This short document describes how to translate Biblos.

When translating the Biblos user interface, you need to use a simple, concise and friendly vocabulary.

terseness 
Describe only what the user needs to know! Eliminate any redundancy, for example the references already contained in the window title. Make every text as short as possible.

Here are some examples
NO: For more information see the documentation that was provided to you with Biblos.
YES: For more information, please read the Biblos documentation.

Consider that the spaces where the text is displayed are not unlimited. Always use short and meaningful texts. Take an example from the original Italian text.


Simplicity 
Use simple words, active verbs and known names! You should also use the computer jargon of the language in which you want to translate Biblos!

For example
Per copiare il testo usa menù Modifica/Copia
NO: To copy the text use menu Modify/Copy
YES: To copy the text use menu Edit/Copy

Consider that in the first characters you should write to us the objective to be reached, and in the following characters how to reach it, not vice versa.

For example
NO: Press Shift + F12 to save the document
YES: To save the document press Shift + F12


Friendly 
Use an indirect and friendly tone with the reader, and do not use dialect or slang words!

For example
NO: Excuse me, the document has been modified and maybe you need to save it. Save it?
YES: Modified document. Do you want to save it?

NO: You can not do this because the document is not selected.
YES: To do this you must select the document.

Please, I'm sorry, thank you, they're boring forms and it's useless to use them, especially in error messages! Do not apologize, you have nothing to apologize for!


Form and text format

Respect the rules of the grammar of your language! 
A sentence always starts in uppercase. The proper names always write them with an initial capital. It also uses capitalization for the names of commands and features.
The word "braille" is capitalized only when it refers to a command or function, or to Louis Braille. In all other cases, go in lowercase!
Use correct punctuation. Never use the exclamation mark! Never use ellipsis in messages and titles.


Symbols used

... (Three dots)
Ellipses are used in menu commands or buttons to indicate that the command opens a window. If the source text of a command has the three dots, always report the three dots even in the translation you are doing!

& (Ampersand) 
The & symbol is used in menu commands as an activator of an acceleration key. The letter following the & symbol will be underlined and it will be possible to use that command by pressing the underlined letter. You are free to move the & symbol in the letter you prefer or use in your language, always respecting the other commands in that branch of menu! If you are not sure, you can omit the & symbol. Use the & symbol in the texts of the menus and buttons, never in other messages or titles! In general, follow the examples of the source text.

%s (variable)
%s is a variable that is replaced with meaningful text when displaying messages. If the source text contains one or more %s you must respect the position and meaning in which the variable will appear in your language! If a source message has %s, never omit the variable, but transcribe it with the rest of the translation! Never make mistakes to transcribe the variables, because Biblos could go wrong!

%d (Variable)
%d is a variable that will be replaced by a number. Follow the same rules described with the previous variable.

^number (Marker character)
The character ^ can be used in texts as used in Biblos. The symbol ^ must be followed by a number. The number indicates the unicode code that you want to use. There are buttons made only of codes with symbol ^. Do not translate those buttons!

^10 (carriage return)
^10 is a carriage return. If this code is used, it means that the following text is wrapped on a new line. You can use ^10 in information messages. Never use it in the menus and, generally, in no other command, button or label. Refer to the source text!

/ (Paths)
The symbol / is used to describe the path of an existing text. If a button has an existing label, you can use the path to indicate in which window and in which button to extract the text. The paths do not translate, leave the original ones of the Italian language!

For example:
BtAdd=Add...
Direct label. The text assigned to the button is the one written directly.

BtAdd=/TxtAdd
Local label present in the same section in TxtAdd. The text that will appear in the BtAdd button will be the one written as a direct value of TxtAdd.

BtAdd=/Commons/BtAdd
Remote label present in the Commons section and in the BtAdd value. The text displayed in the BtAdd button will be the one present as the value of /Commons/BtAdd.