Localizing BibleXpress


    Apple makes “translating” applications pretty easy.  When a user sets their language and location preference in the Settings app, the information becomes available for applications to use.  All of the text that is displayed is (nominally) stored in a file, and there is a different file for each language.  All a translator must do is translate the text in this file, and the application can support another language.

    Numbers, unfortunately, don’t get translated, so you’re stuck with arabic numerals, even if you select Chinese in the language preferences.


    The file is set up like a “dictionary,” in the sense that there is text on the left that you use to find what you’re looking for, and the text on the right is what will be presented to the user.  For the language that the developer uses, it looks something like this:


"Bookmarks" = "Bookmarks";


but for another language (Deutsch), it looks like this:


"Bookmarks" = "Lesezeichen";


So if the user sets his language preference to “Deutsch,” the whenever the computer needs to display the word “Bookmarks” it will find the line that starts “Bookmarks” and get the words on the other side of the equals mark.


That semicolon at the end tells the computer that the line is over.


There are also context guides to help translators find the context of the words.  They are between /* and */, like this:


/*E-mail Bookmarks*/


which tells the translator that the items which follow belong to a particular portion of the program.




If you want to translate BibleXpress into your language:


1.    Download the template file Localizable.strings.

  1. 2.   Translate the text on the right side of each line.

  2.      You must save the file in UTF-8 encoding.  If you are using a mac, use the application “TextEdit” in your Applications folder.     

  3. 3.   E-mail it to support@biblexpress.com, with a statement about which language it’s in.  (It’s helps me if you provide both the English name and the translated name for the language, so that I know which one you’re talking about.)


I ask that each translation to be confirmed by a native, or near-native speaker who is also proficient in English, and familiar with BibleXpress so that we ensure the highest quality of localization.


If you would like to translate the AppStore description, or some of the Support page into your language, I appreciate any assistance you could offer: I’m an aerospace engineer, not a linguist.


Thanks, and may the Lord bless your outreach to the people who speak your language.




Most of the portions of the strings file are present in version 1.4 of BibleXpress.  There are a few, however, that are not.  Here are some screen shots of the upcoming version 1.5.  These obviously still have some translating work left to be done.