Fedora Translation Project FAQ

Please refer to this page before posting a question to the mailing list.

General FAQ

Q: Does the Fedora Project need translators?

Yes. We welcome everyone's contribution. You can contribute as a translator, a proof reader, or a locale maintainer.

Q: How can I become a translator?

To become a translator, you need to register for a CVS account at the sign up page. If there is an existing fedora translator's mailing list for your locale, you need to join that mailing list too.

Q: I use a Microsoft Windows operating system, can I still participate?

Yes you can, however, you need to be able to manage ssh and CVS on your current operating system.

Q: What sort of the files do we translate?

There are two types of translation: software interface and documentation. Both types of files are in PO format. Currently only software interface type of files are available for translation through the Web-based translation tools. Documentation translation currently requires direct CVS access through the Fedora Documentation Project, refer to the wiki at DocsProject/Translation for more information.

Q: Where do I get the files to translate?

The files are stored in CVS. You need to check out the files from CVS. Refer to the CVS FAQ for more information.

Q: Is there any translation guide for the Fedora Project?

Fedora Translation Guide is currently under development. It will be announced via fedora translation project mailing list once available.

Q: How can I request to have a mailing list set up for my locale?

If there are 5 or more people who are contributing to the translation of a locale, a mailing list dedicated to that locale can be set up. You may find your fellow contributors and request a new mailing list from the fedora translation project mailing list.

Q: There are no existing po files for my locale. How can I add the new locale?

Send your request to the fedora translation project mailing list, you will be notified when the initial files are created and ready for translation.

Q: How do I get my new locale enabled for installs?

File a bug against Anaconda giving the keyboard and timezone defaults for the locale. Also specify the font required for it.

Q: How do I test translated .po files?

1. Close all instances of the programs that use the .po file
2. Go to the directory that contains the file and then run :

   $ msgfmt your_locale.po -o package_name.mo 
   

3. Make a backup copy of the file /usr/share/locale/your_locale/LC_MESSAGES/package_name.mo
4. Copy the new file in the catalog directory:

   $ cp package_name.mo /usr/share/locale/your_locale/LC_MESSAGES/
   

5. Run the program and your translation should be in use.

Q: Is the newest po file automatically be included in the next distribuited rpm package?

The answer is "yes" if the newest po file is commited to CVS before the final build of the software package (RPM). However, this is not an automated process at this stage. The best way to ensure your translation is included in the release is to adhere to the translation freeze date, as outlined on Fedora schedule page.

Q: What should I do if my translations is not included in the distributed package?

File a bug report against that package on bugzilla, providing detailed information such as your locale, the version of the po file, and so forth.

Q: How can I get a CVS account?

To get a CVS account, you need to register as a translator at the sign up page.

Q: How do I generate the ssh keys required for CVS account?

Issue the command "ssh-keygen -t dsa" in a terminal, accepting the default location ~/.ssh/. Your newly created public key is at ~/.ssh/id_dsa.pub. You need to copy and paste the content of that file into the registration page.

Q: I forgot the password to my ssh keys, what should I do?

You need to generate another set of ssh keys and email i18n@redhat.com with your login name and the new public key to get your account information updated.

Q: I have a working account, how do I checkout the files from the CVS server?

Open a terminal and issue the following commands:

$ export CVS_RSH=ssh
$ export CVSROOT=:ext:USERNAME@i18n.redhat.com:/usr/local/CVS
$ cvs -z9 co translate

Q: What is the CVSROOT to check out the translation files?

CVSROOT=:ext:USERNAME@i18n.redhat.com:/usr/local/CVS

Q: I get a timeout error when connecting to CVS, what should I check first?

You need to check if you have specified "export CVS_RSH=ssh" when trying to connect to the CVS server.

Q: I get a "permission denied" error when connecting to CVS, what should I do?

First, make sure that your CVS account has been approved. If you have an active CVS account but still get the "permission denied" error, email i18n@redhat.com with your current ssh key file (~/.ssh/id_dsa.pub) as an attachment.

Q: I have done the initial checkout from the CVS server. What should I do if I want the latest version?

Open a terminal, change to your "translate" directory, issue the following command:

$ cvs -f -q update -d -P '.' 

Q: How do I send my modified .po files to server?

Open a terminal, change to the directory containing the po file, issue the following command:

$ cvs -f commit -l -m "some message you want to record in the log"

Q: Can I add files to CVS?

No. If you need to add new po files to any package, send your completed translation to i18n.redhat.com for CVS addition.

Status Page FAQ

Q: How do I see the translation status of my locale?

Go to the status page, select your language from the drop down list, then press the Show Status button.

Q: What does the Availability field of each package mean?

The Availability field indicates the different translation status of the file.

• Finished: The translation is finished. Anyone with CVS access to that locale is able to review and make changes to the file.
• QA: The file is translated and waiting to be QA'ed by the package maintainer.
• Take: The translation is not complete and is available. Anyone with CVS access to that locale is able to take the translation task.
• Assigned: The file is currently being translated by another person. Only the assigned translator is able to commit changes to that file.

Q: How do I "take" the files I want to translate?

If a file is available for translation, the Availability field shows a Take button. Click that button, enter your username and password. Then the availability field will be changed to Assigned. The username is your CVS account login name, your password is the PIN code issued when the account was approved.

Q: What should I do if I don't want to translate the file I've taken any more?

You should "release" the file if you no longer wish to work on it. Click the package name, then press Release button in the Translation Status field. The file then is available to be taken by other translators.

Q: I forgot my PIN code. What should I do?

Email i18n@redhat.com with your login name. Your PIN code is reissued and sent to the email address you used to register the CVS account.

Q: How can I apply to be the maintainer of a package?

If you have translated most part of a particular package and wish to maintain any future translation to keep the consistency, you can apply to be the maintainer for that package in your locale. Click on the package name, then click Apply button next to Maintainer field.

Q: I'm a maintainer. How can I approve the files in QA stage?

Click on the package name, then click Approve next to the Translation Status field.

Q: I like to have new features implemented in the status page. Who should I contact?

We welcome all feedbacks and suggestions. Just email your request to i18n@redhat.com.