How to implement multi-language support in OutSystems using built-in translation tools?

Implementing Multi-Language Support in OutSystems Using Built-in Translation Tools

Implementing multi-language support in an OutSystems application requires a detailed understanding of the platform's translation tools and the process of integrating different languages into your app. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the necessary steps to successfully implement multi-language capabilities in your OutSystems application.

Prerequisites

• Access to an OutSystems environment with the necessary permissions to access Service Studio and Lifetime.
• Basic knowledge of OutSystems application development.
• Understanding of language resource management and translation processes.
• Access to language resources or translation services for the additional languages you want to support.

Understanding Multi-Language Support in OutSystems

• OutSystems provides built-in support for multi-language applications, allowing you to translate static content in your applications into different languages.
• The Internationalization (i18n) feature helps manage text translations, with dependencies on the resources you supply for additional languages.

Enabling Multi-Language Support in OutSystems

• Open your application in OutSystems Service Studio.
• Navigate to the 'Data' tab, find the 'Resources' folder, and locate the 'Translations' feature.
• Enable multi-language support by marking your fields and static text elements with translation capabilities.
• You will typically use this function on common entities like screen labels, notifications, or error messages.

Adding Additional Languages

• In Service Studio, go to the 'Translations' folder under the 'Data' tab.
• Click the 'Add Language' button to include a new language in your application.
• Select and add the desired languages from the available list supported by OutSystems.
• OutSystems allows you to select multiple languages, so add all necessary languages at this stage.

Managing and Editing Translations

• Once you've selected your additional languages, export the default translation files for editing.
• In the 'Translations' folder, choose the language, and click 'Export' to download the translation files in Excel format.
• Open the exported files and fill in the translated text corresponding to each static element in your app.
• If your app dynamically loads data that requires translation, consider using an integration with a translation API or service for runtime translation management.

Importing Translations back into OutSystems

• Once your translation files are fully edited and verified, go back to Service Studio.
• Navigate to the 'Translations' section, select the language and click on 'Import'.
• Upload the completed translation files for each relevant language.
• Ensure data consistency by reviewing and confirming the mapped translations in the environment.

Testing Language Implementation

• After importing all necessary translations, publish your application to make the changes available.
• Test your application in each language to verify the correct display of translated text in various components including buttons, labels, and menus.
• Check if the user interface accommodates the longer or shorter translated text efficiently (UI/UX consistency).
• Use your app's language selector functionality to test the user experience when switching languages.

Deploying Your Multi-Language Application

• Once you've thoroughly tested the app in multiple languages, use Lifetime to deploy your application across different environments (e.g., development, quality assurance, production).
• Ensure that all environments are configured correctly to support the implemented languages by checking resource files and database setups.
• During deployment, monitor application performance and user interaction in different languages to refine the UI/UX.

By following these steps, you can effectively implement multi-language support in your OutSystems application, delivering a versatile and localized user experience. This not only broadens your app's accessibility to a wider audience but also aligns with global user demands for customized and native-language interactions.