Setup

Setting a project up for localization involves:

• writing localization configuration scripts for the commandlet pipeline.

• configuring where to load localization data from.

• specifying which localization data should be packaged for distribution.

Conventionally, localization configuration scripts reside under Config/Localization while localization data resides under Content/Localization.

Localization Configuration Scripts

The localization pipeline consists of various commandlets that handle gathering text, storing it, managing translations, and compiling them into binary forms for use by the engine. A master commandlet runs these other commandlets via a configuration file that specifies the steps to execute.

Typically, projects only require a single target that covers all of the text to be translated. A single configuration script then specifies all the steps and settings to run an iteration of localization automation - gathering text, generating manifests and archives, importing any new translations, exporting any new source, and generating a compiled binary format localization resource for use by the application.

Below is an example localization configuration script that implements the conventional localization process.

;Common settings to be used for all commandlets as needed.
[CommonSettings]
SourcePath=./Content/Localization/Game
DestinationPath=./Content/Localization/Game
ManifestName=Game.manifest
ArchiveName=Game.archive
ResourceName=Game.locres
PortableObjectName=Game.po
;English
SourceCulture=en
;English
CulturesToGenerate=en
;French - Commented Out
;CulturesToGenerate=fr
;Italian - Commented Out
;CulturesToGenerate=it
;German - Commented Out
;CulturesToGenerate=de
;Spanish - Commented Out
;CulturesToGenerate=es

;Gather text from source code and configuration files.
[GatherTextStep0]
CommandletClass=GatherTextFromSource
IncludePaths=./Source/
IncludePaths=./Config/
ExcludePaths=*/Config/Localization/*
SourceFileSearchFilters=*.h
SourceFileSearchFilters=*.cpp
SourceFileSearchFilters=*.ini

;Gather text from assets in content.
[GatherTextStep1]
CommandletClass=GatherTextFromAssets
IncludePaths=./Content/
ExcludePaths=*/Content/Localization/*
PackageExtensions=*.umap
PackageExtensions=*.uasset

;Create manifest with all gathered source text.
[GatherTextStep2]
CommandletClass=GenerateGatherManifest

;Create new archives/update existing archives with new entries from the manifest.
[GatherTextStep3]
CommandletClass=GenerateGatherArchive

;Import new translations from PO (portable object) files into existing archives.
[GatherTextStep4]
CommandletClass=InternationalizationExport
bImportLoc=true

;Export new source from existing archives into PO (portable object) files.
[GatherTextStep5]
CommandletClass=InternationalizationExport
bExportLoc=true

;Compile source text and translations into binary form for use by the application.
[GatherTextStep6]
CommandletClass=GenerateTextLocalizationResource

Example Directory Structure

An example directory structure using a project called "MyProject", with two targets ("Game" and "DLC").

• MyProject

  • Config

    • Localization

      • Game.ini

      • DLC.ini

Localization Data

Projects must be configured to use their localization data. Paths to search for localization data are specified in Config/DefaultGame.ini under the Internationalization section using array notation for the key LocalizationPaths. By default, localization data will be searched for in Content/Localization/Game, but this entry can be explicitly removed or replaced.

[Internationalization]
;This first entry is inherited from BaseGame.ini by default.
;+LocalizationPaths=%GAMEDIR%Content/Localization/Game
+LocalizationPaths=%GAMEDIR%Content/Localization/DLC

Example Directory Structure

An example directory structure using a project called "MyProject", with two targets ("Game" and "DLC"), localized for English ("en") and Brazilian Portuguese ("pt-BR").

• MyProject

  • Content

    • Localization

      • Game

        • Game.manifest

        • en

          • Game.archive

          • Game.locres

        • pt-BR

          • Game.archive

          • Game.locres

      • DLC

        • DLC.manifest

        • en

          • DLC.archive

          • DLC.locres

        • pt-BR

          • DLC.archive

          • DLC.locres

Packaging Settings

In order to package the project properly, the supported cultures' localization data need to be specified for packaging. Within the editor, under the File menu, open the Package Project submenu, and select Packaging Settings.... From the Project Settings window, under the Packaging category, expand the advanced section in order to access the Localizations to Package setting. You may check or uncheck which cultures should have their localization data packaged. English is checked by default.

Alternatively, these settings can be modified directly in the Config/DefaultGame.ini file without using the editor UI, underneath the section /Script/UnrealEd.ProjectPackagingSettings, using the array notation for the key CulturesToStage.

[/Script/UnrealEd.ProjectPackagingSettings]
+CulturesToStage=en
+CulturesToStage=fr
+CulturesToStage=it
+CulturesToStage=de
+CulturesToStage=es

Iteration

Iterating on localization data involves running the GatherText commandlet and providing a localization configuration script. The commandline should be of the form:

<ProjectFilePath> -Run=GatherText -Config=<PathToConfigFileRelativeToProjectRoot>

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