Basic Unicode readiness testing for your application

Unicode is a very complex standard, always evolving, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do some basic testing, in order to uncover hidden bugs. Continue reading

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Examples of internationalizing keyboard shortcuts

This article tries to complete a previous article regarding internationalization of keyboard shortcuts. I decided to analyze  a few cases, in order to explain better how we should define keyboard shortcuts in a way that will keep them working on most international keyboards. Continue reading

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Using the simple language and locale codes

How to choose the proper language and locale codes when localizing?

If you localize only for the macro-language use the macro language code. If you have only one English use just “en” code but if you have more than one “en” will mean “en-US” and you will have to add more detailed codes like “en-CA”. Unicode website gives more details in picking the right language code article. Continue reading

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Using Unicode console output with Python

On Windows console and Unicode are not quite friends. Here is some code that I use in order to assure that my Python scripts output is consistent on all platforms and is supporting Unicode encoded as UTF-8. Continue reading

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Optimal Windows keyboard settings for Romanian programmers

Here is how you should configure you keyboard layouts in order to be a able to write code, English and Romanian text as easy as possible. Continue reading

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Google Groups translations not passing even the simplest spell check test

I’m a strong admirer of Google business model but I keep wondering how did they managed to obtain such a huge number of typos inside their translation to Romanian language. I don’t have inside information about the aproaches they made in order to localize Google Groups but I have serious doubts about having any kind of quality check. Continue reading

Posted in Romanian, Translating | 3 Comments

Tip #1 – Altered English dictionary

I decided to start a series of Tips&Tricks posts that anyone can use for fast 18n bug finding in their application. As you can know the speed is really important when it comes on solving bugs.

What is an altered English dictionary? it’s a virtual translation of your English translatable strings to English but using characters from other languages that are similar to the ones from English…. shortly it’s a find-and-replace by character. Continue reading

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Using msdev resource editor to create Unicode dialogs that will not display well

I was surprised to discover that creating Unicode UI elements in the resource editor of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 (SP1) does work, BUT when you compile your application they will fail to display well. Continue reading

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International invoices

I was surprised to realize that a huge number of US companies are not able to generate international invoices. BTW, I’m not speaking right now about a standardized invoice format – only about an invoice that should clearly identify the parties involved, the goodies and their prices.

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Multiversal English

Some time ago i found out that that, at least for Adobe:

International English” (IE) = “American English”
Universal English” (UE) = “British English”

So if I want to use a real “generic” English terminology I should call it “Multiversal English“?

As nobody else used the term Multiversal English before, I suppose I could try to register it as a trademark.

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