Pattern formats are used to put together sequences of strings, numbers,
dates, and other formats to create messages. The pattern formatters
facilitate localization because they prevent both hard-coding of message
strings, and hard-coding of the concatenation sequence for portions
of message strings. This means localizers can change the content, format,
and order of any text as appropriate for any language.
About the Pattern Format
Formatting Arguments
Supporting Multiple Choices
The pattern is a sequence of text and arguments, all of which can be
edited. The positions of the arguments within the sequence are indicated
by a "%" followed by a digit n identifying the
argument. The pattern in the demo applet has three arguments, numbered 0,
1, and 2. The arguments can appear in any order within the sequence, which
can be edited and modified.
| To See This... |
Do This... |
| You can move arguments freely within the sequence
or delete arguments. You can also edit or translate any of the unformatted
text.
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| 1.
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Move the string "on %2" from the end of the pattern to
the front and correct the capitalization
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Translations are provided in the demo applet for
the G7 countries.
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| 1.
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Pull down the Locale menu
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| 2.
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Try several different locales with the up and down arrow keys (on
Windows) or the mouse button (on Macintosh)
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Note: To add a real percentage character to the
pattern, enter "%%".
The arguments can be either simple text strings or formattable,
localizable objects. The pattern in the demo applet, for example, includes
a date, an unformatted string, and a more complex format called a choice
format (described below). You can edit these arguments at will. When
localizing, you can also select any format to be associated with an
argument.
| To See This... |
Do This... |
| You can modify the value of any argument.
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| 1.
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Select the "3" in argument 2 and change it to another number
—the formatted date adjusts to the new value
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| You can change the format of any argument, and can
specify "unformatted" arguments that are not localized.
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| 1.
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Change the format type for argument 2 to None
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| 2.
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Try different locales and notice that the date does not reformat for
different locales
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| 3.
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Return the format back to Date and try different locales again.
The date reformats.
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Choice formats, like that used for argument 0, let localizers create
more natural messages, avoiding phrases like "3 file(s)". As
shown here, the correct text can be chosen for different numbers. This
works even in more complicated contexts, such as Slavic languages which
have more than one plural format based on the number involved. A particular
choice is chosen based on the value of the argument, and each choice can be
edited individually.
Look also at the format for the choice associated with values of 2 and
higher, "%0|3". The vertical bar indicates that the choice
uses the value for argument 0, but the format for argument 3 (in this case,
a Number). This allows for a degree of flexibility in using different
formats.
| To See This... |
Do This... |
| You can edit the value of any of the choice
options.
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| 1.
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Select the Choice String "no files" and type in "not a
single file"
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| 2.
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Select the value for argument 0 and type in "0"
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| You can establish different choices for parameters
based on the value of an argument, so that strings are substituted that
agree numerically.
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| 1.
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Select the value for argument 0 and type in "0", then replace
it with a "1", and then with a "2". The string changes
correspondingly.
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| 2.
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Select argument 0 and return the value to "0". Choose the
French or German locale and notice that it makes correct substitutions in
any language.
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| You can add as many alternatives as you need for
different value ranges.
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| 1.
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Select the U.S. English locale
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| 2.
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Select the empty choice value box (under the "2") and type
in "10"
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| 3.
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Type in "many files" in the corresponding Choice Strings
field
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| 4.
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Enter a number larger than10 for the value of argument 0—"
many files" is substituted in the resulting message
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You can type in other text in the pattern, arguments, or choices fields
to see different formatting behaviors. Try it out!
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