The standard way to create Multilingual database in Notes is to create multiple form, views and other design documents, one for each regional language setting.
This has a huge burden of maintenance.
In one of our database, I created a dictionary (view of separate dictionary document, in which there are original English key word, then followed by other language word for the key). Then in form, I use computed for display text field for each display text, and in formula, I lookup the dictionary in database.
Can anyone point out what would be the limitation of this? Is this a better way than creating multiple forms?
I found there is one limitation: If in configuration document I let database to lookup, say, German word for display, then every client instance has to do the same thing. The specific language option is enforced in centralized setup document, not by each local regional language setting.
I would like to find a way to reset a session variable so that user can choose language option dynamically?
Any help would be very appreciated. Thanks!
Subject: How to create a multilingual Notes database without having to create multiple forms and views, etc?
I use a profile document to store the LANGUAGE to be used.
The key is based on XX-UNIQUEKEYSTRING,
XX is the 2 char code for the international language, therefore each string and it’s subsequent translations will have the same UNIQUEKEYSTRING, but differentiated by XX,
To look for the strings retrieve the Language code prepend it to the UNIQUEKEYSTRING and get the appropriate translated string.
Only thing I cannot update is the View Column Titles.
Subject: RE: How to create a multilingual Notes database without having to create multiple forms and views, etc?
Thanks. How do you get language code in LS code?
Have you ever tried to get current user notes ID, get its organization name, then decide which language I should use to display?
Subject: RE: How to create a multilingual Notes database without having to create multiple forms and views, etc?
View and control all the profile documents in an application
Subject: How to create a multilingual Notes database without having to create multiple forms and views, etc?
From experience I say your main consideration would be performance - obviously doing a lookup for every field on the form could be a big overhead. If the forms are not that large you should be OK.
If you decide to take this route, you could write an agent that would create a profile document for each user which specifies which is their preferred language.
Hope this helps…
Subject: RE: How to create a multilingual Notes database without having to create multiple forms and views, etc?
Thanks for advice.
Is it possible I can design an action button to let user choose language option and refresh the display? How can I setup an environment variable only visible for the current user?
Subject: RE: How to create a multilingual Notes database without having to create multiple forms and views, etc?
I would not use an environment variable - I would use a Profile Document. To create one use:-
@SetProfileField( profilename ; fieldname ; value ; uniqueKey )
In the above I use @UserName as the uniqueKey.
Then to reference the value for lookups etc you can use:-
@GetProfileField( profilename ; fieldname; @UserName )
You could then set an action button to run an agent setting the language using the setProfileField syntax above and just refresh you doc as usual.
Subject: RE: How to create a multilingual Notes database without having to create multiple forms and views, etc?
I am not using profile document because it is invisible and I try to avoid using it.
Is there a way to read each client regional language setting from formula or LS? Than I can dynamically decide which language I can switch to.
Thanks!