and your translation.

It is 2 types of strings:

• Control labels. Each translatable control on the dialog has a unique name starting with prefix IDC. It is a control name, not actual control text. To help you to find the control, original control label can be found at developer's comment. In the example above, original control label for control 'IDC_CHK_JITTER' is 'Jitter correction'. Also, control names have some info in it. Control started with IDC_GRP is a group box, IDC_CHK is a check box, IDC_LBL is a label, IDC_BTN is a button and IDC_RB is a radio button. Each group box control is followed with all controls it contains. In the example above 'IDC_CHK_JITTER' control follows 'IDC_GRP_SYNC' ('Audio/Video syncronization') group box. Now we can find it on the dialog: this control is a check box named 'Jitter correction' in the group named 'Audio/Video synchronization':

  

  You need to translate the original control label that can be found at the developer's comment.

• Simple strings. These strings are used in the code directly. Simply translate the string.

When you finish the translation you'll see something like:

Translation guides

If you're unsure how to translate something, leave it untranslated. Do not make fuzzy translation!


Input\tmean: %ims\tstddev: %ims\n
Output\tmean: %ims\tstddev: %ims


This text is about jitter parameters. First string is about input jitter and second is about output. 'mean' is arithmetic mean (average value). 'stddev' is common name for standard deviation. 'ms' is milliseconds.

Testing the translation

You may need to test your translation from time to time (for example to ensure that a translated string fits into a limited space). To do this, save your translation. This will create 2 files: lng.po (text file with translated strings) and lng.mo (machine-oriented file). You need to place the last into the proper location.

Create folder AC3Filter_dir\lang\lng\LC_MESSAGES where AC3Filter_dir is a folder where AC3Filter is installed and lng is 3-character language code. (For Russian translation and default filter location you can see following folder: c:\Program Files\AC3Filter\lang\rus\LC_MESSAGES) Copy your lng.mo file there and rename it to ac3filter.mo.

That's all. Now you can open filter configuration and choose your language!

Editing an existing translation

You can edit an existing translation in the same way. All PO files for languages supported are distributed with the filter. Just open a PO file you want to modify.

It is a good idea to contact file creator or last translator before modifying the file. You can find this info in the translation info when you choose a language in AC3Filter:

Including the translation into AC3Filter distribution.

Just contact author and send the PO file you have created/updated. Do not send the file to the public mailbox! Due to tons of spam attaches are disabled there. Just write a short announce and you'll get an address to send your file to.

More info about translation

AC3Filter uses GNU gettext library for internationalization. You can find more info about how it works, about manipulating PO/MO files and much more in this manual.