From f94976495d09d3e2b709a51efd6f83577a7eca45 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Matthew Brush Date: Thu, 1 May 2014 17:25:22 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] Add more details about menu mnemonics --- README.I18N | 24 +++++++++++++++++++++--- 1 file changed, 21 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-) diff --git a/README.I18N b/README.I18N index 61940c9a..fb3d31ee 100644 --- a/README.I18N +++ b/README.I18N @@ -25,9 +25,27 @@ When you have finished editing the file, check the file with: $ msgfmt -c --check-accelerators=_ it.po -Please take care of menu accelerators(strings containing a "_"). The "_" -character should also be in your translation. Additionally, it would be nice if -these accelerators are not twice for two strings inside a dialog or sub menu. +Please ensure you also translate the mnemonic letters (strings containing a +"_" before a letter, also called "accelerators" on some platforms/toolkits). +When the user wishes to activate a menu item using their keyboard, they will +use this letter to pick an item from the menu. + +Here are a few notes on picking which letter to use: + +* Always follow platform/toolkit conventions (for example "t" for "Cut") even +if they don't necessarily seem obvious. +* Try to choose the first letter of the command name, where this is the most +appropriate letter (for example "S" for "Save"), assuming it's not already +used in the same menu. +* Try not to use the same character more than once in the same menu as this +will cause the user to have to press the mnemonic's key multiple times to +select the correct menu item. +* If there is no letter in the text that can easily be entered from a keyboard +then choose another character that can be, and put it in parenthesis after the +translated text. +* Try not to change which letter is used whenever possible as it is not +user-configurable and users may have become accustomed to using the existing +mnemonic key. You can also use intl_stats.sh, e.g. by running the following command in the top source directory of Geany: