RE: multi language interfaces

Dennis,

Thanks for the detailed explanation. It looks pretty good. We haven't
done much with message files until now, so next  question comes up: If I
understand you right you have to compile every dspf against its
language-specific messagefile. Is there no way to avoid this? I try to
find a way to minimize the amount of neccesary objects.
And do you define general constants like "F3=Exit" also in every
messagefile?

TIA, Arco. 

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] Namens Denis Robitaille
> Verzonden: maandag 6 juni 2005 15:48
> Aan: rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Onderwerp: Re: multi language interfaces
> 
> In my company, we do support multi language (french, english, 
> german and sweedish). We have been doing this for more than 
> 10 years. Here is how we do it:
> 
> - there is no language specific item in any RPG/CL/CMD/MNU 
> program. Every language specific element comes from MSGF
> - We use one library per language and only the primary 
> language library (french in our case) has PGM sourcre and object
> Ex:  CGLF, CGLD (CGL in French, CGL in Deutch )
> - The secondary language libraries only contains MSGF and 
> language specific object (no source) like Menu, display files ...
> - The JOBD of the user puts the correct library in the 
> correct sequence
> - We use message constant in display and printer file. This 
> imply one source but several objects. I would have preffered 
> one object, but if you use SDA to design your screen, message 
> ID are a pain because you have no way of seeing how things look.
> - We use one message file per language/display files (PGM 
> xxxxxR DSPG xxxxxD MSGF xxxxxG)
> - This method has the advantage of requiering no change in 
> the RPG programs.
> - We use a user startup program to change the system library 
> list to put the correct QSYS9999 in front of QSYS so the user 
> sees IBM stuff in the correct language (WRKSPLF ...)
> - since we use MSGF extensively, we develop a replacement 
> program for WRKMSGF. Ours allows us to copy a message from 
> another, to filter a message file with certains keyword ... 
> All stuff that IBM should have added a lon time ago.
> - The ony missing thig we have is the initial singnon screen 
> and any IBM message that can pop upo before the user start up 
> program is ran.
> 
> Overall this method has proven to be the best balance between 
> flexibility and work required.
> 
> Hope this helps
> 
> Denis Robitaille
> Directeur services technique TI
> 819 363 6130
> 
> SUPPORT
> Jour (EST) Daytime : 819-363-6134
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> 
> >>> ArcoSimonse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2005-06-06 05:37:23 >>>
> Hi all,
> 
> In our shop 95 % of the applications is RPG with 5250 user interfaces.
> Almost all of the display files are hardcoded with Dutch 
> conversations.
> Management has decided that all new applications should have 
> multilangual user interfaces, based on user preferences.
> The system language (we are on V5R2) is English and that will 
> stay as it is. Only the applications become multilang interfaces.
> 
> I googled around but can't find much about how to implement 
> such thing.
> Does anybody have a good starting point for this?
> 
> Many thanks,
> 
> Arco Simonse
> pgmr
> 
> 
> 
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