.CONVERT TRANSLATE

This subroutine converts a string from one language to another.


Usage:

      PASS         <trans_text>               FIELD            SHARE? Y
      PASS         <trans_error>              FIELD            SHARE? Y
      PASS         <source_text>              FIELD            SHARE? N
      PASS         <from_lang>                FIELD            SHARE? N
      PASS         <to_lang>                  FIELD            SHARE? N
      PASS         <trans_type>               FIELD            SHARE? N
      PASS         <trans_app_id>             FIELD            SHARE? N
      PASS         <trans_ver_id>             FIELD            SHARE? N
      SET      --- .CONVERT TRANSLATE         =
      SUBR     --- .CONVERT TRANSLATE               DETACHED     END? N  FAIL 0
      *        Check for errors
      IF       --- .CONVERT TRANSLATE         NE

Description:

This subroutine converts a string from one language to another. The first five parameters are required, if any are missing the subroutine will CANCEL. The <trans_type>, <trans_app_id> and <trans_ver_id> parameters are optional. The translation uses the Dictionaries and Translations you have entered in the applications. Note that this routine should be invoked via SUBR with a RELATED or DETACHED invocation to ensure none of your fields are changed.

<trans_text> returns the translated version of <source_text> (Required). This must be PASSed with Share "Y" to return the value.

<trans_error> returns any addiitonal error messages from the translation (Required). This must be PASSed with Share "Y" to return the value.

<source_text> is the text you want translated (Required).

<from_lang> is the language ID that identifies <source_text> (Required). This must be a valid language code as defined in Appx System Administration.

<to_lang> is the languge Id you want <source_text> translated to (Required). This must be a valid language code as defined in Appx System Administration.

<trans_type> is the type of translation desired (Optional). Must be one of Field, Token, Clause, Message or Text. Defaults to Field if not PASSed, or is blank.

  • Text: One or more paragraphs. If a translation is not found for the entire block of text, it will be broken down into paragraphs, then sentences, then clauses, then words. In each case it will look for a translation of that paragraph, sentences or clause. The word level translation depends on the setting of the 'Translate Words' on the from Language record.
  • Clause: One or more words or phrases within a sentence. If a translation is not found, word level translation will be attempted, based on the 'Translate Words' on the from Language record.
  • Token: A TOKEN field or an ALPHA field with table values consisting of a word or a phrase which requires an exact match with an entry in the dictionary.
  • Message: Text from the system MESSAGE file requires an exact match with an entry in the dictionary.
  • Field: One or more phrases and words which requires an exact match with an entry in the dictionary.

Token, Message and Field all follow the same rules for translating, i.e., they look for an exact match. If a match is not found, the text will be added to the Application Dictionary under the specified <trans_type>.

<trans_app_id> is the Application Id whose dictionaries should be used for the translation (Optional). Defaults to the current application if not PASSed, or is blank.

<trans_ver_id> is the Version Id whose dictionaries should be used for the translation (Optional). Defaults to the current version if not PASSed, or is blank.

If <trans_text> is too small to contain the translated text, --- .CONVERT TRANSLATE will contain 'Data was truncated'.

In all cases, if a translation is not found in the Application Dictionary, then the System Dictionary will be checked. If a translation is still not found, the text will be added to the Application Dictionary.

Note that this routine will return the <source_text> in the <trans_text> field if it is unable to translate <source_text>. In other words, you will always get something back from this routine, either the translated text, or as best a translation as possible. This is especially true if you are using the 'Text' <trans_type>. The translation routine always starts with the largest block of text and works it's way down until it has attempted everything. If it can find a match for the entire block of text, it will return that. If not, it will then look for matches of the paragraphs in the text. If it can find a match for the paragraph, it will return that. If not, it will look for matches at the sentence level. If it still cannot find a match, it will attempt to translate individual words, depending on the "Translate Words" setting on the <from_lang> file. Thus the result returned could be a mix of the original text and the portions that were able to be translated.

Comments:

Read what other users have said about this page or add your own comments.

It appears that the fields <trans_app_id> and <trans_ver_id> are indeed required, as it doesn't always seem to default properly to the currently running application/version.

-- AlKalter - 2014-10-01

-- JeanNeron - 2012-02-04

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Topic revision: r6 - 2017-07-13 - JeanNeron
 
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