Internationalization & localization testing

Internationalization &
Localization Testing

© 2011 LogiGear Corporation. All Rights Reserved

Internationalization & Localization
Testing

1. What is internationalization & Localization?
2. Why do we test about Internationalization &
Localization?
3. Example of test cases and bugs
4. Tips and Tricks


Testing

1. What is internationalization & Localization?

Internationalization and localization are means of
adapting computer software to different languages,
regional differences and technical requirements of a target
market.

Internationalization is the process of designing a software
application so that it can be adapted to various languages
and regions without engineering changes.

Localization is the process of adapting internationalized
software for a specific region or language by adding
locale-specific components and translating text.


Testing

 The distinction between internationalization and
localization is subtle but important. Internationalization
is the adaptation of products for potential use virtually
everywhere, while localization is the addition of special
features for use in a specific locale. Internationalization is
done once per product, while localization is done once for
each combination of product and locale. The processes are
complementary, and must be combined to lead to the
objective of a system that works globally


Testing
 Focal points of internationalization and localization
efforts include:
 Language
o Computer-encoded text
 Alphabets/scripts; most recent systems use the Unicode standard to
solve many of the character encoding problems.
 Different systems of numerals
 Writing direction which is e.g. left to right in German, right to left in
Persian, Hebrew and Arabic
 Spelling variants for different countries where the same language is
spoken, e.g. localization (en-US, en-CA) vs. localisation (en-GB, en-AU)
 Text processing differences, such as the concept of capitalization which
exists in some scripts and not in others, different text sorting rules, etc.
 Plural forms in text output, which differ depending upon language
o Input
 Enablement of keyboard shortcuts on any keyboard layout
o Graphical representations of text (printed materials, online images containing
text)
o Spoken (Audio)
o Subtitling of film and video


Testing
efforts include:

 Culture
o Images and colors: issues of comprehensibility and cultural
appropriateness
o Names and titles
o Government assigned numbers (such as the Social Security number in
the US, National Insurance number in the UK, Isikukoo in Estonia, and
Resident registration number in South Korea.) and passports
o Telephone numbers, addresses and international postal codes
o Currency (symbols, positions of currency markers)
o Weights and measures
o Paper sizes


Testing
efforts include:

 Writing conventions

o Date/time format, including use of different calendars
o Time zones (UTC in internationalized environments)
o Formatting of numbers (decimal separator, digit grouping)
o Differences in symbols (e.g. quoting text using double-quotes (" "), as
in English, or guillemets (« »), as in French).

 Any other aspect of the product or service that is subject to
regulatory compliance


Testing

Localization?
Software is often localized by translating a list of strings out of context, and the
translator may choose the wrong translation for an ambiguous source string.
Technical terminology may become inconsistent if the project is translated by
several people without proper coordination or if the translator is imprudent.
Literal word-for-word translations may sound inappropriate, artificial or too
technical in the target language.
Untranslated messages in the original language may be left hard coded in the
source code.
Some messages may be created automatically at run time and the resulting
string may be ungrammatical, functionally incorrect, misleading or confusing.
Software may use a keyboard shortcut which has no function on the source
language's keyboard layout, but is used for typing characters in the layout of
the target language.


Testing

Localization?

Software may lack support for the character encoding of the target language.
Fonts and font sizes which are appropriate in the source language, may be
inappropriate in the target language; for example, CJK characters may become
unreadable if the font is too small.
A string in the target language may be longer than the software can handle.
This may make the string partly invisible to the user or cause the software to
crash or malfunction.
Software may lack proper support for reading or writing bi-directional text.
Software may display images with text that wasn't localized.
Localized operating systems may have differently-named system configuration
files and environment variables and different formats for date and currency.


Testing

Localization?

 To avoid these and other localization problems, a tester who
knows the target language must run the program with all the
possible use cases for translation to see if the messages are
readable, translated correctly in context and don't cause
failures.


Testing

3. Example of test cases and bug:
o Test cases:


Testing

o Test cases:
Description:
Verify that “Next Plan”, “Change Plan”, “Print Preview” buttons are
displayed with Chinese after switching browser language into Chinese

Step:
1. Open browser and change language into Chinese
2. Navigate www.identifix.com website
3. Create new vehicle
4. Go to Maintenance tab
5. Observe “Next Plan”, “Change Plan”, “Print Preview” button

Expected Result:
The name of “Next Plan”, “Change Plan”, “Print Preview” button change to
Chinese


Testing

oThe result:


Testing

o Bugs:
Summary:
Chinese name of "Change Plan" on pop up displays same with "Which Schedule"
on its pop up as 该选择哪选项 ? 原厂手册指南


Testing

o Bugs:


Testing

4. Tips and Tricks

− Prepare a suitable test environment for testing
applications
− Follow the correct translation
− Begin testing with static elements
− Pay attention to the controls, and error messages
− Ensure that data entry can be done in terms of
localization
− Do not forget the national and regional particularities


Testing

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/
http://swaretesting.blogspot.com

http://www.edistalearning.com/KnowledgePapers/Localization_In
ternationalization_Testing.pdf


Internationalization & localization testing

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