Hi all,

I've been thinking about this problem lately and can't figure out a
clean way to solve it.

The problem is: I'm storing localized strings in a db (planning to keep
the most requested languages on cache). I figured out a way to keep
links out of the database and rendering them calling my GetText(Locale,
PlaceHolder, params string[] Links) and replacing them in the order
they are met.[1]

Leaving behind discussions on performance that this approach may bring
(we'll tune them as we go) what I can't figure out is a way to keep the
string formatting (such as bold, italic, etc...), as well as the links,
out of the database.

How would you deal with this? Is there any best practice you could
recommend in this respect?

Thank You,
Lorenzo
--
[1] This is for rendering something like: "If you would like to contact
us click here"... where the click here is going to be rendered as <a
href="contactus.aspx">click here</a>

The biggest problems:, off the top of my head

1) For some languages, italics simply do not work (think Arabic script,
Divehi, or others), and pothers will look very ugly to customers if they are
bold. Basucally you need the formatting to be localizable so the localizer
can save you from yourself on these strings.

2) Inserts can change order in other languages, so your idea of filling
inserts in order is not a good one. better to have inserts like {0], {1},
etc. so the localizer can move them as needed.


--
MichKa [Microsoft]
NLS Collation/Locale/Keyboard Technical Lead
Globalization Infrastructure, Fonts, and Tools
Blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/michkap

This posting is provided "AS IS" with
no warranties, and confers no rights.



<lbolognini (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

Michael (michka) Kaplan [MS] wrote:
Thanks for the answer Michka. Indeed you're right about formatting and
the link rendering. I will not be supporting RTL writings in the
immediate future but since I might, someday, it's better to stay on the
safe side.

Lorenzo

Well, #1 can happen in CJK and other languages, and #2 can happen in any
language....


--
MichKa [Microsoft]
NLS Collation/Locale/Keyboard Technical Lead
Globalization Infrastructure, Fonts, and Tools
Blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/michkap

This posting is provided "AS IS" with
no warranties, and confers no rights.



<lbolognini (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote