Crystal Reports: International Function Library

We have developed and have for sale an International User Function Library.

This tool can retrieve the report title, column heading and any international properties from a local dictionary. So with a little bit of extra work, you can develop a report that is independent of the language the viewer requires.

This User Function Library installs three new functions in the "Additional Functions" list in the Functions section of the Formula Editor inside Crystal Reports. Simply add the translated words into the dictionary and use these functions in the formula editor.

When you write a report, you typically describe the data in the report using column headings, a report title, text objects, etc. If people in other countries receive the same report, they may need the descriptions translated into their own language.

Creating a new report for each country is the traditional way of providing everyone with their own language but that method has drawbacks when maintaining multiple copies of the report.

The International UFL gives report headings in different languages, depending on the country you select. The theory behind this function is that you can write one report, and then use some functions to select the appropriate report title, column heading, and font for each country.

• Write just one report and the column headings, report title. etc will print in the language of the country you select.
• Maintain just one report and the translated strings are automatically inserted into the report title, column headings etc. The content is not translated, as it's in the database rather than being part of the report.
• The demo version holds only five words, but the full version supports 1000 words and includes a fully functional dictionary editor to manage and maintain the lists of words in each language.

Another tool is Crystal Translator Freelancer.

Crystal Translator Freelancer for Crystal Reports automatically extracts translatable objects (text objects, plus parameters, alerts, and literal text inside formulas) in Crystal Reports. Store the translation for each object in a database. If you later modify a report, you already have the translations in the database; localize the formats for dates, times, currencies, more. Free Trial Download Available.

Crystal Translator can store the imported translations in the translation memory database. This allows Crystal Translator to automatically pre-translate all the texts that have not changed from your new source reports. You can concentrate on "what changed" in the future versions of your reports.

See all of our international tools and solve your international reporting problems. Also, be sure to check out the language translation software and language translation devices at www.easytranslators.com.

With Crystal Reports 8 and later, we have conditional fonts, sizes and styles--so you can use that feature and have formulas for your report title and column headings and retrieve values from the appropriate international dictionary. Great for viewing on a Web server with an international audience.

Thanks to all the readers who contributed words in their local language. If you would like to add your country to the report, email us for details.

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