The Multi-Language Add-In provides extended support for creating global applications with a user interface in multiple languages using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET.

This product is an Add-In for Visual Studio .NET, which means that it runs within the development environment to provide additional features, not provided by Visual Studio itself.

Translation of texts using a simple grid editor

After scanning your project, the texts in your project are presented in two simple grid editors - for the properties of controls and for strings in the source code - with columns for each language.

You can edit all texts directly in the grid.

Discovering text strings in controls using the Localizable attribute In the .NET type system, properties of controls which require translation are assigned the Localizable attribute. The Add-In identifies all properties with the Localizable attribute and shows them in the grid editor.

Discovering text strings in the source code

The Add-In scans the source code of each component and shows all text strings in the grid editor. You can select the texts which actually require translation with a simple check box next to each text.

Hide lines in the source code

Lines in the source code, which contain strings which do not require translation, can be hidden by adding the comment 'MLHIDE to the end of the line. This can be added simply by clicking on an icon at the start of each line in the grid.

Add localization support late in development

All localization experts recommend planning localization right from the beginning of your software development project. Most software developers do not follow this advise. Often, the requirement to localize a project is not even raised before the development has been completed.

The Multi-Language Add-In is designed to support you in adding Multi-Language support to a project to a project at any stage in its development, or after completion of the development.

Excel import and export

The Visual Studio .NET environment may not be ideal for all people involved in localization.

As an alternative to editing the texts using the Add-In, you can export the texts to an Excel file, edit them using Excel, and then reimport them into the Add-in's project database.

Translations are stored in a project database

The Add-In stores all translations in a project database file in Access 2000 format.

Optional Language-Selection dialog can be added to your project

The Add-In is able to add a Language-Selection form to your project and show this form when the application starts. This gives the user (or tester) the chance to select the language used in the application.

The form is copied from a template file, which you can edit to suit your requirements.

Support for satellite dlls using .NET standard mechanism

The .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR) uses a standard mechanism for supporting localized (or globalized) applications based on satellite dlls in subdirectories of your applications main directory.

This mechanism is fully supported by the Multi-Language Add-In.

Support for resource fallback

Resource fall back means that the resources are located by searching in the (1) the specific language ( e.g. French(Canada)) (2) the neutral language (e.g. French) and (3) the non-localized resources.

The Add-In shows texts which will be located using resource fallback in the grids using grey text. This means that you can easily see which texts have been defined explicitly and which have been inherited.

Support for far eastern languages

The grid editor supports the use of an Input Method Editor (IME) for far eastern languages.

If you are working with Windows 2000 or Windows XP and programming in the .NET environment, you should not have problems with far eastern languages.

Easy switching between languages in designer windows

The Add-In allows you to switch quickly between languages in designer windows (for Forms or UserControls) using a drop down list of languages which are used in your project.

This feature of Visual Studio .NET allows you to see exactly what a Form or UserControl looks like in each language. If necessary, you can adjust the size of controls or of a form for a specific language.

View designer window in correct language when editing in the grid

As soon as you start editing the text of a property in a given language, the Add-In opens the designer window for the component - in the appropriate language - and selects the corresponding control. This means that the localizer can see the exact context in which the string is used.

View the source code line when editing in the grid

As soon as you start editing the text of string from the source code, the Add-In opens the component in a text editor window and shows the associated line in the file.

The Add-In also has a button to locate the line in grid editor for a string selected in a text editor window.

Define common translations once only

Some strings, such as OK and Cancel, are used repeatedly in a project.

The Multi-Language Add-In starts by assuming that identical strings will be translated in the same way at all places in your project. This means that you only need to translate these terms once.

When you edit the translation of a string which is used at multiple locations, the Add-In gives you the option to apply the translation to all occurrences of the string, or only to selected instance.

Search function

The Add-In contains a flexible search dialog, to search for strings in your project.