Access Add-Ins for Developers

Access Application Translator

First Published 30 Jan 2023                 Last Updated 17 May 2023

Coming Soon : Currently scheduled for release - Oct/Nov 2023


The Access Application Translator (AAT) has been designed to use Google Translate to translate Access applications for clients whose native language is different.

It uses Google Translate to translate all Access form/report captions and control tip text to another language.

The following items can be translated by the Access Application Translator utility to any other supported language:
a)   label captions on forms and reports
c)   control tip text on forms and reports
c)   object descriptions as shown in the navigation pane in Details view
d)   table field descriptions as shown in the status bar when a field is selected
e)   message boxes, input boxes and status bar text

NOTE: By design, object names, field names and data are NOT translated. However, data can be optionally be translated in selected tables/fields

Text may be translated to/from any supported language. Currently a total of 133 languages are supported.
There is a limit of around 9800 characters for each item in the translation feature.
This limit should not cause issues when translating captions or control tips! However, some languages are more verbose (take up more space for captions etc)

The translation feature works reliably for actual words adding spaces where necessary.
Before translation, captions such as FirstName and LastName are changed to First Name and Last Name etc.

The process is very fast and almost entirely automated.
However, you should always ensure that the translation is CHECKED by a native speaker before releasing it to end users!



Here are some screenshots from the main two forms of the application translator app:

Start Form

English

StartFormEn 		Spanish

StartFormEs




Translate Objects Form

English

TranslateFormEn 		Arabic

TranslateFormAr




Here are a few examples of forms / reports before and after translation

Single Record Form

English

SingleFormEn 		Greek

SingleFormEl




Datasheet Form

English

DatasheetFormEn 		Gujerati

DatasheetFormGu




Split Form

English

SplitFormEn 		Bulgarian

SplitFormBg




Report

English

ReportEn 		French

ReportFr




Here are several examples of other items before and after translation:

Control tip text

English

ControlTipEn
Icelandic

ControlTipIs




Combo box items

English / Arabic

ComboEnAr 		English / Dutch

ComboEnNl




Message box

Button captions on message boxes and input boxes are not altered by this app.
This is because they are automatically updated in line with the current Office language.

English

MsgBoxEn

Greek

MsgBoxEl

English / Czech

MsgBoxEnCz 		Japanese / English

MsgBoxJaEn




Input box

English

InputBoxEn

        Hindi

InputBoxHi

Azerbaijani / English

InputBoxAzEn 		        Filipino / English

InputBoxFilEn




Status bar text

English

StatusBarEn
Malayalam

StatusBarMl
Indonesian / English

StatusBarInEn
Italian / English

StatusBarItEn





Object descriptions (in the navigation pane Details view)

English

NavPaneDetailsEn 		Hungarian

NavPaneDetailsHu 		Danish

NavPaneDetailsDa





Table field descriptions

English

FieldDescriptionsEn
Italian

FieldDescriptionsIt
Field description text in status bar - English

FieldDescriptionTextStatusBarEn
Field description text in status bar - Italian

FieldDescriptionTextStatusBarIt





Further Info

Before translating application objects, the forms & reports have to be opened in design view. This means the app to be translated must be an ACCDB file.

Similarly, the translator app itself will be supplied as an ACCDB file with all source code so that its forms can be translated



Videos

Here is a short video (0:51) showing captions being translated in an early version of this utility

       

A more detailed video explaining all the features of the Access Application Translator will be uploaded to YouTube when the application is available to purchase.

I demonstrated this application in detail as part of my presentation on Translation Tools using Access to the Access Lunchtime User Group on 31 Jan 2023.

The session was recorded and the video is now available on the Access Lunchtime YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/ncVquUreN_4 or you can click below:

       

NOTE: The section discussing the Access Application Translator starts at 23:24

A PDF of the presentation can be downloaded by clicking this link: Translation Using Access (PDF)



Purchase

The Access Application Translator (AAT) is expected to be available for purchase in May / June 2023

It will be supplied as an ACCDB file with full program code and 90 days email support will be included with the application.

The application is mainly aimed at Access developers wishing to adapt their applications for an international market.

The license will entitle purchasers to install the application on 2 computers (business or personal).
Additional licenses can also be purchased if required.

NOTE:
1.   The license will allow developers to use it to translate their own applications, including those apps which are sold to the public.

2.   It is NOT permitted to include the translation code in distributed applications without the explicit permission of Mendip Data Systems.

3.   In addition, reselling the program code is NOT permitted



Feedback

Please use the contact form below to let me know whether you are interested in purchasing this application or if you have any questions.



Colin Riddington                       Mendip Data Systems                       Last Updated 17 May 2023



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