[alkatron]

I'm tring to understand how modify the text for a future translation, first i modify *.fs2 files and put them in data/missions and the game consider them e show the text modified......
Then reading the forum i saw that everyone says to use strings.tbl and tstrings.tbl for a translation....
I tried to modify them but nothing happens...
Have they to be in a particular directory like *.fs2 files? Have I to activate something or modify some configuration file?

Thanks to all

P.S. I'm using linux

[The E]

As all mission files must be in data/missions, all tbl files must be in data/tables.

[alkatron]

I supposed it, so i tried to put them there (/data/tables) and to modify them...but nothing happens the text remains the original, while if I modify /data/missions/*.fs2 files it shows the text modified.....

why?

Thanks

[The E]

If you modify the text in the mission directly, it's no wonder it shows up. After all, FS2 doesn't care what messages you want to send.
If you are really serious about a translation, however, tranlsating tstrings.tbl is the first thing to do. That table is used by the game to automatically replace english strings with their translated counterpart.
How you set the game up to actually look at that table and choose the right translation, that I don't know.

[alkatron]

If you are really serious about a translation, however, tranlsating tstrings.tbl is the first thing to do. That table is used by the game to automatically replace english strings with their translated counterpart.

ok.....

But how can i verify the work seeing the translated text in the game if it still use original text...?

How you set the game up to actually look at that table and choose the right translation, that I don't know.

Where can i check this settings ?

thanks

[Aardwolf]

*.tbl files go in /data/tables

*.fs2 files go in /data/missions

If you put them in the wrong places it won't work. It's as simple as that. Also, consult the wiki for general modding info.

[alkatron]

i put both of them in the right place....as you said....

But while .fs2 files modified is saw by the game that show modified text, the file .tbl modified (in data/tables) is not seen by the game that continue to show original text

[The E]

Read this:

http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Strings.tbl

http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Tstrings.tbl

What language are you trying to translate FS2 to, by the way?

[alkatron]

I already read them and they talk about format and use, but don't say anything about possibly errors or checks to solve problems...... I start thinking to create a script that merge .fs2 original files with tstrings new file to create new .fs2 translated files..... in this way everyone has only to download .fs2 files and play....

[The E]

....

That is, quite frankly, the wrong way to do it. For one, you will have to translate ships.tbl and weapons.tbl as well. Using Strings.tbl and tStrings.tbl is the best way to do it. If you look at Strings.tbl, there are three sections defined, English, French, and German. This corresponds to the "Language" entry in FS2's Registry entries (on windows); If it is set to German, the german translation will be used etc.

Distributing altered mission files is wrong because as soon as someone starts using the mediavps, they are back to english.

Also note that you need to create new entries in both Strings.tbl AND tstrings.tbl, since those two cover different areas of in-game text.

[alkatron]

....

That is, quite frankly, the wrong way to do it. For one, you will have to translate ships.tbl and weapons.tbl as well. Using Strings.tbl and tStrings.tbl is the best way to do it. If you look at Strings.tbl, there are three sections defined, English, French, and German. This corresponds to the "Language" entry in FS2's Registry entries (on windows); If it is set to German, the german translation will be used etc.

Distributing altered mission files is wrong because as soon as someone starts using the mediavps, they are back to english.

Also note that you need to create new entries in both Strings.tbl AND tstrings.tbl, since those two cover different areas of in-game text.

May be i can't explain myself well.....but i wish to do in the way you said but only it does not function.... i put tstrings.tbl in data/tables.....but nothing happens...no change, And i must have a way to check my work....

If someone can help me to let my installed freespace cosider data/tables/tstrings.tbl instead ordiginal strings i'm very happy :-)
Otherwise i translate tstrings.tbl anyway but have to make a script to create a new fs2 file to check my work if i can't do it using tstrings directly......So the work is not wasted and tstrings.tbl will be ready anyway according to the project guidelines......
I don't know if explained myself....

[The E]

What you need to understand is that it doesn't matter how long your translated text is, as long as it can be expressed using the english Alphabet. If you're editing the two tables, you don't _really_ need to test it in-game; get the translation right in the tables first, and worry about getting it in-game later. And doing that should be rather easy; just create an entry called "Language" in the registry (The location should be something like HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/VOLITION). Then give it a string value which corresponds to the entry in Strings.tbl (That is, if you enter "German", the game will use the german translation.

Also, what language do you wish to translate it to? Judging by your E-Mail address, your based in Italy. I would recommend contacting Mobius via PM, he started a translation effort some time ago.

[alkatron]

And doing that should be rather easy; just create an entry called "Language" in the registry (The location should be something like HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/VOLITION). Then give it a string value which corresponds to the entry in Strings.tbl (That is, if you enter "German", the game will use the german translation.

The problem is before this, because i tried to modified english text to see if it show in-game

Also, what language do you wish to translate it to? Judging by your E-Mail address, your based in Italy. I would recommend contacting Mobius via PM, he started a translation effort some time ago.

Yes i already contacted him and we are doing strings.tbl, i asked for the problem also to him but he does not answer yet.

However i understand what you say,and agree, translating tstrings is the main thing.............but i think that at the end i'll make the script anyway to see my work running for personal gratification. 

[Zacam]

The localization of strings.tbl and tstrings.tbl is a bit tricky. You should be using TBM's, but you have to header all the other languages first, followed by the additional language. You also have to use the same explicit string ID #'s for the portion you want to replace with a translated version.

Code: [Select]

#English

;
; The control config action text goes between 507 and 619.
;
303, "Protect My Target"
304, "Ignore My Target"
305, "Form on My Wing"
306, "Cover Me"
309, "Rearm Me"
517, "Turn Off Targeting"
521, "Turn Off Targeting of Subsystems"
548, "Attack The Targeted Subsystem"
555, "Return to Base"
583, "Equalize Shields"
592, "Show Nav Map"
599, "Target Newest Ship in Area"
608, "(Multiplayer) Observer Zoom to Target"
609, "Increase Time Compression"
610, "Decrease Time Compression"
611, "Toggle High HUD Contrast"
612, "(Multiplayer) Toggle Network Info"
613, "(Multiplayer) Self Destruct";

#end

#German

#end

#French

#end

#Polish

#end

The above is taken from the MediaVPs mv_strings-lcl.tbm. Note that, while we haven't (yet) changed anything in any of the other languages, they will still display the translated original default entries, but all of the other languages MUST be listed. So, for alkatron to add another language, would need to start with:

Code: [Select]

#English

#end

#German

#end

#French

#end

#Polish

#end

#YOURLANGUAGEHERE
### Some Translation
### Some Translation
### Some Translation
### Some Translation

#end

As for TStrings, i don't know off the top of my head if there is a way to use a Modular Table for that, but my guess is you would need to header it the same way you would the -lcl.tbm file.