How to maintain consistency between languages?

[mdivk]

Hello guys,

My site has three languages: English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.

If you go to my website's two Chinese versions, check the menu, you will notice there are some English menu not translated into correspondent Chinese.

Where should I make the missing changes so all the menu items keep the same consistency with the languages?

Thank you very much.

[Athens Collectibles]

Hi there,

I have two languages, English and Greek.

Obviously, you have to download the language pack for each additional language. However, there are two problems with this: the first is that not all language packs are properly translated. There are mistakes, typing errors and translated terms that don't really make much sense when seen in the actual site.

The second problem is that many language packs are for a previous version of Zen Cart and there are terms not covered in the translation.

What I suggest you do: Load the language pack you want and use the free WinMerge application to examine it in one of its windows with the standard English language pack provided with your version of Zen Cart in the other window. WinMerge will highlight each line differing between the two files.

As it is easily understood, all lines will differ because of the translation and you have to go through each line carefully and make corrections to the language pack. WinMerge will probably reveal some lines missing from your language pack if it is for an older ZC version. In this case, copy and paste the corresponding lines from the english pack and translate them yourself.

There may be other files that need translation which are not covered by the language pack. The best way is to copy what you see untranslated, paste it in the Tools > Developer's Tool Kit from your administration panel and see where it appears. If it is in a file that doesn't exist in your language, create it by copying the english file and translating manually.

Whatever you do, it won't be easy because you should go through your site page by page and check the translation until you are satisfied. I have gone through it and know how painful it is.

[tony_sar]

I think your menu is made using EZ pages. default ez pages or zencart is only english , however, there is a addon in free addon section that will add metalanguage capability to ez pages allowing you to create your menu in different language.

again , I am not too sure how your menu is made , but is good idea to look at them from your admin section

switching to other language then english , you will notice a constant variable .. those constant are in language files . you can use your developers tool kit in admin section to search for that constant . and add that to your other language file(correct file) with correct translation for that specific constant .

[mdivk]

Hi there,


What I suggest you do: Load the language pack you want and use the free WinMerge application to examine it in one of its windows with the standard English language pack provided with your version of Zen Cart in the other window. WinMerge will highlight each line differing between the two files.
...

Whatever you do, it won't be easy because you should go through your site page by page and check the translation until you are satisfied. I have gone through it and know how painful it is.

Thank you.

I think your menu is made using EZ pages. default ez pages or zencart is only english , however, there is a addon in free addon section that will add metalanguage capability to ez pages allowing you to create your menu in different language.

again , I am not too sure how your menu is made , but is good idea to look at them from your admin section

switching to other language then english , you will notice a constant variable .. those constant are in language files . you can use your developers tool kit in admin section to search for that constant . and add that to your other language file(correct file) with correct translation for that specific constant .

You are right, the English menu is created from ezpage, I didn't touch the other two languages, that's why it is not translated; however, even after I go to Admin->Ezpage and translated the menu, it is still not working, it actually screwed up the page, as you can see now: the "Ready to Server" has no content now. How can I get it back? are those ezpages stored as files on server?

[tony_sar]

in order to make EZ pages multilingual, you need to install a addon that will let you do that . by default , ezpages is english only .

http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=113


it state for 1.38 . I am not sure if this works for later . but it should .
best way . is to back up your files and your database .

use winmerg to see the difference between 1.38 and your file .

[tony_sar]

there seems to be a problem with this addon .
issue with install process and sql command . i am looking at the issue now . will post back if i solve the problem .

[tony_sar]

oK , Problem solved.
this problem effect Myql server with version over 4.1 . TYPE is no longer supported and been replaced with ENGINE . so if you end up with error such as

1064 You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'TYPE=MyISAM' at line 9

you should open ezpages_install.php located under admin and change the line 45 from TYPE=MYISAM to ENGINE=MYISAM. this change will fix the problem .

please note that , this addon , will remove existing table and installs the new table inside you database, so you should backup both your database and your files.

[mdivk]

oK , Problem solved.
this problem effect Myql server with version over 4.1 . TYPE is no longer supported and been replaced with ENGINE . so if you end up with error such as

1064 You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'TYPE=MyISAM' at line 9

you should open ezpages_install.php located under admin and change the line 45 from TYPE=MYISAM to ENGINE=MYISAM. this change will fix the problem .

please note that , this addon , will remove existing table and installs the new table inside you database, so you should backup both your database and your files.

Thank you, I actually just screwed up all the menu (ezpages) and have to go to Bluehost to get their help on rolling back to last night's backup, it's very lucky that Bluehost does daily backup for both database and files.

Yes I encountered problem when installing the multi-lang supported ezpages package you mentioned and as you said, it is not working, I am so scared to test your solution now, maybe later on test it on another test site. Thank you.

Is it possible for you to write a detailed instruction on creating menu in multi-lang site using ezpage or whatever? for sure it will benefit the whole zencart community over the world.