Translating and using a new language

The following article uses options that are available starting with the Professional edition and project type.

This tutorial will guide you step by step into the translation of the MSI strings into a new language and using them to build MSI packages in the language. It is addressed to those who have completed the Other Languages tutorial.

Advanced Installer by default comes with a set of registered translations which are very easy to use and customize to create MSI packages in each of those languages. However, what can you do if the language you want to build in is missing from the list?

• 1. Create project
• 2. Create translation dictionary
• 3. Translate dictionary
• 4. Import the translated dictionary back into Advanced Installer
• 5. Send us the translation (optional)

1. Create project

Follow the Professional Installation tutorial to create the Advanced Installer project. Select English or another registered language as the project language. But keep an eye on the English strings in the former case, as they are the original strings. You don't want to translate the translation...

2. Create translation dictionary

There are two ways of translating default strings to a new dictionary and including it into your project. One involves selecting the untranslated language from the Languages Tab and then defining each string in Advanced Installer's predefined dictionary editor from Default Strings Tab. The other involves manually editing the dictionary file and is described in this tutorial.

Select “Translations” from “User Interface” menu on the left pane and then go to Dictionaries Tab.

Click the [ Create... ] button in the “Advanced” group. The wizard will assist you in creating a dictionary file containing all the possible strings in an Advanced Installer MSI. Select the desired new language as the target language.

Select the language you know best as start language. It is recommended that you also include English as a start language and always keep an eye on the English strings, as they are the original form. You don't want to translate the translation...

The created dictionary will not be added automatically to the translations list.

3. Translate dictionary

Translate every string, using the technique explained in the Other Languages tutorial.

4. Import the translated dictionary back into Advanced Installer

Click the [ Import... ] button in the “Advanced” group. Advanced Installer will extract from the dictionary only the strings that don't belong to an already registered language. The strings will then be saved into dictionary files in the “dictionaries” folder of Advanced Installer, carrying the language code in the file name.

Please note that strings that belong to an already registered dictionary can't be imported and are ignored. Because of that, you can't import a dictionary twice. To do that, you need to go into the dictionary folder of Advanced Installer and remove the file manually before importing again.

Now the dictionary translation is registered and the language will be available to use in the Languages Tab page and the Start Page.

If you answered “Yes” when asked to include the newly registered language on the build languages list, you can issue a Build command and an MSI will be generated in the new language.

5. Send us the translation (optional)

Do not forget to send us (contact info) the dictionary file if you want to see your language included in the next version of Advanced Installer. We will offer you discounts, licenses or maintenance plan extensions in exchange for your work.