when localizing strings with variables you have to:
- know what these variables mean to avoid issues AND
- follow exact variables/words order, especially when working with lists, where other options exist
Example
'Duplicate files naming' setting has 5 options (Settings>General>File operations):
<Filename> - Copy (#) default
<Filename>-Copy (#)
<Filename>-(#)
<Filename>-#
Copy (#) of <Filename>
- Copy (#) of <Filename>
uses 2 strings when creating 1st and nth copies:
Copy of %1%2
Copy (%3) of %1%2
where
%1 - name
%2 - .ext
%3 - iterator
lets
1. select 'Copy (#) of <Filename>' and switch languages in v1.9.8
2. copy TEST.jpg few times to check how app will name files
- English
- correct
Copy of %1%2
Copy (%3) of %1%2
Copy of TEST.jpg
Copy (2) of TEST.jpg
- correct
- Armenian
- incorrect - unrecognizable ext
Պատճենվում է %1%2-ից
Պատճենվում է (%3)-ը %1%2-ից
Պատճենվում է TEST.jpg-ից
Պատճենվում է (2)-ը TEST.jpg-ից
- correct
Պատճենվում է %1%2
Պատճենվում է (%3)-ը %1%2
- incorrect - unrecognizable ext
- Chinese (both)
- incorrect - repeats already existing option
%1的副本%2
%1的副本(%3)%2
TEST的副本.jpg
TEST的副本(2).jpg
- correct
的副本 %1%2
的副本 (%3) %1%2
- incorrect - repeats already existing option
- Finnish
- incorrect - 0 length file
Kopioi (%3) %1%2:sta
- correct
Kopioi (%3) %1%2
- incorrect - 0 length file
- Hungarian
- incorrect - repeats already existing option
%1 másolata%2
%1 másolata (%3)%2
TEST másolata.jpg
TEST másolata (2).jpg
- correct
Másolat %1%2
Másolat (%3) %1%2
- incorrect - repeats already existing option
- Japanese
- incorrect - repeats already existing option
%1のコピー%2
%1コピー(%3) %2
TESTのコピー.jpg
TESTコピー(2) .jpg
- correct
コピー %1%2
コピー(%3) %1%2
- incorrect - repeats already existing option
- Korean
- incorrect - unrecognizable ext
%1%2의 사본
%1%2의 사본 (%3)
TEST.jpg의 사본
TEST.jpg의 사본 (2)
- correct
의 사본 %1%2
의 사본 (%3) %1%2
- incorrect - unrecognizable ext
- Turkish
- incorrect - unrecognizable ext
%1%2 in Kopyası
%1%2 in (%3) Kopyası
TEST.jpg in Kopyası
TEST.jpg in (2) Kopyası
- correct
Kopyası in %1%2
Kopyası (%3) in %1%2
- incorrect - unrecognizable ext
- Ukrainian
- incorrect - does not change filename of n copy due to mistype
Копіюється (%2) з %1%2
Копіюється (.jpg) з TEST.jpg
- correct
Копіюється (%3) з %1%2
- incorrect - does not change filename of n copy due to mistype
Conclusion
To avoid most of the issues listed above - ORDER of variables and words 'Copy' and 'of' (if applicable) MUST remain the same.
No need to be creative with your 'localization', use direct translation, especially in cases where other options are already available in the combobox/list/etc.