I've been able to create a language neutral application by using language files stored in xml and by dynamically switching the file at run time. For example (only a snippet):
<locale>
<na>NA</na>
<yes>Yes</yes>
<no>No</no>
<true>True</true>
<false>False</false>
<close>Close</close>
<abort>Abort</abort>
<save>Save</save>
<application>
<title>TPG TeleManagement SEL 6</title>
<copyright>© Copyright 2005 TPG TeleManagement, Inc. All Rights Reserved.</copyright>
<version>6.0.0</version>
</application>
</locale>
And then have the following library of useful functions ...
<library>
<datasource name="languageHTTP">
<dataset name="langData" type="http" autorequest="true" src="languages/lang_english.xml"/>
</datasource>
<script>
<![CDATA[
function switchLocale(locale) {
canvas.languageHTTP.langData.setSrc("languages/lang_"+locale+".xml");
}
function localeString(textString) {
return("langData:/locale/"+textString+"/text()");
}
function getLocaleString(textString) {
return(canvas.datasets.langData.getPointer().xpath Query("locale/" + textString + "/text()"));
}
]]>
</script>
</library>
I then use the localeString function to set items' datapath:
<menuitem name="edit" datapath="${localeString('menu/evals/edit')}"/>
or
<text align="center" datapath="${localeString('pleaseWait/message')}" resize="true" fontsize="12" fontstyle="bold"/>
or in script, you can use the getLocalString() function call:
resp.addOption(getLocaleString('yes'), "1");
I then allow the user to switch locale with the following on their login screen (of course, their language preferences can be stored in their user profile and automatically assigned):
<view align="center">
<simplelayout axis="x" spacing="20"/>
<view resource="englishFlag" onclick="switchLocale('english');"/>
<view resource="germanFlag" onclick="switchLocale('german');"/>
<view resource="frenchFlag" onclick="switchLocale('french');"/>
<view resource="spanishFlag" onclick="switchLocale('spanish');"/>
</view>
Hope this helps!
Jeff