How to update your DRL in a l10n project with keys

If you want to translate an app that uses language files such as .strings, .xliff, .resx, .xml or .properties with the software localization management platform POEditor, it’s very likely your localization process will be a little different than if you were using any of the other supported language files. This is because these language files contain labels.

As a developer/localization manager/someone else handling a labels-based project with POEditor, you will start your software localization process by importing strings from a language file and setting a Default Reference Language.

Because you may update your app from time to time, you may also need to update some translations in your localization project’s Default Reference Language, to keep the strings between the app and the POEditor localization platform synced. If this happens, you will want to inform contributors about this change, so they will check that the translations in the other languages still correspond to the updated texts (i.e. the translations in the Default Reference Language that you updated, that you display across the localization project as terms, instead of labels).

So, in case this happens, you can maintain a smooth localization workflow following these steps:

Step 1: Update the translations in the software localization project

You can do this in two ways:

  • Using the Import in the Project Page: On the Project Page, click on Import Terms in the side menu, pick the language file that you want to use, select the option Also import translations in…, select the Default Reference Language (English in the screenshot) and then check the box to overwrite old translations. Another option will immediately appear, to mark corresponding translations from the other languages as fuzzy for the updated values – also check that one and press Import to project.

Import Terms and Translation in Project Page - POEditor Software Localization Platform

  • Using the Import in the Language Page: Go to the Language Page of the Default Reference Language set on your software localization project. Click on Import Translations in the side menu, mark that you want to overwrite existing translations and to mark corresponding translations from the other languages as fuzzy for the updated values and press Import translations.

Import Language Page - POEditor Software Localization Platform

Step 2: Notify the contributors about the updated translations

Use the Notify Contributors button in the side menu on the Project Page to tell contributors on a project level to review the fuzzy translations in the languages they are assigned to. Contributors can then filter the translations in any Language Page so that the POEditor localization platform only shows the Fuzzy translations. This way, the updated translations in the Default Referance Language will be evident.

Notify Contributors Project Page - POEditor Localization Management Platform

After reviewing a fuzzy translation, any contributor (or anyone in the project) can use the Toggle Fuzzy Translation button (F button next to the translation) in the Language Page to remove the fuzzy flag.

As a final consideration, keep in mind that you must be the owner of the software localization project, or one of its admins, to be able to mark as fuzzy the translations for the updated values. If you’re a contributor, you will not see this option when using the Import in the Language Page.