Preparing a (fairly) complex application in at least two languages including Simplified Chinese

merley72 — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:09:53 GMT

This is a problem I've been asked to consider by a customer, and I am truly hesitant about getting involved.

We have been asked to create a fairly complex application (with multiple process-steps and stages, several options for different data section needs and which needs to be available in at least two languages - English and Simplified Chinese. Apart from the fact that the customer has yet to provide any sort of specification, I'm really not at all certain that this is a sensible thing to consider developing in InfoPath (or anything else for that matter!) for a whole bunch of reasons.

I appreciate that in the simplest fashion we can get titles for fields prepared and displayed using a context-sensitive Expression box, but has anyone ever developed a dual-language solution of this sort before, and would they be prepared to discuss some of the pitfalls and problems that we are likely to come up against? I understand that a Simplified Chinese language pack has/will be being installed on the Server and that there are possibilities of using the Variations Feature, but real experience is something I'd appreciate hearing from people - please!!!!

Some of the basic issues I can think of straight away are the following:-

- problems with different operating systems, applications, and browsers

- date and time formats, plus the way Usernames are displayed and used

- the need for common categorisations / classifications etc that come from (perhaps) dual language keywords

- where emailing is used, different structures of email format/layout etc

- help text, error messages and formatting / validation and other error messages

- layout and formatting issues

I'm certain there are heaps of others, so if you have understanding and /or experience I'd very much like to hear about the kind of problems you encountered, how you got around them, and what elements are likely to tie us up in knots!

Thanks in advance for any help you provide.

Alan C.

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Preparing a (fairly) complex application in at least two languages including Simplified Chinese