Translation Tables
to easily switch between languages and substitute phrases
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Bookmark = UserSubstitutions
Language translations and substitute phrases
In addition to many other features for Language Translation,
all Systems2win templates (version 8 and higher) have Translation Tables -
to allow users to easily switch between languages and User Substitutions.
How do substitute phrases work? Any phrase can be easily replaced with your own preferred phrase - Even if you own the English-only version - For example: You might use a single template to switch between different terminology for production, office, or healthcare. And with the Systems2win Personalization Upgrade Utility, all of your (unlimited columns) of user substitute phrases are automatically found and transferred to your new templates every time that you upgrade. Learn more about User Substitutions and other ways to personalize text. |
Bookmark = menu
How do users switch between translations?
and Substitute Phrases
To change the language of the Systems2win Menu
and program dialogs, error messages, etc.
Select Excel > Systems2win menu > Setup & Upgrade > Select Menu for Language & Dialogs
If you get an error saying you don't have sufficient permissions...
you might be able to either:
- Copy the system2win.ini file from the folder where Systems2win is installed (usually c:\Program Files (x86)\zSystems2win\)
to any temporary folder outside of Program Files,
then move it back into the Program Files folder to overwrite the (identical) systems2win.ini file.Windows will ask you whether its okay... and once you've given your okay to overwrite the ini file...
then you will be able to use the Systems2win menu to make your changes. - or... copy an already edited ini file from another user's computer... as instructed here
Tip: You can change the language of your Systems2win menu even if you have not purchased a language translation.
To select the translation for any template
In the Help worksheet of any Systems2win template, click the Select Translations and Substitutions button,
and then select from the dropdown menu of available translations and User Substitutions.
Instantly, every worksheet in the workbook now displays your chosen translation for:
- Row and column headers
- Document header labels
- Perhaps some user-defined translations
- Help & training (see "What is Translated" below)
Bookmark = WhatIs
What is translated
- The Systems2win menu in Excel
- All row and column headers
- Most buttons
- Most dialogs (that appear when you select a button)
- Most error messages
- Most of the training on the Help worksheet and most help text boxes
Everything except Instructions unique to that template - which are English only.
Some templates have Major Steps and Key Points translated.
Bookmark = EnglishOnly
What is English only
In order to keep translation prices affordable, some things are English only.
- Technical support.
Systems2win templates are designed for teams that have an IT Department and at least one Continuous Improvement Leader that speaks fluent English.
- All Word and PowerPoint templates. (Only Excel templates are translated)
- Everything associated with installation, activation, and system setup.
- Any new changes since the most recent translation date will be English only - until the next translation cycle.
- Some help and training:
- Online training and videos
- Sample data
- The 2Learn self-paced learning tools
- Most Instructions unique to that that template
Some Major Steps and Key Points are translated, but Systems2win templates are NOT designed to provide lengthy multi-language training for how to do kaizen lean sigma
Bookmark = popular
What's the difference between "popular" and "less popular" languages? A "popular" language is purchased by a sufficient number of customers to spread the costs of maintaining that language translation over time as the Systems2win application continues to evolve. Any customer can sponsor the translation of any "less popular" language - Popular languages that have already been translated, and are available for immediate delivery include: Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese Additional "popular" languages that have not yet been translated, (because no customer has yet stepped up to sponsor initial translation), include but are not limited to: French and Dutch Contact us for a quote to translate any language. Lead time to deliver a new translation is 4-6 weeks. Annual Maintenance Popular language translation updates are included in the price of Annual Maintenance. Popular language translations are updated on a periodic cycle, and can be delivered immediately. Any new changes since the most recent translation date are English only. Less popular languages are updated only when a $1000 Translation Update fee is pre-paid by a customer, and upgrades have a 3-4 week delivery lead time. Add To Cart |
Bookmark = data
Data Translation
By "data", we mean the content of your working document -
not the row & column headers, or help instructions, etc.
Usually, the data for any given worksheet is in a single language.
If you need the same data in multiple languages, then it is often easiest to
simply duplicate the data in another worksheet or workbook.
You also have the option of linking cells to the User-Defined section of your TT worksheet,
so that those data cells switch language (along with headers and help) whenever you use the Select Translation button.
Bookmark = personalize
How to personalize your translations
Your leaders can optionally provide your own translations -
personalizing a master template in the following ways:
- User Substitutions easily replace standard translations with your own
(see training for How to personalize text) - The User-Defined Training section at the bottom of each Help worksheet
can be used to provide additional help and training in any language - Cell Comments can supplement the English pop-up help for any row or column header
- User Help Text Boxes
- Links to your own training materials (in any language)
- User Interfaces from your portal
- Dropdown Lists (see training below)
All of the above types of personalizations are automatically found and transferred to your new templates each time you upgrade - using the Systems2win Personalization Upgrade Utility.
There are also additional optional ways to personalize your templates in ways that are not completely automatically found and transferred each time you upgrade:
(so you will want to use your Customization Log to remind you to make those same changes each time that you upgrade)
- How to personalize text - additional ways
- How to create multiple versions of the template
(perhaps one for each language)
Bookmark = DDLists
Dropdown Lists
There are three different approaches
for dropdown lists in multiple languages:
OPTION 1) Simply add items to the list - in different languages
For example your Gantt Chart might have the English status codes "done, soon, now" and also the Spanish equivalent codes "hecho, pronto, ahora".
This approach is the easiest to understand and maintain - and allows the user to choose any item from the list (in any language) no matter which language is currently selected for headers and help.
Tip: If a list item starts with a symbol, (such as ▲∆▼■□♥),
then you should copy that symbol as the first character for your translated line item -
so that conditional formatting will work the same as the English list item.OPTION 2) Leave codes alone, and simply add multi-language descriptions
For example a Training Matrix dropdown list might contain rating scale codes of 1 - 5. The codes wouldn't change, but your desription of each code might be in 2 languages.
Another example: The OEE Lost Time Category codes cannot be changed. They need to remain in English for programming reasons - but you could edit the descriptions on the DV worksheet so that someone who speaks a different language can know what each code means.
OPTION 3) Link to translated list items
Link to translations that you create and maintain in the User-Defined section of the Translation Tables worksheet. (the TT worksheet)
This approach is best when you don't want to confuse users with list items that are not in their chosen language.
This approach might be a popular choice for a potentially long list - like Work Elements for Standard Work Instructions.
MIX n MATCH
Any given templates might feature examples of each of these types of dropdown lists.
It's not an all-or-nothing choice. You can choose the best way to translate each list.And any team leader can personalize his or her own working document with his or her own choices. Remember, your master templates are only a starting point. Your working document is your working document, and you can use everything you know about Excel to make it exactly the way you want it.
Notice that the first 2 options don't require a Translation Table,
so you can use those language translation options with your older templates.
If your Continuous Improvement team includes people that speak different languages, then owning Systems2win templates should be an easy decision.
