Acdsee Language Change
Feature Specification: Dynamic Language Switching
4. Technical Implementation Plan
4. User Overrides & Custom Translations
- Users can edit any string locally via Preferences > Localization Editor.
- Support simple in-app editor with preview and context screenshots.
- Store overrides in per-user config files (non-destructive to language pack).
- Export/import override files for sharing.
Metrics & Success Criteria
- Time to switch languages (<2s without restart)
- Translation coverage ≥95% for top 10 target languages
- Number of community contributors and approved submissions
- Reduction in support tickets about missing translations/layout issues
4.2 Configuration Storage
- Setting Name:
CurrentUICulture
- Location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ACD Systems\ACDSee\[Version]\Settings (Registry) or Settings.xml.
- Format: Culture Code string (e.g.,
en-US, de-DE).
5. The Help Documentation
It is worth noting that changing the software interface language does not always change the language of the offline Help file. In some versions, the Help file redirects to an online repository which may or may not have a localized version for your specific language. Power users relying on the manual may find themselves reverting to English documentation for troubleshooting advanced features.
Feature: ACDSee Language Change — Seamless Multilingual UI and Localization Management
3.1 Language Selection Logic
- FR-01: Upon first launch (clean install), the application must detect the System Locale (OS language). If the detected language is supported by ACDSee, the UI must default to that language. If not, it must default to English (US).
- FR-02: Users must be able to manually select a language from a predefined list of installed language packs.
- FR-03: Changing the language must require a restart of the application to take full effect.
- FR-04: The selection must be persisted in the user configuration file (e.g.,
.ini or registry key) so it remains persistent across sessions.
Step 4: Post-Installation Check
- Launch ACDSee. The UI should now reflect your choice.
- You can verify by going to Help > About; the language version is usually listed there.