If there is currently no language pack for your language, why not create one yourself? All the tools needed to create a language pack (or improve an existing language pack) are included with every copy of Family Historian. You can create a new one from scratch, or modify an existing one.
Getting Started
A good starting-point is find out what is already available. To do this, within Family Historian, click ‘Language Packs’ on the Tools menu. This will open the Language Packs window to show a list of the language packs you already have installed. Then click the ‘Import’ button and choose ‘From Family Historian Plugin Store…’. This will show a list of language packs currently available in the Plugin Store. You can import any and all of them. Take note of the version number. The version you have already installed may not be the latest one. When you install (import) a language pack, it is added to your list of installed language packs. Newly-installed language packs never replace existing language packs. You can have as many language packs as you like, and that includes having multiple language packs for the same languages. If you end up with more language packs than you want, just delete the ones you no longer want.
Let us suppose that the language you want is not listed. What do you do? Assuming you speak the language you’re looking for, why not go ahead and create one yourself? Creating a simple language pack is not hard. Click on the ‘New’ button on the Language Packs window and follow the instructions. Remember to press those ‘Help’ buttons to get detailed help at each stage of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What if I mess it up when I try to create my language pack? Could I damage something?
A. Nope. If you make a mess of your language pack and want to delete your first attempt and start again, just delete the language pack you created in the Language Packs list and click the ‘New’ button in the Language Packs window, to create another one.
Q. How can I get help if I’m confused about something or have a problem?
A. You can contact Family Historian support via the support centre. If you prefer, you can also post questions in the Plugin Discussions forum on the Family Historian User Group website (www.fhug.org.uk).
Q. What is a ‘plugin’ and what do they have to do with language packs?
A. A plugin is like a mini-program that extends the power of Family Historian. All language packs contain a plugin which make it possible for the language pack to do sophisticated things, if needed. This plugin is created for you automatically when you create a new language pack. Most language pack authors don’t understand, and don’t need to understand, how plugins work. If you want to do something special which requires plugin changes, and you don’t know anything about plugins, the best thing is to ask for advice (see previous).
Q. Does Calico Pie ever organise seminars or events for language pack authors?
A. We may do, if there is a demand for that. In any case, we encourage everyone who is interested in creating or updating language packs, to contact us via the support centre to register for notifications about this. That way we can let you know about any events, or opportunities that may come up, relating to language packs. We might also be able to put you in touch with others who have similar interests. Let us know if you would like us to do that.
Q. I’ve created a language pack and I’d like to make it freely available to other Family Historian users who would like to use it. How do I do that?
A. That’s exactly what we’re hoping all language pack authors will want to do. And it’s very easy to do. You just need to submit it to the Family Historian Plugin Store. When you do that, all Family Historian users everywhere will be able to install it directly into their copy of Family Historian. See How to Submit a Language Pack to the Plugin Store for details.
Q. Actually the language pack I want already exists. I just want to improve it. Is that allowed?
A. Absolutely. And we encourage you to submit your improved version to the Family Historian Plugin Store. Giving users a choice of language packs has got to be a good thing.
Q. What should I do if I’ve just spotted a couple of minor errors in an existing language pack?
A. The best thing in that case is to post a comment about the language pack in the Family Historian Plugin Store. You don’t need an account to do that. The language pack author will get an email notification of your comment. To post a comment, go to the Language Packs area of the Plugin Store.