Problems with i18n into Arabic

[David Woods]

Hi all,

I have a well-established wxPython application, one with several years of
full-time development behind it. I am currently trying to add an Arabic
translation to the program, but am running into serious problems. I've
consulted with the wxPython folks, and Robin suggested I bring my issues
here.

It's a bit hard to explain in text only and without being able to show
what's happening to the Arabic, so I've documented the issues on a web page
at http://www.transana.org/arabic/ with graphics and source code and i18n
files and detailed descriptions of the specific ways I'm running into
trouble.

(Please note that I'm not able to speak or read Arabic, but the problems
that require Arabic text are pretty evident even without that.)

I apologize that my examples are in wxPython rather than wxWidgets. I
tried to recreate my sample code, but I couldn't get past the i18n issues
in C.

The basic theme underlying the issues I'm seeing is that once you select
Arabic as your localization, all your strings start to get manipulated,
whether they should or not.

For example, I have a ComboBox with video sizes. Instead of "640 x 480",
the combo box shows "x 480 640". This on a string I don't WANT translated,
and that there isn't a prompt in the i18n files for.

Another example is that file names get re-arranged. And if, because of
directory structures or whatever, you have a file name that's mixed between
Arabic and a western language, some very strange things occur.

And if you want some TextCtrl in English and another one in Arabic (as a
translation, say), forget it. The English one gets badly messed up.

And don't try to Print or Print Preview the Arabic contents of a
wxRichTextCtrl.

But like I say, it's all clearer on the web page at
http://www.transana.org/arabic . I'd really appreciate any ideas you might
have about how to avoid the problems I'm running into.

Thanks in advance for your assistance,

David Woods, Ph.D.
Researcher, Transana Lead Developer
Wisconsin Center for Education Research
University of Wisconsin, Madison
http://www.transana.org

[Vadim Zeitlin]

On Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:28:24 -0500 David Woods wrote:

DW> I have a well-established wxPython application, one with several years of
DW> full-time development behind it. I am currently trying to add an Arabic
DW> translation to the program, but am running into serious problems. I've
DW> consulted with the wxPython folks, and Robin suggested I bring my issues
DW> here.

This is a serious problem, but unfortunately I really, really don't have
time for this now. And I'd need a non-trivial amount of time to deal with
this because even recognizing the correct direction of the Arabic text is
non-trivial for me. So I can only hope that some Arabic (or Hebrew, or
whatever other right-to-left languages are there) speaking or at least
literate person can have a look at it.

DW> It's a bit hard to explain in text only and without being able to show
DW> what's happening to the Arabic, so I've documented the issues on a web page
DW> at http://www.transana.org/arabic/ with graphics and source code and i18n
DW> files and detailed descriptions of the specific ways I'm running into
DW> trouble.

Please create a bug report on our Trac with the contents of this page (as
it's probably not going to stay up forever, is it?). What you did is very
useful and even if I can't work on this right now, I'd hate to see this
lost.

TIA,
VZ

[David Woods]

Hi Vadim et. al.

I've added ticket #16114 with all the images and sample files I'd put on
the web page. That web site should be around as long as I have control
over it, but I agree it's best to include all the detail in the bug report.

Thanks for your (eventual) attention to this issue.

David

Post by Vadim Zeitlin
DW> I have a well-established wxPython application, one with several years of
DW> full-time development behind it. I am currently trying to add an Arabic
DW> translation to the program, but am running into serious problems. I've
DW> consulted with the wxPython folks, and Robin suggested I bring my issues
DW> here.
This is a serious problem, but unfortunately I really, really don't have
time for this now. And I'd need a non-trivial amount of time to deal with
this because even recognizing the correct direction of the Arabic text is
non-trivial for me. So I can only hope that some Arabic (or Hebrew, or
whatever other right-to-left languages are there) speaking or at least
literate person can have a look at it.
DW> It's a bit hard to explain in text only and without being able to show
DW> what's happening to the Arabic, so I've documented the issues on a web page
DW> at http://www.transana.org/arabic/ with graphics and source code and i18n
DW> files and detailed descriptions of the specific ways I'm running into
DW> trouble.
Please create a bug report on our Trac with the contents of this page (as
it's probably not going to stay up forever, is it?). What you did is very
useful and even if I can't work on this right now, I'd hate to see this
lost.
TIA,
VZ
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