2.3 Interface Localization

The Solaris operating environment supports several messaging schemes for localizing the interface, including the Sun proprietary API gettext() and the XPG catgets(). These APIs directly reference the message file.

Note that the size and position of interface elements (icons, graphics, and functions or private data affecting text elements) may be different in different languages. For example, Japanese messages are usually longer than English messages and Japanese ideographs are taller and wider than English characters. Text widget positioning should be relative, not absolute.

Icons and graphics should also be culturally neutral or be easily changeable to local tastes. Essentially, what a user sees and what affects text should be changed only in the message catalog, resources, or some other means.