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Binbot Translation Guide

Binbot is available by default in English and in French. This tutorial will show you how to translate the Binbot user interface into other languages.

  1. All language-specific text displayed on the user interface is stored in separate language files. These files can be easily translated without modifying the application code. They are located in the bundles directory of your Binbot installation directory.
    bundles Directory
  2. To edit the language files, you will need a "properties file editor". We recommend using Babel Fish which is available here.
    Download Babel Fish
  3. Unzip babelfish.zip to a new directory and double-click on babelfish.jar to launch Babel Fish.
    Launch Babel Fish
  4. Select the menu File > Open (1), select the file binbot.properties (2) and click Open (3).
    Open binbot.properties
  5. Select the menu File > Add Languages (1), select a new language (2) and click OK (3).
    Add Languages
  6. Step through the tree (1) and translate each node (2). Untranslated nodes are marked with a red dot or exclamation point (3).
    Translate
  7. Certain nodes contain numbers enclosed in curly braces, such as {0} or {1} (1). These are variable markers that get replaced by actual values at runtime. For example, "From server {0} only" becomes at runtime "From server Secure Server only". A description of what these variables represent is usually available in the child node comment (2).
    variables
  8. When these variables represent numbers, use the choice construct to produce the correct singular and plural forms. For example, the string {0,choice,0#No newsgroup found|1#1 newsgroup found|1<{0,number,integer} newsgroups found} resolves to any of these 3 values at runtime:
    1. "No newsgroup found" if the value of {0} is 0
    2. "1 newsgroup found" if the value of {0} is 1
    3. "N newsgroups found" if the value of {0} is N
    If you are unsure about how these constructs work, try to keep them intact and just translate their contents. More information about their syntax is available here.
    number variables
  9. Once all the nodes have been translated, repeat steps 4 through 8 with the files byte count.properties, charset encoding.properties, dir chooser.properties, font chooser.properties, and form.properties.
  10. To configure Binbot to use your new language files, select Tools > Language from the Binbot menu bar (1) and select your new language (2). Click OK (3). You will need to restart Binbot for the language change to take effect.
    Change Language
  11. To make your translation available to the Internet community, please e-mail us your translated files at tr(a)binbot.com.