Forum Discussion

KimRavizza's avatar
KimRavizza
Qrew Cadet
6 years ago

Making an App Bilingual

Hi everyone!

Has anyone out there found a way to make an app bilingual? I'm building one to allow my customers to order products. My order form has a number of tabs, fields, text and reports that need to be translated.

In less-busy apps I've just embedded the French into the alternate text for the field  (e.g. Name / Nom), but in this massive order it would be overwhelming to read. I have a lot of grid edit reports as well, so I'd have to change the actual field names to the bilingual version, since I can't change the column headings. Also the headings would be very crowded.

I'm thinking I could copy the English app and make a French copy. I'd then have to send two links, so the customers could click on the English or the French. But then I'd have to make a cross-app relationship to consolidate the data for project reporting. Argh.

Sorry for the ramble. Hoping someone has an easier solution. Please let me know your thoughts!

Thanks :)

Kim

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Kimberley
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Ask about Quickbase functionality
  • RyanStanford1's avatar
    RyanStanford1
    Qrew Captain
    6 years ago
    I don't have much help I can provide for you... One way to handle the multiple app options would be to have an app that is used as a gatekeeper... where they could then choose English or French... then it goes to corresponding Language App. Though that would also make admin of the twin apps (IE Summary Reports etc) a pain.

    I'm curious what solutions could be provided.

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    Ryan Stanford
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    • KimRavizza's avatar
      KimRavizza
      Qrew Cadet
      6 years ago
      Thanks Ryan. Looks like I'm stuck with my busy solution for now.

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      Kimberley
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  • MarkShnier__You's avatar
    MarkShnier__You
    Icon for Qrew Legend rankQrew Legend
    6 years ago
    Don't do two apps. The maintenance  effort will kill you and it will be impossible to have consolidated reporting.

    You can have alternate forms and Dashboards by Role.  Where necessary due to too long bilingual field names, you can have alternate reports, although you are correct about the Grid Edit problem.

    I think  your goal should be to achieve a standard  of "good enough for now" and not perfection. Eventually Quick Base will allow for more Internationalization of the Product, but that is not yet on their public Road Map.

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    Mark Shnier (YQC)
    Quick Base Solution Provider
    Your Quick Base Coach
    http://QuickBaseCoach.com
    markshnier2@gmail.com
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    • KimRavizza's avatar
      KimRavizza
      Qrew Cadet
      6 years ago
      Thanks Mark. It is as I suspected. Thanks for your feedback :)

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      Kimberley
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      • MarkShnier__You's avatar
        MarkShnier__You
        Icon for Qrew Legend rankQrew Legend
        6 years ago
        I think that your response internally is that you really cannot fully make Quick Base bilingual, but over time Quick Base does plan to internationalize the product, hence aiming for "good enough" is all you can do for now. 

        But still, as an Organization you are the effort to "not let the things that you can't do, stop you from doing the things that you can".  So grid edit, no, but maybe alternate forms and alternate report headings on key reports.

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        Mark Shnier (YQC)
        Quick Base Solution Provider
        Your Quick Base Coach
        http://QuickBaseCoach.com
        markshnier2@gmail.com
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