Windows Installer Editor Reference
293
Translating an Installation
To restore a language that was deleted
If you use the Delete button on the Languages page to delete a language and its text
strings from an installation, you can later restore that language to the installation if you
have a file containing translated text strings for that language.
Add the language to the Languages page and import translated text strings.
See
Importing All Text Strings With the New Language Wizard
on page 297.
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To restore one of the pre-translated languages, select the appropriate resource file
from the Languages subdirectory. To restore a language that you added and had
translated, specify the resource or text file containing the translated text strings.
The location of the Languages subdirectory varies.
See
Installation Resources and Their Locations
on page 32.
The language is restored to the Languages page.
Note
This process does not restore any custom translated text.
Defining and Translating Into Additional Languages
If the language you need is not one of the 25 pre-translated languages, you can add it to
the Languages page and add translated text for that language. Then you can translate
installations into the new language.
Example:
Suppose you want to translate an installation into Swiss French. However, that language
is not one of the pre-translated languages. You can add Swiss French to the Languages
page and add Swiss French text strings to the installation. Then, you can compile an
installation that displays Swiss French on all dialog boxes and error messages.
The new language and its translated strings are added to the current installation only. To
make the new language available for future installations, add it to an installation
template instead of to a specific installation.
See
Creating and Editing Installation Templates
on page 54.
Process for defining and translating into a new language
1. If you plan to customize or add new elements to the user interface of the
installation, do so first. That way, the customized strings will be included when you
export text strings for translation.
2. Add the new language to the list on the Languages page by defining language
settings, then export the text strings in the installation to a resource or text file.
See
Defining a New Language and Exporting All Text for Translation
on page 295.
3. Have the text strings translated to the new language. The translator should
translate the strings in place in the same file, to ensure the returned file is
formatted identically.