Comment 12 for bug 7

Following discussion on the ubuntu-translators list (https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-translators/2008-August/001635.html) I've gathered further suggestions on what the page could include:

"-> The obvious step: how to get an account, links to another article
talking about, etc.

-> Information about Rosetta: not advanced but not short information.
What Rosetta does? What gettext means? It's free? Can I use it? And
important: the type of permissions. Next point...

-> Start translating: localize the project url in Launchpad, and check
if the translation is being done by someone. As I mentioned before, we
need to explain about permissions and check if the project allow us to
provide "free translation" or we need something (join in a group, for
example). Obviously, we need to say also that the user need to select
the languages where he has knowledge. We remember him also the strings
that need review are important.

-> Ways to stay in touch with the rest: mailing lists, IRC, etc.

I think explanations about the HTML entities like & and XML tags found in translation strings are pretty important.

I think it would be useful also to have some sort of explanation about
all the UI elements that you a translator can use like the drop-down
list with all the viewing options (translated items, items with new
suggestions...), what the "Located in..." string means and so on...

It is important to talk about the format operator (%) and how you're
supposed to change its position inside a string; the text "formatting"
tags like <b></b>, <i></i>, <span size="large"></span> saying that the
text *inside* a tag must not be translated; the "accelerators"...

For newcomers it will be useful to remember them about already existing
translation groups and (how) to keep in touch with them.

Probably talking about gettext is too advanced for new translators, as
Launchpad tries to hide gettext magic from translators, but maybe there
should be room for an "Advanced" section in this document or a document
for advanced users where you can talk about:
 - gettext
 - po and mo file formats
 - how to upload a file, what it means "User upload" or "Published
upload" and what happen when you select one or the other...

Upstream/downstrean problematics. It is imperative to make new translators aware that the packages the are interested in, perhaps are mainly translated somewhere else and give them some hint about how to find where.

What role do teams play in ensuring consistent and professional translations?"