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1    Notes on the Free Translation Project
2    *************************************
3    
4       Free software is going international!  The Free Translation Project
5    is a way to get maintainers of free software, translators, and users all
6    together, so that will gradually become able to speak many languages.
7    A few packages already provide translations for their messages.
8    
9       If you found this `ABOUT-NLS' file inside a distribution, you may
10    assume that the distributed package does use GNU `gettext' internally,
11    itself available at your nearest GNU archive site.  But you do _not_
12    need to install GNU `gettext' prior to configuring, installing or using
13    this package with messages translated.
14    
15       Installers will find here some useful hints.  These notes also
16    explain how users should proceed for getting the programs to use the
17    available translations.  They tell how people wanting to contribute and
18    work at translations should contact the appropriate team.
19    
20       When reporting bugs in the `intl/' directory or bugs which may be
21    related to internationalization, you should tell about the version of
22    `gettext' which is used.  The information can be found in the
23    `intl/VERSION' file, in internationalized packages.
24    
25    Quick configuration advice
26    ==========================
27    
28       If you want to exploit the full power of internationalization, you
29    should configure it using
30    
31         ./configure --with-included-gettext
32    
33    to force usage of internationalizing routines provided within this
34    package, despite the existence of internationalizing capabilities in the
35    operating system where this package is being installed.  So far, only
36    the `gettext' implementation in the GNU C library version 2 provides as
37    many features (such as locale alias, message inheritance, automatic
38    charset conversion or plural form handling) as the implementation here.
39    It is also not possible to offer this additional functionality on top
40    of a `catgets' implementation.  Future versions of GNU `gettext' will
41    very likely convey even more functionality.  So it might be a good idea
42    to change to GNU `gettext' as soon as possible.
43    
44       So you need _not_ provide this option if you are using GNU libc 2 or
45    you have installed a recent copy of the GNU gettext package with the
46    included `libintl'.
47    
48    INSTALL Matters
49    ===============
50    
51       Some packages are "localizable" when properly installed; the
52    programs they contain can be made to speak your own native language.
53    Most such packages use GNU `gettext'.  Other packages have their own
54    ways to internationalization, predating GNU `gettext'.
55    
56       By default, this package will be installed to allow translation of
57    messages.  It will automatically detect whether the system already
58    provides the GNU `gettext' functions.  If not, the GNU `gettext' own
59    library will be used.  This library is wholly contained within this
60    package, usually in the `intl/' subdirectory, so prior installation of
61    the GNU `gettext' package is _not_ required.  Installers may use
62    special options at configuration time for changing the default
63    behaviour.  The commands:
64    
65         ./configure --with-included-gettext
66         ./configure --disable-nls
67    
68    will respectively bypass any pre-existing `gettext' to use the
69    internationalizing routines provided within this package, or else,
70    _totally_ disable translation of messages.
71    
72       When you already have GNU `gettext' installed on your system and run
73    configure without an option for your new package, `configure' will
74    probably detect the previously built and installed `libintl.a' file and
75    will decide to use this.  This might be not what is desirable.  You
76    should use the more recent version of the GNU `gettext' library.  I.e.
77    if the file `intl/VERSION' shows that the library which comes with this
78    package is more recent, you should use
79    
80         ./configure --with-included-gettext
81    
82    to prevent auto-detection.
83    
84       The configuration process will not test for the `catgets' function
85    and therefore it will not be used.  The reason is that even an
86    emulation of `gettext' on top of `catgets' could not provide all the
87    extensions of the GNU `gettext' library.
88    
89       Internationalized packages have usually many `po/LL.po' files, where
90    LL gives an ISO 639 two-letter code identifying the language.  Unless
91    translations have been forbidden at `configure' time by using the
92    `--disable-nls' switch, all available translations are installed
93    together with the package.  However, the environment variable `LINGUAS'
94    may be set, prior to configuration, to limit the installed set.
95    `LINGUAS' should then contain a space separated list of two-letter
96    codes, stating which languages are allowed.
97    
98    Using This Package
99    ==================
100    
101       As a user, if your language has been installed for this package, you
102    only have to set the `LANG' environment variable to the appropriate
103    `LL_CC' combination.  Here `LL' is an ISO 639 two-letter language code,
104    and `CC' is an ISO 3166 two-letter country code.  For example, let's
105    suppose that you speak German and live in Germany.  At the shell
106    prompt, merely execute `setenv LANG de_DE' (in `csh'),
107    `export LANG; LANG=de_DE' (in `sh') or `export LANG=de_DE' (in `bash').
108    This can be done from your `.login' or `.profile' file, once and for
109    all.
110    
111       You might think that the country code specification is redundant.
112    But in fact, some languages have dialects in different countries.  For
113    example, `de_AT' is used for Austria, and `pt_BR' for Brazil.  The
114    country code serves to distinguish the dialects.
115    
116       Not all programs have translations for all languages.  By default, an
117    English message is shown in place of a nonexistent translation.  If you
118    understand other languages, you can set up a priority list of languages.
119    This is done through a different environment variable, called
120    `LANGUAGE'.  GNU `gettext' gives preference to `LANGUAGE' over `LANG'
121    for the purpose of message handling, but you still need to have `LANG'
122    set to the primary language; this is required by other parts of the
123    system libraries.  For example, some Swedish users who would rather
124    read translations in German than English for when Swedish is not
125    available, set `LANGUAGE' to `sv:de' while leaving `LANG' to `sv_SE'.
126    
127       In the `LANGUAGE' environment variable, but not in the `LANG'
128    environment variable, `LL_CC' combinations can be abbreviated as `LL'
129    to denote the language's main dialect.  For example, `de' is equivalent
130    to `de_DE' (German as spoken in Germany), and `pt' to `pt_PT'
131    (Portuguese as spoken in Portugal) in this context.
132    
133    Translating Teams
134    =================
135    
136       For the Free Translation Project to be a success, we need interested
137    people who like their own language and write it well, and who are also
138    able to synergize with other translators speaking the same language.
139    Each translation team has its own mailing list.  The up-to-date list of
140    teams can be found at the Free Translation Project's homepage,
141    `http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/contrib/po/HTML/', in the "National teams"
142    area.
143    
144       If you'd like to volunteer to _work_ at translating messages, you
145    should become a member of the translating team for your own language.
146    The subscribing address is _not_ the same as the list itself, it has
147    `-request' appended.  For example, speakers of Swedish can send a
148    message to `sv-request@li.org', having this message body:
149    
150         subscribe
151    
152       Keep in mind that team members are expected to participate
153    _actively_ in translations, or at solving translational difficulties,
154    rather than merely lurking around.  If your team does not exist yet and
155    you want to start one, or if you are unsure about what to do or how to
156    get started, please write to `translation@iro.umontreal.ca' to reach the
157    coordinator for all translator teams.
158    
159       The English team is special.  It works at improving and uniformizing
160    the terminology in use.  Proven linguistic skill are praised more than
161    programming skill, here.
162    
163    Available Packages
164    ==================
165    
166       Languages are not equally supported in all packages.  The following
167    matrix shows the current state of internationalization, as of September
168    2001.  The matrix shows, in regard of each package, for which languages
169    PO files have been submitted to translation coordination, with a
170    translation percentage of at least 50%.
171    
172         Ready PO files    bg cs da de el en eo es et fi fr gl he hr id it ja
173                         +----------------------------------------------------+
174         a2ps            |          []             []    []                   |
175         bash            |          []       [] []       []                   |
176         bfd             |                                                    |
177         binutils        |                               []                   |
178         bison           |          []          [] []    []                [] |
179         clisp           |          []    []    []       []                   |
180         cpio            |       [] []          []       [] []                |
181         diffutils       |       [] []       [] []       [] []       []       |
182         enscript        |          []                   []                   |
183         error           |                      []       []                   |
184         fetchmail       |                                                    |
185         fileutils       |    [] [] [] []       []       [] []             [] |
186         findutils       |       [] []          [] []    [] []       [] []    |
187         flex            |       []             []       []                   |
188         freetype        |                                                    |
189         gas             |                                                    |
190         gawk            |                               []    []             |
191         gcal            |                                                    |
192         gcc             |                                                    |
193         gettext         |    [] [] [] []       []       [] []       [] [] [] |
194         gnupg           |          []       []    []    [] []          [] [] |
195         gprof           |                                                    |
196         grep            |    []    []       [] [] []    [] []          []    |
197         hello           |       [] [] []    [] [] [] [] [] []          [] [] |
198         id-utils        |       [] []                   []                   |
199         indent          |       [] []             []    [] []                |
200         jpilot          |                               []                   |
201         kbd             |                                                    |
202         ld              |                               []                   |
203         libc            |    [] [] [] []       []       [] []             [] |
204         lilypond        |                                                 [] |
205         lynx            |    [] [] []                                     [] |
206         m4              |    [] [] [] []                [] []       []    [] |
207         make            |       [] []          []       [] []             [] |
208         mysecretdiary   |          []                                        |
209         nano            |                      []          []       []       |
210         opcodes         |                                                    |
211         parted          |          []                      []             [] |
212         ptx             |       [] []          [] []    [] []       []       |
213         python          |                                                    |
214         recode          |       [] [] []    [] []       [] [] []       []    |
215         sed             |    [] [] [] []    []    []    [] [] []    [] [] [] |
216         sh-utils        |    [] [] [] []       [] []    [] []          [] [] |
217         sharutils       |    [] [] [] []       []       [] []             [] |
218         sketch          |                                                    |
219         soundtracker    |          []          []          []                |
220         sp              |                                                    |
221         tar             |    [] [] []          [] []    []             [] [] |
222         texinfo         |    [] [] []       []          []                [] |
223         textutils       |    [] [] [] []       []       [] []             [] |
224         util-linux      |    [] []                                           |
225         wdiff           |       [] []             []                         |
226         wget            |    [] [] [] []       [] []    [] [] []          [] |
227                         +----------------------------------------------------+
228                           bg cs da de el en eo es et fi fr gl he hr id it ja
229                            0 14 24 32 11  1  8 23 13  1 33 22  4  0  7  9 18
230        
231                           ko lv nb nl nn no pl pt pt_BR ru sk sl sv tr uk zh
232                         +----------------------------------------------------+
233         a2ps            |          []                   []    []             |  6
234         bash            |                                                    |  4
235         bfd             |                                                    |  0
236         binutils        |                                                    |  1
237         bison           |                               []                   |  6
238         clisp           |          []                                        |  5
239         cpio            | []       []       []     []   []                   | 10
240         diffutils       |                   []          []       [] []       | 11
241         enscript        |          []              []   []                   |  5
242         error           |                                  []       []       |  4
243         fetchmail       |                                                    |  0
244         fileutils       | []       []       []     []   [] [] [] [] []       | 17
245         findutils       | []       []       []     []   []    [] [] []       | 16
246         flex            | []                            []       []          |  6
247         freetype        |                                                    |  0
248         gas             |                                                    |  0
249         gawk            |                                           []       |  3
250         gcal            |                                                    |  0
251         gcc             |                                                    |  0
252         gettext         | []                []     []   []    [] [] []    [] | 18
253         gnupg           |                   []                   [] []       | 10
254         gprof           |                                                    |  0
255         grep            |                   []                [] [] []       | 12
256         hello           | [] [] [] []    [] []          [] []    [] [] []    | 22
257         id-utils        |          []                   []       []          |  6
258         indent          | []       []       []          [] []    [] []       | 12
259         jpilot          |                                                    |  1
260         kbd             |                                           []       |  1
261         ld              |                                                    |  1
262         libc            | []    []       [] []     []      []    [] []       | 16
263         lilypond        |          []                            []          |  3
264         lynx            |          []              []   []       []          |  8
265         m4              |          []       []          []       []          | 12
266         make            | []       []       []     []   []          []       | 12
267         mysecretdiary   |                                                    |  1
268         nano            |                                        []          |  4
269         opcodes         |                                           []       |  1
270         parted          |          []                   []                   |  5
271         ptx             |       [] []    [] [] []       []       [] []       | 15
272         python          |                                                    |  0
273         recode          |                   []          []    [] []          | 13
274         sed             |          []              []   [] [] [] [] []       | 19
275         sh-utils        |       [] []    [] []     []   [] [] [] [] []    [] | 21
276         sharutils       |          []                   []       []          | 11
277         sketch          |                                                    |  0
278         soundtracker    |                                                    |  3
279         sp              |                                                    |  0
280         tar             |       []       [] []     []         [] [] []       | 15
281         texinfo         |                               []                   |  7
282         textutils       |       [] []    [] []     []   [] [] []             | 16
283         util-linux      |                          []               []       |  4
284         wdiff           |                               [] []    [] []       |  7
285         wget            |          []                   [] [] [] [] [] []    | 17
286                         +----------------------------------------------------+
287           33 teams        ko lv nb nl nn no pl pt pt_BR ru sk sl sv tr uk zh
288           53 domains       9  1  6 20  0  6 17  1  13   25 10 11 23 21  2  2  387
289    
290       Some counters in the preceding matrix are higher than the number of
291    visible blocks let us expect.  This is because a few extra PO files are
292    used for implementing regional variants of languages, or language
293    dialects.
294    
295       For a PO file in the matrix above to be effective, the package to
296    which it applies should also have been internationalized and
297    distributed as such by its maintainer.  There might be an observable
298    lag between the mere existence a PO file and its wide availability in a
299    distribution.
300    
301       If September 2001 seems to be old, you may fetch a more recent copy
302    of this `ABOUT-NLS' file on most GNU archive sites.  The most
303    up-to-date matrix with full percentage details can be found at
304    `http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/contrib/po/HTML/matrix.html'.
305    
306    Using `gettext' in new packages
307    ===============================
308    
309       If you are writing a freely available program and want to
310    internationalize it you are welcome to use GNU `gettext' in your
311    package.  Of course you have to respect the GNU Library General Public
312    License which covers the use of the GNU `gettext' library.  This means
313    in particular that even non-free programs can use `libintl' as a shared
314    library, whereas only free software can use `libintl' as a static
315    library or use modified versions of `libintl'.
316    
317       Once the sources are changed appropriately and the setup can handle
318    to use of `gettext' the only thing missing are the translations.  The
319    Free Translation Project is also available for packages which are not
320    developed inside the GNU project.  Therefore the information given above
321    applies also for every other Free Software Project.  Contact
322    `translation@iro.umontreal.ca' to make the `.pot' files available to
323    the translation teams.
324    

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