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Translations

t-Plot makes it easy to translate your novels into other languages. In the Translations tab, you can specify the language in which your novel is written and the languages you want to translate your project into. You can also download and update translation files.

Native Language​

The language in which your script is written.

Supported Languages​

A list of languages for which you have prepared translations.

.po File Format​

A .po file is a text file containing strings for translation. It is structured as pairs of lines: the original string and its translation. Here's an example of how it looks in a messages.po file:

msgid "Hello, how are you?"
msgstr "Привет, как ты?"
  • msgid is the original string in the source language.
  • msgstr is the translated string in the target language.

If the translation has not been provided yet, the msgstr line will remain empty:

msgid "Goodbye!"
msgstr ""

Comments and Metadata​

.po files can also contain comments that help the translator understand the context of the string. Comments start with the # symbol:

# This is a comment explaining the context of the message
msgid "Save"
msgstr "Сохранить"

There are many convenient programs and online services available that simplify the process of working with .po files:

Programs​

  1. Poedit (Windows, macOS, Linux)

    • A simple and user-friendly program for editing .po files.
    • Download: Poedit

  2. Lokalize (Linux)

    • A translation tool that is part of KDE, making it easy to work with .po files.
    • Download: Lokalize

Online Services​

  1. Crowdin

    • A platform for collaborative translation. It supports uploading .po files and working with them via a web interface.
    • Website: Crowdin

  2. Transifex

    • An online translation service with support for .po file uploads. It also supports team collaboration.
    • Website: Transifex

  3. Weblate

    • An open-source platform for collaborative localization projects. It supports working with .po files.
    • Website: Weblate

Translation Recommendations​

  • When working with .po files, try to maintain the structure and format of the original strings.
  • Use comments for context to ensure translation accuracy.
  • Review each translation for typos and grammatical errors before building the final project.

After completing the translation, save the .po file and update it in the Translations tab for the corresponding language.