Presented at Lavacon 2011 by Diane Gaskill, Hitachi Data Systems. 44 slides, 2.4 MB Describes the localization lifecycle, it's dependencies, and how to plan and manage it. Additional slidesets on localization and a localization plan available. Email Diane at dgaskill@earthlink.net

2. DIANE GASKILL

3. Introduction
Over 40 years in tech pubs and closely related areas,
including 10 years as a tech pubs manager
Combination of startups (lots of hats) and large,
Fortune 500 companies
Managed localization since 1995
Engineering background in hardware design and
software development
Course development and training, including 4 yrs USN
instructor
Pre and post sale technical support engineer

4. Let’s talk about you
How many technical writers, editors, information
architects?
How many experienced in localization?
How many not experienced in localization but are
interested in learning about it?
How many just needed a place to sit down and rest?

5. Globalization – G12N
Key Definitions

6. Globalization – G12N
The expansion of business and communication across
countries, continents, and around the world.
Key Definitions

7. Globalization – G12N
The expansion of business and communication across
countries, continents, and around the world.
Engaging with customers across languages, cultures
and channels
Key Definitions

8. Key Definitions
Globalization – G12N
The expansion of business and communication across
countries, continents, and around the world.
Engaging with customers across languages, cultures and
channels
Not a modern phenomenon. Long history going back
2300 years to the early days of Europe when traders
established routes from Europe to India and the Middle
East.

9. Key Definitions
Globalization – G12N
The expansion of business and communication
across countries, continents, and around the world.
Engaging with customers across languages,
cultures and channels
Not a modern phenomenon. Long history going
back 2300 years to the early days of Europe when
traders established routes from Europe to India and
the Middle East.
Columbus was not on a mission to discover
America. He was looking for a shorter trade route
from Spain to India. His discovery of the American
continents was a major event in the history of G12N.

10. Key Definitions
Globalization – G12N
Problem: people around the world don’t all speak the
same language. If you want to do business with them,
you have to be able to talk with them in their language.

11. Key Definitions
Globalization – G12N
Problem: people around the world don’t all speak the
same language. If you want to do business with them,
you have to be able to talk with them in their language.
Solution: Localization (L10N) bridges the gap between
spoken languages and enables communication and
busine$$ between the peoples of the world.

12. Key Definitions
Internationalization – I18N

13. Key Definitions
Internationalization – I18N
I18N is the process of designing or creating a product
and its documentation so that they can be localized in a
cost-effective and timely manner, and used in any
locale.

14. Key Definitions
Internationalization – I18N
I18N is the process of designing or creating a product
and its documentation so that they can be localized in
a cost-effective and timely manner, and used in any
locale.
I18N applies to the entire product, including the
software, online help, documentation, marketing
collateral, graphical information, and packaging. It
may also include localized support.

15. Key Definitions
Localization – L10N

16. Key Definitions
Localization – L10N
L10N is the conversion of content from a source language
to a target language.

17. Key Definitions
Localization – L10N
L10N is the conversion of content from a source language
to a target language.
L10N is more than just translation. It includes the
conversion of text, symbols, measurements, graphics, and
expressions to the terms used in the target language.
$ to DM, Yen, etc; Lb to Kg; Miles to Km, etc.

18. Key Definitions
Localization – L10N
L10N is the conversion of content from a source language
to a target language.
L10N is more than just translation. It includes the
conversion of text, symbols, measurements, graphics, and
expressions to the terms used in the target language.
$ to DM, Yen, etc; Lb to Kg; Miles to Km, etc.
Time – America: MM/DD/YYYY;
Asia: YYYYMMDD;
Europe: DDMMYYYY

19. Questions?
Short quiz
next period

20. L10N Lifecycle ‐ definition
Set of processes, executed in series and at appropriate
times to accomplish the goals set by your L10N
strategy.

21. L10N Lifecycle ‐ definition
Set of processes, executed in series and at appropriate
times to accomplish the goals set by your L10N
strategy.
Not always the same

22. L10N Lifecycle ‐ definition
Set of processes, executed in series and at appropriate
times to accomplish the goals set by your L10N
strategy.
Not always the same
Dependent on other product-related lifecycles

23. L10N Lifecycle ‐ dependencies
Dependent on the
product
development lifecycle L10N
Lifecycle

24. L10N Lifecycle – dependency #1
Typical product development lifecycle
Product
Concept
Prod Req
Doc
Drivers
• Marketing
• Engineering
• Customers
Initial
Design
Mktg Req
Doc Preliminary
Development
Prototype
Eng Spec.
Alpha
Test
Beta
Test/s
Release
To Mfg.
General
Availability
Ship to Cust.
Product
Development

25. L10N Lifecycle ‐ dependencies
Dependent on the
product
development lifecycle
Dependent on the
document
development lifecycle
L10N
Lifecycle

26. L10N Lifecycle ‐ dependencies
Dependent on the
product
development lifecycle
Dependent on the
document
development lifecycle
L10N
Lifecycle

27. L10N Lifecycle – dependency #2
Typical document development lifecycle
Product
Concept
Prod Req
Doc
Initial
Design
Mktg Req
Doc
Preliminary
Development
Prototype
Eng Spec.
Alpha
Test
Beta
Test/s
Release
To Mfg.
General
Availability
Ship to Cust.
Party
Party
Party
Add, edit, update
info per bug fixes
and features
Learn
about
product
Create
Doc
Plan
Create
Prelim.
Docs
Add ,
edit ,
info
Product
Development

30. L10N Lifecycle – a never ending story
Product
& Docs

31. L10N Lifecycle – Strategy
Product
& Docs
Plan
(Initial Product Design)
Use Mktg Eng Doc Plan
Create L10N Plan
l10N Strategy
Goals
Processes
Stakeholders
Team members

32. L10N Lifecycle – Strategy
Doc and product
components to LSP
Source and target
languages
File transfer
LSP deliverables
• Target
languages
• Formats /
Media
Schedule
Contacts
Dependencies
Plan
Product
& Docs

33. L10N Lifecycle
(Initial Product
Development)
Execute the plan
I18N product and
Documentation
Create L10N kit
Plan
Setup
Product
& Docs
(Initial Product Design)
Create Mktg Eng Doc Plan
Create L10N Plan
l10N Strategy
Goals and processes
Stakeholders
Team members

34. Setup
Internationalize product and documentation
If the product is a software product, separate text
and graphics from the code so that they can be
localized without sending the code to the LSP. Use
appropriate software development tools to manage
the files and pointers.

35. Setup
Internationalize product and documentation
If the product is a software product, separate text
and graphics from the code so that they can be
localized without sending the code to the LSP. Use
appropriate software development tools to manage
the files and pointers.
Design the product and documentation so that they
can be used in any locale. Consider file names with
double-byte characters, dates and times according
to any locale, etc.

36. Setup
Internationalize product and documentation
If the product is a software product, separate text and
graphics from the code so that they can be localized
without sending the code to the LSP. Use appropriate
software development tools to manage the files and
pointers.
Design the product and its documentation so that they
can be used in any locale. Consider file names with
double-byte characters, dates and times according to
any locale, etc.
Design the GUI to be language independent: consider
label size, character sets, pictures, sound etc.

37. L10N Lifecycle
Product
& Docs
Plan
Implement
Setup
(Initial Product Design)
Create Mktg Req doc
Create Eng Spec
Create Doc Plan
Create L10N Plan
(Product
Development)
Localize
TM
TMS
Updates
(Initial Product
Development)
Final L10N plan
Internationalize
product and
Documentation
Create L10N kit
Use XML

38. Implement ‐ Localize
Considerations for L10N include:
Terminology – consistent language
Content structure and organization
Legal information
Text expansion
Graphical symbols: money, restroom symbols,
electrical symbols and hand signals.

39. Product
& Docs
Plan
Implement
Test Setup
L10N Lifecycle
(Beta test)
In-country
review and
comments

40. Product
& Docs
Plan
Implement
Test
Update
Setup
L10N Lifecycle
(RTM, ship)
Update
localized
products and
documentation

41. Product
& Docs
Plan
Implement
Test
Update
Setup
L10N Lifecycle
(Shipping)
Restart or
continue

42. Questions?
L10N Lifecycle