Many of you wanted to help translating LXDE but only a few know how to do this, until now. Here is a description on how to help translating the components of LXDE. You can also view this article in the Wiki:

• How to translate LXDE components (generally)
• Translate_*.po_files_with_Poedit (Poedit specific)

Translate *.po files with Poedit

This is a description how to translate LXDE components with Poedit. It is not complete and may be wrong at some places edit when I missed something important or even said something wrong (hope not ;)).

Get the code

First of all you should get the latest code from svn. To do so type in the following

 svn co https://lxde.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/lxde/trunk/ ./lxde

into a Terminal. You also can use a script for this.

 #!/bin/bash
# svn_co_lxde.sh
# autor maces

if [ -z $1 ]
then
	xterm -e $0 copy
else
        echo "starting"
        echo "------------------"
        svn co https://lxde.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/lxde/trunk/ ./lxde

        echo "------------------"
        echo "(program exited with code: $?)"
        echo "Press return to continue"
        #to be more compatible with shells like dash
        dummy_var=""
        read dummy_var
fi
exit

The script opens xterm and execute the same command as above. Make sure to make it executable (chmod 755 ./svn_co_lxde.sh). You now should have the latest code in ./lxde.

Install Poedit

Of course we need Poedit, so just install it (as root).

Archlinux:

 pacman -Sy poedit

Debian/Ubuntu:

 aptitude install poedit

Please add the command for your Distro

Translating

In this example we are going to translate LXMusic (Just change the path for another Program).

Open a *.pot file

This way when there is no yourlanguage.po file. Click on File->New catalog from POT file, navigate to ./lxde/lxmusic/po and open lxmusic.pot with Poedit and open the file. Now insert the wanted informations (if you want) and click OK. Now you have to choose the *.po file which will be generated. Please name it like de_DE.po/es_ES.po/zh_TW.po/… .

Open a *.po file

This way when you want to edit an existing yourlanguage.po file. Click on File->Open navigate to ./lxde/lxmusic/po and open lxmusic.po with Poedit and open the file.

Start translating

You should see something like this (If it doesn’t check Menu->View).

Here is a explanation of what you see.

Now we start translating. Simply select the strings you want to translate by click on them and insert the translation in the empty box under the original text (look at the Image). Go on like this until you are ready.

(hint: ctrl+up/down arrow moves between the strings)

Fuzzy translations

A translation can be marked as fuzzy, a fuzzy translation can originate from more or less to sources. The first one being yourself – or one of your peers. If a string is roughly translated and needs more attention it’s wise to mark it fuzzy to make it easy to find and review. The second source for fuzzy strings are msgmerge or something similar, when mergin an old translation with an updated template (.pot) msgmerge will note updated english strings with fuzzy to notify the translator to review the translations.

Do not leave fuzzy strings in translations considered done!

Edit Comment

For editing/making a comment simply click on the edit button (next to fuzzy button) and insert a comment in the Window which will appear.

You easily can see if a translation contains a comment by the comment icon in front of the original text in the mainview.

What have I changed

To check what you have changed look for lines with a star in front of the original text.

Save the translation

To save the .*po file just Click on File->Save.

Upload translation

There are (at the moment)two ways to upload the translations.

Way1 – The tracker

For this way you need an SF.net account. Go to https://sourceforge.net/tracker2/?group_id=180858&atid=894871 and click on add new artifact. As subject use something like “German translation for lxmusic” and choose “Translations” as Category. Type in a nice text and don’t forget to attach your *.po file. After this click on Add Artifact and you are ready.

Way2 – The Mailinglist

For this way you need to subscribe to translation@mailinglist.lxde.org. If you are subscribed write a email to translation@mailinglist.lxde.org with Something like “German translation for lxmusi” as subject. Type in a nice text and don’t forget to attach your *.po file. After this send the email and you are ready.

Links

Wiki:

• How to translate LXDE components (generally)
• Translate_*.po_files_with_Poedit (Poedit specific)

Translation project:

• LXDE translation coordination page

Mailinglist:

• translation at mailinglist.lxde.org