Introduction To Nls; Overview Of Software Internationalization - HP 9000 User Manual

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Introduction to NLS
Overview of Software Internationalization
HP- UX users speak a variety of languages and observe many different cultural
practices. Local-language, processing capability is becoming a high priority
with the kinds of software products in use throughout the world. For this
reason, users need software which will easily accommodate local conventions.
To do so effectively, software products must preserve the integrity of data,
correctly handle the written conventions of a variety of languages, and provide
a message interface in the user's language. In addition, they must be versatile
in handling a variety of local data formatting conventions.
The two processes in the NLS approach that enhance software for international
use are: internationalizing, localizing .
• internationalizing software includes supporting the letters and symbols
required to read and write the user's language, processing characters and
text according to the rules of the user's language, providing the scheme
to process translated messages and prompts, and changing functions and
conventions to comply with local requirements. Such internationalization
must be accomplished with a minimum of change to existing program code.
• localizing adapts the software to a particular locale, including the translation
of messages and the use of appropriate language tables on the system.
Introduction to NLS 2-1
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