The String Library

How to create and manage your String Library

 

In short terms, the String Library is simply about how your strings are managed and how they are stored.
Each string is not part of a file, but rather part of a row in a database, and that is what you want to be 100% flexible.

Say you have a project on our platform, and you want to extract a piece of the translated file so that you could reuse it - this would be a complex action - But with the String Library, you just have that string in a centralised place, waiting to be used.

Fx. if you have a project related to a page or a post, or strings for your app, from EN>DA,DE, but you only need 20% of the content translated to SV. You then realise that you need this content for a different page as well. Rather than creating several projects on the EasyTranslate platform which would get complex to manage, with the Strings Library, each translation is a row in a database - imagine an excel file, so if you want something to be reused, you just find and use the specific one you need. 

• • Create a String Library 

You cannot have a String Library without having to create one (or multiple) libraries. The creation process is fairly easy as long as you understand and complete the fields you have to fill out. 

This is the field to create your String Library: 

- Library name: Give a name to your library.  
- Library description: Add a description to your library and make it more understandable to its viewers. 
- Source language: The source language is the original language of the content.
- Target language: The target language is the language the original content should be translated in. You are not limited in the number of target languages you want to add to your library, you can therefore pick multiple target languages. 

You are also able to upload a file, but note that we only accept json file formats in the library. 

Please note that all the previous fields are required to create your library. If you do not complete them all, "Library description" included, you will not be able to create your library. 

Once the String Library is created, it appears as a row in your string libraries overview. Each library row provides you with details about the library such as the name, source language code, target language(s) code(s), the number of key(s) and string(s) it contains and the percentage of content translated in it. It is also in this pop up that you should add your json file, if you have one. 

 

If you click on the arrow down next to the name of your library name, you can get the full overview of your library state.  More importantly, you can see the progress of the languages present in your library and the number of strings you can currently use.

• • Add a target language to an existing String Library 

It does not matter how far along you are with your library, you always have the option to add a new target language to it.

To do so, simply: 

- Click on the arrow down next to the name of your library to show the full details of your library. 

- Click on "add new language" in the bottom row.

- Select the target language you wish to add in the dropdown. 

- Click on "Accept" to add the selected target language to your library or "Cancel" to cancel your request.

- You have now added a new target language, click on your library row to update it.  

• • Delete a target language in an existing String Library

As previously explained, it is possible to add a target language to an existing library, but it is also possible to delete on, regardless of its translation progress. 

To do so, simply: 

- Click on the arrow down next to the name of your library to show the full details of your library. 

- Click on the 3 dots button of the target language row you wish to delete.

- Click on "Delete" to delete the target language from your library or "Cancel" to cancel your request.

- You have now delete a target language that was present in your library.

• • Update the name/description of a String Library 

If the translation library name or description does not fit its purpose anymore and needs to be updated, it can easily be done:

- Click on the 3 dots button of the library you wish to delete. 

- Click on "Settings" in the dropdown. 

- Change the current name/description by clicking in the wished field. 

- Click on "Change" to confirm the change of the name/description. Click on "Cancel" to cancel your request. 

• • Delete a String Library

A translation library can be deleted, however it is important to keep in mind that once the library is deleted, there is no way to retrieve it.

To delete a library, click on the 3 dots button of the library you wish to delete and click "Delete translation library".

To confirm the deletion, click on "Delete". If you no longer wish to delete the translation library, you can simply click on "Cancel" to cancel your request. 

• •  Overview of your String Library

To access the overview of your library, click on the wished library row of your string libraries overview. When it is clicked, you access all the keys present in the library you have created. 

• • Add a new key 

The process to create a new key is as easy as it can be, you simply have to add the name of your key, as well as the source language value it should have. 

To finish the process, you need to click on "Accept" - the popup will then close and add a new row to your library with the new key. If you wish to cancel your request, simply click on "Cancel". 

• • Complete the translation of your key

To complete the translation of your key, you first need to click on the arrow down to show all the details of your key. If the translation is not completed, no text would appear in the "translation" column of the table. When you are ready to add translated values to your target language, simply:

- click in the "Translation" column of the target language you wish to complete

- Add the target language value of your source value 

- Click on "Save" to add the value or "Cancel" to cancel your request. Please note that if you do not click on "Save", the value added will be lost. 

(repeat the process if you have another target language in your key) 

• • Delete a key 

When a key (or multiple) are not being used anymore, you have the option to delete it/them. To do so:

- Tick the box of the key you wish to delete. 

- Click on the "Delete" button that is located above the form.

- Click on "Delete" in the popup to confirm your request or click on "Cancel" to cancel your request. 

- Your key is now deleted.

• • Download your library

    

You do not necessarily have to log on the platform to be able to access your library, if you wish, you have the possibility to download your library locally. To do so, simply:

- Click on the 3 dots button located right next to the "add key" button inside of your library.

- Click on "download library" to start the download process.

You either have the option to download all the languages of the library (default choice) or pick one or more of the languages of the library. 

- If you want to download all the languages, select "Download all languages". 

- If you want to download specific languages, select "Choose languages" and tick the box of the wished language(s). 

- Click on "Download" to download the file or on "Cancel" to cancel your request. 

Send strings for translation

Make sure you have set up a workflow for translating your Strings. Please see article relating to automation flows to learn more 
https://knowledge.easytranslate.com/what-is-the-automation-flow-and-how-to-use-it

Go to the main page of your String Library 

Select the Library you'd like translated and click on the dots on the top right, select "Start Automation" 

 

Select the language(s) you'd like to translate to, and click "Start" 
You also have the ability to click "Select all". This is especially useful if you have many languages

You'll then see that the project has been created in your workspace. 

Once the translations are done, they will be marked at 100% in your Library