StringsBuilder Simplify Localization with Ease

StringsBuilder is a tool designed specifically for Cocoa development to simplify the process of converting Excel sheets into multi-language Strings files. In iOS and macOS development, handling multi-language support is a common task, and StringsBuilder automates this process to greatly enhance efficiency.

Strings files are key components for storing UI text in Apple platform applications. These files follow a specific format, where each line contains a key-value pair, with the key representing the identifier in the code and the value being the user-visible string. For example:

"key1" = "Hello, world!";
"key2" = "Welcome to our app!";

For each language, there is a separate Strings file, such as Localizable.strings for English and Localizable.strings for French. Developers must maintain a separate Strings file for each language to ensure that the app displays the correct text in different regions.

Using StringsBuilder

1. Import Excel File: Developers organize all texts to be localized into an Excel sheet, with each column representing a language and the first column usually being the default language (e.g., English). Each row represents a key-value pair, with the key in the first row and values in subsequent rows.
2. Configure Settings: StringsBuilder allows users to set the format, encoding, and how to handle empty values or format errors, giving flexibility in generating Strings files.
3. Conversion: After setting configurations, clicking the "Convert" button will read the Excel file and generate corresponding Strings files according to the rules. Each column of data is written into its respective Strings file.
4. Export and Integration: The generated files can be dragged directly into an Xcode project or further processed using tools like swiftgen. This saves developers from manually editing each Strings file and reduces the chance of errors.
5. Updates and Maintenance: When new or modified texts are added to the Excel file, repeating the above steps will update the respective Strings files automatically, keeping the resources in sync with the source code.

StringsBuilder is an essential tool for Cocoa developers, making it easier to manage and maintain multi-language Strings files, ultimately improving localization efficiency. By mastering this tool, developers can focus more on the core functionalities of their applications and elevate their project's internationalization capabilities.

Key Points to Remember:

• The Excel file must meet the tool's format requirements to avoid conversion failure.
• Ensure the Excel sheet has enough columns to accommodate the longest language version.
• Keep the Excel sheet organized to avoid formatting issues.
• Always manually verify the translation accuracy and completeness after generating the Strings files.

StringsBuilder enhances the efficiency of managing multi-language Strings files, making localization much more streamlined for developers."