Translation Guidelines

Scipio · 2nd July 2002, 00:54

Do you need help starting a new translation project?

Here are some translation guidelines:
If you want your project to become official (that is: linked on Doom9.org), you should follow these suggestions - especially the site design is crucial.

- First of all: One person should take control of the project so that co-workers know where to send their translated guides and questions. This person is supposed to be the webmaster of the translation project site.

1) Download Doom9's site using Offline Explorer (www.metaproducts.com) or some other good site-download tool. By doing that you get to know Doom9's site design and link/name system.
You do not need the software archive (Soft21/ folder and everything in it) so the size of your download should be somewhat smaller than 15MB and contain 334 files (situation on April 12th 2003). This download is your source for all your work. Do not modify the structure or design of what you downloaded.

2) Tell your visitors how to participate. (e.g. Mail/Forum)

3) Create your own doc-overview.htm just like the English one and mark the translated guides with a flag. Guides that are currently in the works also get marked with a flag so that no guide is assigned twice. (have a look at the German site or the Spanish one). Outdated flags get a faded flag (greyscale coulors, look at the German page).
My suggestion:
On German Doom9, I've created a second Document Overview in German. Each time I get a new guide, I add it to this page. That way, people can see which guides are already available without being irritated by flags. Example in German. I've also added a Sitemap for my visitors.
Make sure you always update this document in order not to loose track of the progress.

4) Downloads: You don't need to maintain your own Download Section. Just link to the software.htm of doom9.org. If your project is hosted on doom9.org like spanish.doom9.org you can use all downloads of the English site directly! And for own domains like doom9.de this can also be arranged with Doom9. (See below for more info on linking to the software2.htm in particular guides.)

5) Your site design must be identical to Doom9's.

6) Where do I put translated documents? You will need a small (15-20MB is enough) advertising free webspace to put your site. Vhost capabilities (if you don't know what a virtual host read this: http://httpd.apache.org/docs/vhosts/) will allow you to eventually get your own http://language.doom9.org URL (otherwise when people type that url they will just be forwarded to http://yourhost.company.com/somwehere/ which isn't so pretty). In the beginning it may be possible for us to provide hosting, but in the long run you're required to find your own hosting.

7) Ask Doom9 for a copy of the mirror operator manual.

And finally: Keep your page updated, at least the doc-overview.htm. Daily news certainly attract some additional visitors. Having done all this, you could kindly ask Doom9 for a domain like german.doom9.org. You can also register your own domain like doom9.de, doom9.it etc.

What is required to get my flag listed on www.doom9.org?
1) Create your own volunteer page based on this: http://www.doom9.org/looking_for_staff.htm
2) Make your document overview page available via the top frame
3) Translate the document overview pages (marked as such in the document overview) allowing access to already translated documents.
4) You must be comfortable to reach a daily audience. Thus, you should be actively translating news and having a few key guides translated (gknot, dvd2svcd) is a good thing ensuring a smooth start.
5) You have provided an email address where mirror logs indicating what documents have been changed whenever the main site gets updated.

What is required to get my own @doom9.org email address
Points 1 & 2 of the above.

Some suggestions:

- What you should translate last (if at all): Doom9 has an "Old Documents" page where outdated guides are listed. Update: That page doesn't exist anymore.

- From what I have seen/experienced, some helping people assign too many guides or don't translate them at all, so it's a good idea to keep a note when they actually assigned them and to set a deadline (keep the mail exchange - and/or do it with "image-tips" like on the German overview (move your mouse over a "half-flag", then you'll see the name of the assigned translator).

These guidelines worked pretty well for the German and the Spanish project. Don't hesitate to realize your own ideas in organizing your project and ask for help if needed.

Scipio · 20th September 2002, 13:48

Here's a flag-pack.
Those flags are used for the linking to other Doom9 mirrors.
Every flag has x:y dimensions of 25:15 pixels.

There are more countries than actual projects, but we could need them for upcoming projects...

flag-austria.gif
flag-big5_2.gif (traditional Chinese)
flag-brazil.gif
flag-china.gif (simplified Chinese)
flag-denmark.gif
flag-finland.gif
flag-france.gif
flag-germany.gif
flag-greece.gif
flag-hungary.gif
flag-israel.gif
flag-italy.gif
flag-japan.gif
flag-netherlands.gif
flag-poland.gif
flag-portugal.gif
flag-romania.gif
flag-russia.gif
flag-southkorea.gif
flag-spain.gif
flag-sweden.gif
flag-switzerland.gif
flag-turkey.gif
flag-uk.gif
flag-usa.gif
flag-yugoslavia.gif

26 files, 5,03 KB

Credits
Sachsenfahnen

You can find all of these flags (and more) there, but the flags in my pack are optimized in size, e.g. by using fewer colors if they wouldn't be noticed anyway (3 colors instead of 256 for a flag with 3 colors).

------------
2003-03-11: Removed the 150 pixel versions - not needed anyway. Added the two Chinese symbols.
2003-04-23: Brazil and Hungary added. PRC flag replaces symbol (exception: big5.doom9.org). Big5_2 is used as flag for traditional Chinese.

Attachment updated on 2003-04-23

epere4 · 10th October 2002, 07:29

I have been talking with Doom9 about the flags and he decided that the images should be in the same order in all sites. The order he proposed is the same as the order in which the sites where created. English first, then according to their creations: German, Spanish, Italian and French.

I suggested that the flags should be in the middle of the line and he thought it was a good idea. He didn´t implement this last part, yet, but he may do that late today. What follows is an example of how I configure the English flag. I use the Absolute Middle option in Dreamweaver for images, and this is what it gives me:

Quote:

He also said we shouldn´t put the flag of our own site, because it is pretty clear in which language our site is.

If you check the Spanish site you can see I have taken the Spanish flag out and the flags are all in the middle of the line (I think it looks better if they are centered).

CU

Scipio · 10th October 2002, 16:11

Another suggestion:

On Doom9.org, fonts in the top frame aren't locked by CSS commands.

Example: Hold CRTL while turning your mousewheel. (Or change the font size in your browser from medium to something else). You will notice that the font changes its size... looks ugly, doesn't it?

Look at doom9.de and it won't happen. If you don't want this to happen on your page, just include (example):

Quote:

<div align="center" style=font-size:10pt><font color="#FFFFFF">Translations in progress:</font> </div>

"style=font-size:10pt" can also be used in other HTML tags like <p>.
7pt should be adjusted to 13pt in the top frame for Doom9.org/net.

Scipio · 27th December 2002, 15:21

Efficient use of "anchors" in software2.htm

I've done some boring work for all the translation projects... I've given each program in the software2.htm an anchor, meaning that you can link directly to a line in that document.

What's this good for?! Well, if you don't want to change donwload-links in guide each time there is a new version, then this is for you! It's for "lazy" people like me (I don't like that kind of work - Doom9 already does it, why should all translation webmasters do the same thing?).

I'll illustrate this with a HTML code snippet:

Quote:

<a name="alphatv"></a><a href="Soft21/Editing/atvavi.zip">Alphatv
Avi Editor</a> - adds copyright info to your AVI files<br>
<a name="divfix"></a><a href="Soft21/Editing/DivFix1091.zip">DivX
Fix 1.091</a> - to fix broken DivX downloads and crashed ripping
sessions. NOT for frozen frames!<br>
<a name="divx4log"></a><a href=
"Soft21/Editing/divx4log_045.rar">DivX4log</a> - DivX4 logfile
editing utility<br>
<a name="fourcc"></a><a href="Soft21/Editing/AviC.zip">FourCC
changer</a> - allows you to change the fourCC code of your
movies<br>

So, if you would like to send a user to the line where DivFix can be downloaded you would link to:
http://www.doom9.org/software2.htm#divfix (see above: name="divfix")
The FourCC Changer would be:
http://www.doom9.org/software2.htm#fourcc
etc.
(though these links don't work directly - see "known problems" below)

I've put in these link names all on my own... boring work - as I said.
I hope you can use this. I made a demo site, so you can see how it works on my site.

Demo site

Known problems:
[*] Click on IfoEdit on the demo site: You won't be taken directly to the ifoedit line, since the document has already reached its end and the browser can't scroll down anymore.
Workaround: Perhaps I can convince Doom9 to add more text at the end of the file...
[*] Complete direct links to anchors in a new browser-window don't work due to my javascript that reloads the site. No solution for this, yet.
example: http://www.doom9.org/software2.htm#divfix
This only takes you to software2.htm, but not to divfix.

[*] Tested on: IE6, Mozilla 1.2 succesfully. Opera 7 beta2 isn't that good... you don't even come to the demo site

... that has something to do with the javascript though - the actual linking works, see here (both Gknot download links):
http://doom9.de.vu/gknot-main3-ger.htm

Doom9 · 12th April 2003, 23:49

These guidelines were last updated and approved on April 12th, 2003 by yours truly.

Scipio · 5th September 2003, 23:07

2003-09-05: Just updated the dead links to doom9.de.vu so that the demo links work again.

billou2000 · 30th August 2005, 15:34

Hi, I'm translating the news for the french doom9 and I'm just wondering about external links to news:
eg on the 28th of august news: there is a link to a german article about the subscribtions services fighting with NMPA. I tried to babelfish it but it didn't come up very clearly... Is it OK to point to a similar article in a different language (english or french) ?
I found one from zdnet in english whose content seems pretty close to Doom9's german one. (http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-5843822.html)

Doom9 · 30th August 2005, 22:04

Well, many links go to a company site, press release or similar so there's no alternative but in this case, since it's a generic thing with multiple reports from different sites, sure you can pick another one that better suits your audience (preferably French

2nd July 2002, 00:54	#1 \| Link
Scipio translation mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: http://german.doom9.org/ Posts: 284	Translation Guidelines Do you need help starting a new translation project? Here are some translation guidelines: If you want your project to become official (that is: linked on Doom9.org), you should follow these suggestions - especially the site design is crucial. - First of all: One person should take control of the project so that co-workers know where to send their translated guides and questions. This person is supposed to be the webmaster of the translation project site. 1) Download Doom9's site using Offline Explorer (www.metaproducts.com) or some other good site-download tool. By doing that you get to know Doom9's site design and link/name system. You do not need the software archive (Soft21/ folder and everything in it) so the size of your download should be somewhat smaller than 15MB and contain 334 files (situation on April 12th 2003). This download is your source for all your work. Do not modify the structure or design of what you downloaded. 2) Tell your visitors how to participate. (e.g. Mail/Forum) 3) Create your own doc-overview.htm just like the English one and mark the translated guides with a flag. Guides that are currently in the works also get marked with a flag so that no guide is assigned twice. (have a look at the German site or the Spanish one). Outdated flags get a faded flag (greyscale coulors, look at the German page). My suggestion: On German Doom9, I've created a second Document Overview in German. Each time I get a new guide, I add it to this page. That way, people can see which guides are already available without being irritated by flags. Example in German. I've also added a Sitemap for my visitors. Make sure you always update this document in order not to loose track of the progress. 4) Downloads: You don't need to maintain your own Download Section. Just link to the software.htm of doom9.org. If your project is hosted on doom9.org like spanish.doom9.org you can use all downloads of the English site directly! And for own domains like doom9.de this can also be arranged with Doom9. (See below for more info on linking to the software2.htm in particular guides.) 5) Your site design must be identical to Doom9's. 6) Where do I put translated documents? You will need a small (15-20MB is enough) advertising free webspace to put your site. Vhost capabilities (if you don't know what a virtual host read this: http://httpd.apache.org/docs/vhosts/) will allow you to eventually get your own http://language.doom9.org URL (otherwise when people type that url they will just be forwarded to http://yourhost.company.com/somwehere/ which isn't so pretty). In the beginning it may be possible for us to provide hosting, but in the long run you're required to find your own hosting. 7) Ask Doom9 for a copy of the mirror operator manual. And finally: Keep your page updated, at least the doc-overview.htm. Daily news certainly attract some additional visitors. Having done all this, you could kindly ask Doom9 for a domain like german.doom9.org. You can also register your own domain like doom9.de, doom9.it etc. What is required to get my flag listed on www.doom9.org? 1) Create your own volunteer page based on this: http://www.doom9.org/looking_for_staff.htm 2) Make your document overview page available via the top frame 3) Translate the document overview pages (marked as such in the document overview) allowing access to already translated documents. 4) You must be comfortable to reach a daily audience. Thus, you should be actively translating news and having a few key guides translated (gknot, dvd2svcd) is a good thing ensuring a smooth start. 5) You have provided an email address where mirror logs indicating what documents have been changed whenever the main site gets updated. What is required to get my own @doom9.org email address Points 1 & 2 of the above. Some suggestions: - What you should translate last (if at all): Doom9 has an "Old Documents" page where outdated guides are listed. Update: That page doesn't exist anymore. - From what I have seen/experienced, some helping people assign too many guides or don't translate them at all, so it's a good idea to keep a note when they actually assigned them and to set a deadline (keep the mail exchange - and/or do it with "image-tips" like on the German overview (move your mouse over a "half-flag", then you'll see the name of the assigned translator). These guidelines worked pretty well for the German and the Spanish project. Don't hesitate to realize your own ideas in organizing your project and ask for help if needed. __________________ [Translation Guidelines] - [Overview of Doom9 translation mirrors] - - - [German Doom9] When arguing with an idiot, make sure he isn't doing the same. Last edited by Scipio; 9th January 2006 at 11:11.

12th April 2003, 23:49	#6 \| Link
Doom9 clueless n00b Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 10,579	These guidelines were last updated and approved on April 12th, 2003 by yours truly. __________________ For the web's most comprehensive collection of DVD backup guides go to www.doom9.org

5th September 2003, 23:07	#7 \| Link
Scipio translation mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: http://german.doom9.org/ Posts: 284	2003-09-05: Just updated the dead links to doom9.de.vu so that the demo links work again. __________________ [Translation Guidelines] - [Overview of Doom9 translation mirrors] - - - [German Doom9] When arguing with an idiot, make sure he isn't doing the same.

30th August 2005, 22:04	#9 \| Link
Doom9 clueless n00b Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 10,579	Well, many links go to a company site, press release or similar so there's no alternative but in this case, since it's a generic thing with multiple reports from different sites, sure you can pick another one that better suits your audience (preferably French __________________ For the web's most comprehensive collection of DVD backup guides go to www.doom9.org

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30th August 2005, 15:34	#8 \| Link
billou2000 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 13	Hi, I'm translating the news for the french doom9 and I'm just wondering about external links to news: eg on the 28th of august news: there is a link to a german article about the subscribtions services fighting with NMPA. I tried to babelfish it but it didn't come up very clearly... Is it OK to point to a similar article in a different language (english or french) ? I found one from zdnet in english whose content seems pretty close to Doom9's german one. (http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-5843822.html)