How do I help translate a program?

[graabein]

I might help out on translating a program but I don't know which form this usually takes. I'm not sure it's on Rosetta (https://launchpad.net/rosetta).

What are the standard ways of doing translations?

Can anyone post some links for me to read up on?

[erginemr]

I am not sure about the funcionality of this Launchpad site, but I had once got my hands dirty to correct some small translation errors for an application in my system.

I had used the source code of the program, where there were several translation files *.po, all in text format, one for each language. There was a tool, poedit in the repositories, specifically developed to edit those files. I believe you can install it with:
sudo aptitude install poedit
Then, when you (or the actual developer) compile the project, those *.po files are converted into human-unreadable *.mo files as part of the Debian package.

So, I believe that one of the ways to help the translation of an application is to get into contact with its developer and ask his/her permission to translate the application to your language, or to review and correct the translation if it has already been translated.

On a final note, I would like to thank you both for having donated to the forum and willingness to get involved in open-source project development. Thank you! :KS

[graabein]

No no, thank you.


I've already been in touch with the developer btw.