How to localize Settings.bundle in xcode4?

Question

I am working on xcode4 and created a Settings.bundle for my project. I can edit the Root.plist file in xcode4 but it is not possible to edit the Root.strings file. It isn't even displayed in the editor.

I can not expand the en.lproj folder as you see in the picture.

But when I do right-click, open in external editor it gives me:

Double click on Root.strings gives me:

I tried it several times, creating a new window-based application project and creating a new Settings.bundle. I always can not localize it. Any ideas?

Answer 1

In XCode 4.2 you have to follow this steps (just a modification of Xcode 3.2.2 and localization of Settings.bundle)

1. Reveal your Settings.bundle in Finder.
2. Right click (or Ctrl-click) on it and select Show Package contents.
3. Create a new folder called as the desired language (e.g., fr.lproj).
4. Copy the Root.strings file from the en.lproj folder and paste in fr.lproj folder.

Answer 2

If you already have a Root.strings file that is a "Property List (binary)" and you wish to convert it to a proper text-based strings file, you can use plutil in the Terminal application to convert it, for instance into JSON format:

> plutil -convert json /path/to/Settings.bundle/en.lproj/Root.strings

N.B. You can run plutil -h for usage help.

However, you will then need to convert the JSON format:

{"key1":"value1","key2":"value2"}

to that of a strings file:

"key1" = "value1";
"key2" = "value2";

This is easily done with a few search/replace operations in a text editor.

Answer 3

I have just given up trying to do something with Root.strings. Instead, I just copied the plist into each *.lproj, and it worked!

As far as this is about translation into English and my native language, no problem.

So I have:

Settings.bundle
|- en.lproj
|  |- Root.plist
|  `- Root.strings -- nothing useful there
|
`- zz.proj
   `- Root.plist

The good news is that Root.plist is utf8.

Answer 4

Xcode 4 is creating the "Root.strings" as a binary property list. so what I had to do was set the file type to "Property List (binary)" for it to show up correctly.

Answer 5

For me it worked to change the File Type (in the File Inspector) of the Folder "en.lproj" from "Default / Directory" to "Directory". Magic.

Answer 6

EDIT: Apple fixed, once again, the wrong bug. Their change rendered my workaround useless. It just doesn't work anymore, you can't add files to the Settings.bundle.

Please refer to the answer of Javi for a method that seems to work.

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I hope you like ugly workarounds.

1. Right click on the settings bundle in the side bar.
2. Select New File
3. Pick Resource / Strings file
4. Name it Root.strings, make sure it is placed inside settings.bundle
5. In the side bar the file will be visible twice. In the "root" section, and in the Settings.bundle. But both point to the same files.
6. Select the Root.strings file in the root section. (AFAIR you have to convert it to UTF16)
7. Add localization, xcode will ask you if you want to replace the file. Yes, you want this.
8. Add as much localizations as you want. You should be able to edit the file in the root section of the sidebar.

I hope this works for you, for me it does.

And if you haven't done it please report the bug at bugreport.apple.com

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I'll install the new release now, let's see if this is fixed. Edit: Not fixed.

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EDIT: I don't know If I understood your second question correctly. But when you add a localization to the file that appears outside of the bundle it adds a localization folder to the settings.bundle

After adding spanish localization to Root.strings:

The actual file is in the foo.lproj folder, it just doesn't show them in the xcode sidebar. If you check the location in the file system you'll see they are inside the settings bundle.

Yesterday I checked with a english and german file and it worked correctly in the simulator. I guess it's just a wrong sidebar layout. The underlying locations and the handling of the files seems correct.