---

Localization

To localize means to adapt a human interface to meet the language, cultural, and other requirements of a specific geopolitical place or region. When localizing text, you localize for a standard language (such as English) or for one or more regional dialects (such as US English and British English).

To localize your human interface, you need to do the following:

1. Decide which languages and dialects you want to support (this is both a marketing and a technical decision).

2. Translate the text strings used in your interface into the various languages and dialects.

3. Create a visual layout of your human interface, showing the length and location of each string with respect to the associated control or other graphic element.

4. Choose the summary text you will provide when a user displays the Summary pane. Your summary text communicates the titles and current values of the settings in your human interface.

5. Translate the short strings used in your summary text into the various languages and dialects you support.

6. If you provide user assistance, you should localize your help text as well.

7. Configure your software so that the correct layout, summary text, and help text appear in the dialog at runtime.

For more information about localizing human interfaces, see Getting Started with Internationalization.

---