Multilingual Word Templates

[flyboy70]

Hi, we need to redesign about 200 of our office 2003 templates, but as we have grown internationally, would like to add multilingual options - layout is always the same, but only the text content varies.
does anyone have any tips/feedback in doing this, or are there any good resources available for multilingual design tips?

thanks

 

[kjv1611]

I'd imagine that you would be MUCH safer to just take the time to translate them, one by one, or else pay a translator. That is if they are important documents, which I would imagine they are, given you're desire to post this question.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[flyboy70]

thanks for your response. the translation aspect is no problems - i was talking more about the technical aspects. can i make a single template layout and dynamically add the language as selected by the user. eg: we currently have various letter head templates (none of which comply with corporate design rules). i would like to design 1 letter head template, and let the user select which language the template is to be displayed as. then if the pyhsical design is modifed, we only have to modify 1 template design.

 

[kjv1611]

What about using Mail-Merge Templates? Would that get it done?

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[fumei]

Are we talking about just text?

faq219-2884

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[xwb]

Are all the languages left to right or are some right to left? The right to left languages are a real pain.

 

[tf1]

Theoretically, you should simply be able to create the template with 'Automatically Detect Language' option anable. When a user opens the temp;late, it will automatically adopt the langue set as default on that user's PC.

However, this may be too simplistic without know exactly which elements you want to change. You say only the letter template, but most of the letter templates I have designed will have to have differnet Office address and telephone numbers.

But everything you want is probabky possible to varying degrees of simplicity/complexity.

If it is going to save your company time (and thus money) it will be worth getting in an expert to do this for you. There's an awful lot that Word can do and even more it cannot do. An expert designer will be able to guide you correctly.

Regards: tf1

 

[flyboy70]

hi tf1, thanks for your help - yeah that's exactly the situation we currently have. as we have english as the main language, each of our international locations are however still allowed to use their own language for some documents - therefore "detect automatically" is not a viable option. the letter template was only an example. we will have around 150 physical templates (each of which will have various languages).

if you can assist, perhaps you can send me a PM

 

[fumei]

If you do go that route (going out to an expert) I suggest you get in the habit of answering questions when asked.

If it is a simple template - but who knows as I asked if it was just text (i.e. no graphics) and you did not answer, and xwb asked if there were left/right or right/left languages...and you did not answer - then I do not see that it would be too too difficult to design. Start it off with a userform so the user can select the language. I do this all the time as we are legally required to be able to generate any given document in either french or english.

Good luck.

faq219-2884

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture