Localization Guidelines
It’s been a couple years since we introduced the Player Text Labels feature in Articulate Presenter. From simply changing the default words — perhaps you prefer “Contact Presenter” instead of the label “Email” — to a full-blown revamping of all text labels, the feature allows you to create exactly the experience you want for your users, no matter where in the world they are and what language they speak.
I’ve seen in our support cases and on the Articulate Community Forums lately a strong interest in creating localized versions of the Articulate Player for non-English audiences. So without further ado, here’s a quick guide on how to do this, along with a cheat sheet, of sorts, to aid in the process:
- Create your master Player Template by modifying as you desire, including any custom text labels you’d like to use (Articulate -> Player Template Builder -> File -> New).
- Select File -> Save As and give your master template an appropriate name.
- Go to File -> New from existing -> My Master Template.
- Go to the Text Labels section and modify the Custom text column to correspond to the language you are currently defining — e.g., Spanish Template. If you have a localization department in your organization, it might help to send them the default Text Label Caption-to-Text Mapping spreadsheets available below.
- Select File -> Save As and save your new, localized version.
- Repeat Steps 3-5 above for each language-specific version of your Player Template you wish to create.
Note: If you’re creating a non-Western version of your Player Template, be sure to refer to these guidelines.
That’s it!
Of course, I assume that you will also have localized versions of your PowerPoint file to correspond to each Player Template you’ve created. So when you’re ready to publish the Spanish language version of your presentation or e-learning course, simply select Spanish Template from the Player template drop-down menu on the publish screen.
Text Label Caption-to-Text Mapping:
24 responses to “Localization Guidelines”
I have a question. What should we do for comlex scripts and right to left languages? I just have some practices with html tags in xml file of QM but for support of DIR attribute, ther was no response. what should I do for solving my priblem?
Hi Ali- Unfortunately, it is a known issue that Presenter does not currently support the display of right-to-left languages. It is an issue we hope to address in the future.
Thank you so much for the spreadsheet of text labels!
You’re welcome, ID! Glad they’re helpful.
Is there a site anywhere that has these xls files already translated into other languages? I need a Spanish version for a course I’m working on. I have the course text in Spanish, but getting all the labels translated would be a bit of a hassle; so if anyone knows where I could get pre-translated xls label files, that’d be awesome.
Hi Paul-
Good question – not that I know of, but someone in our community may be able to help you out or point you in the right direction.
You might also consider hiring a translation service; I’m sure if you do a Web search, you’ll find plenty of options.
Text blocks in Learning games cannot be entirely customized, I see. Or they can?
My question is same with Lorentz’s. Can we customize the text blocks for Learning games ? It will be a great support if this is possible. I hope for an answer soon. Thank you.
Hi,
Does Articulate Quizmaker support Right To Left (RTL) Languages ?
Thanks.
There are 3 other text labels appearing for me that do not appear in the Articulate spreadsheet provided above.
They are:
Flow: Engage Trap Title Notification
Flow: Engage Trap Message Please view all items on this page to continue.
Engage OK Button Text Close
Does Articulate Global have a service that translates from English to Simplified Chinese? Or do you have references to services?
I hope I dont come across as advertising here, but I can help you out with English to Simplified Chinese translation, or other Asian languages for that matter. Drop us a mail at http://www.blooinc.com
Hello to everybody!
Can somebody explain me what to do with that “Text Label Caption-to-Text Mapping” .xls file? I will translate to thhe language i need, but what to do then? Export to .xml or other format? Where to put exported file?
The “No matching results” from the search tab cannot be changed by the text labels. Please help me with that.
And is it possible to add strings to this list? For example i didn’t find “true” and “false” strings and suppose there is no many others that are necessary for a quiz taker who don’t know the English language?
I want to know if there is a way that the user can select which language they would like to use and then articulate would load the appropriate xml files
Dear ladies and gentleman,
I want to create Japanese presentations from our corporate templates.
I already set the language to NON-Western and also put the Custom Text on Japanese.
But still after I record and want to publish it, the Japanese character come out as funny signs. What else do I need to take care of.
I am using PowerPoint 2000 with an english windows xp on a normal laptop.
I am looking forward to your answer, since we are planning to buy a licence for our Japanese subsidiary.
Sincerely,
Michael
Hi Michael- I’d suggest that you submit a case so that we can help you more closely with this issue.
I am trying to localize a program into French, and the only thing I can’t find is the “HELP” string appearing in the right upper corner of the screen. The Search and Attachment buttons are in the Player template, but not Help.
Help, please?
Hi Walter- it sounds like your “HELP” drop-down may be an Engage interaction. Is that right? You can edit the title in the Quizzes and Interactions dialog of Presenter ’09 (click the box at the bottom of your Engage placeholder slide in PowerPoint).
More here: Interactions > Inserting as Tab
Thanks, Gabe. Worked like a charm.
Walter
I’m trying to change the text in the seek bar from Click Next to Advance to Click Forward to Advance (please don’t ask me to explain why – it’s a client thing). 🙂
But no matter what I change it to, the change is not reflected in the published program. The change is duly recorded in the player template, and it’s still there when I reopen the template edit dialog box. But still the change is not in the published version. It always says CLICK NEXT TO ADVANCE.
I thought maybe my version was too long, so I tested it with a 3-letter word (Boo). But that didn’t work either!
What can it all possibly mean in this crazy mized up world?
Typically if a change is not reflected in the published output it would mean you didn’t specify the custom player template in the publishing wizard. When you select publish, make sure you are selecting the custom player template from the drop down menu.
RE: Changing seek bar text
Yeah I made sure I had the right player template selected. And I figured out what the problem was (shortly after I left the original post, of course).
Sadly, I’ve noticed that some changes to the player template, slide properties, presentation options, etc. do not take effect in published output until you close and restart PowerPoint (and, hence, Articulate). This has happened to me on numerous occasions (btw, I’m using MS Vista, PPT 2007 and Presenter ’09).
I wonder if anyone else has had this problem or if God is still punishing me for that thing I did.
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