Progress
Internationalization Guide
Equipment Differences
In some cases, the layout and composition of the user interface must change from one language edition to another because of equipment differences. Computer companies often manufacture different models for each market. Technology standards vary from one country to another. Differences in keyboards and monitors might affect the design of the user interface. Recognize that many users do not have access to the latest computer components that might be available elsewhere. For example, some markets might not consistently have access to color systems, advanced graphics, large memory systems, or high resolution printers.
Monitors
There are many different models of monitors available, with features or limitations that might affect the look of the user interface. Consider this in the design phase. In general, you should design for a range of monitors and not just for the ones that offer the newest features. Monitor features that might affect user interface design include:
- Color
Monochrome monitors are available in black and white, green and black, or amber and black. Gray-scale monitors are monochrome monitors that display different shades of gray. Color monitors vary in capability (depending on the model and video card) and can display 16 colors, 256 colors, or even millions of colors.
Choose a color scheme that is available and looks acceptable on all of the monitors you support. For example, choose a scheme that looks acceptable on both a monochrome monitor and a color monitor. Make color selection user-definable so the user can select colors based on what is available.
- Resolution
Refers to the number of dots (pixels) on the screen. The higher the number of pixels the sharper the image. A common resolution is 640 dots on each of 480 lines. However, the Japanese NEC PC monitor displays 640 dots on each of 400 lines. Therefore, you lose a couple of rows of text on this monitor. If you design a screen that uses every row on a VGA 640 by 480 display, it cannot be used on these Japanese PCs. View your design before you finish it to see if the resolution on most screens supports your design.
- Screen Size
The amount of viewing space available on each monitor differs from model to model because of differences in monitor dimensions. Screen size is measured diagonally from one corner of the screen to the other. Some screens are smaller or larger than others. Additionally, screen orientation can be either portrait (height greater than width) or landscape (width greater than height). The design of the user interface must allow for these differences in screen size and orientation.
Keyboards
Keyboard layouts vary to support different languages so it is important to consider the variety of keyboards during the design phase. For example, you should not hard code short-cut keys (key combinations that perform specific commands) until you ensure that the short-cut keys are available to your audience. In addition to the availability of keys, there are ergonomic issues to consider. The short-cut keys you select should be easy to type. For example, typing Ctrl-} on a United States keyboard is simple, however on a Finnish keyboard it requires three separate keys to complete the same function. Also, the at symbol (@) is one keystroke on United States keyboards but three keystrokes in some markets.
Copyright © 2004 Progress Software Corporation www.progress.com Voice: (781) 280-4000 Fax: (781) 280-4095 |