How to translate Sumatra PDF

If you want to see Sumatra PDF translated to your language, you can make it happen.

First important note: the file must be saved with utf8 encoding with BOM mark. If it's saved in a different encoding, it'll be unusable. Please use notepad2 (menu File\Encoding\UTF-8 with signature). It's free and it's what I use for editing.

Second important note: please really read the first important note. It's really that important. I've already had several translations submitted that were not saved in the right format.

All strings that need to be translated are kept in one file src/strings.txt. You can checkout the sources to get it or grab directly from the browser.

I hope the format of the file is obvious. Here's an example showing translation of File and Open menu items: 

-
&File
pl:Plik
de:&Datei
fr:&Fichier
-
&Open\tCtrl-O
pl:Otworz\tCtrl-O
de:&Offnen\tCtrl-O
fr:Ouvrir\tCtrl-O

In order to contribute translations:

Few notes

Keep in mind that translation is an on-going process. During development new strings are being added and they'll need to be translated. Before releasing a new version I plan to ask for help translating new strings on the forum

Don't worry if you don't have the time to translate all of the strings at once. Even one translated string is better than nothing, so do send me even incomplete translations.

How can you test the translations?

If you can't build Sumatra PDF from sources, then you're out of luck. You have to send me the translations without testing and wait for a new release.

If you can build Sumatra PDF, you can rebuild program with new translations. It's very simple:

  • change strings.txt
  • run gen_c_from_strings_file.py
  • rebuild the program

Limitations

At the moment text in dialog boxes cannot be translated. Hopefully I'll fix that some day.

Translators

Current translations has been contributed by many people.

Sumatra is written by Krzysztof Kowalczyk