Technical issues can be perplexing! In this section we attempt to explain technical matters that have special interest in the WISL community.

Other Language Capability

Business information systems are increasingly adopting "user friendly" techniques to facilitate the capture and reporting of data. WISL has adopted the internet browser as the vehicle to facilitate many new applications. However there is still a huge investment in text based information systems and for many "backroom" applications which involve a large proportion of text entry, they are arguably still the best solution. Most WISL customers operate primarily in English but there are cases where those utilizing WISL applications are more comfortable working in another language.

All WISL text based software products have been developed in English and will continue to be developed and maintained in English. However the methodology utilized to create WISL software embodies the flexibility to enable the system to be adapted for use in other languages. It is WISL's commitment to distribute software in English and provide the facilities necessary to translate it for use in a second language.

Limitations

In order to maintain consistency amongst language implementations and minimize the developmental impact, coded values are standardized but the interpretation of these values via table look ups may be available in both languages. The labels on screens and menus are translatable into the second language through interactive facilities restricted only by the length of the English original. All help text is translatable with no restriction.

All dates are displayed in English but it is possible to enter dates in either language.

Reports are handled on a per format basis and include translation as required.

Facilities

A couple of the development tools used to create WISL text based software have been modified to provide for translation of screens and menus. In the case of screens the user may translate screen item labels or prompt labels and view the result. With menus the menu title or menu action description may be translated and the result viewed in the context of the whole menu. In both cases the corresponding help text may also be added in the second language.

As regards tables of code interpretations the UNIVERSE line editor is employed using a copy of the table. The translator simply edits a code item, inputs the translated result below the corresponding English interpretation and files the item.