Frequently Asked Questions

What is the advantage of using RB Manager when I can edit resource bundle property files in a simple text editor?

Trying to manage internationalization efforts in anything but the smallest of projects can be a difficult and time consuming task. In fact, RB Manager as a project grew out of the frustrations and errors that developed as the result of trying to maintain multiple language support in a moderately large project. Relying on text editors and the like decreases the chance that developers will properly comment each aspect of each translation, increases the chance that errors such as duplicate key names and inconsistencies across language files, and increases the amount of time developers and translators have to spend tracking down inconsistencies and untranslated resources.

RBManager offers the following features to correct these problems:

• RB Manager can edit multiple language files when appropriate
• Entries are checked for proper format and assured not to be duplicates
• RB Manager provides a better grouping of resources, so that individual translations are easy to find
• Each language file will display in its own view a list of only resources that are untranslated
• RB Manager keeps track of statistics such as number of resources, untranslated items, etc.
• RB Manager allows importing and exporting of translation data into multiple formats
• Use of the application cuts down on development, translation, and debugging time in any internationalized setting

Will RB Manager work on my computer?

RB Manager is written using only the Java API. It has been tested under the Java 1.2.2 runtime environment and higher. If your computer has a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) in this environment, RBManager should work for you. Instructions for setting up and running the program are found in Step 1 of the tutorial.

Why doesn't RB Manager run in language X?

RB Manager will allow you to edit language files for any language/country/variant encoding. To demonstrate the usefulness of internationalization, RB Manager has its own resource bundle. The application can currently be run in English, German, Swedish, and Finnish. You are welcome to use the program to edit its own resource bundle and add any other language. If you do so, you may submit the new language file to the application's author via email at jjared@almaden.ibm.com. Each submission will be considered for future submissions, but the submittor must give the rights to the translation to IBM if the file is to be included.

I found a bug. Where do I report it?

This is the first alpha version of RB Manager, and some bugs are expected. You may email a description of the problem to the author at jjared@almaden.ibm.com. I hope soon to create a page where known bugs are listed.

What can I expect from future versions of RB Manager?

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