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Localisation & Language Support

Online Wardley Maps provides comprehensive multilingual support, allowing you to use the interface in your preferred language and collaborate with global teams effectively.

Overview​

OWM supports 10 languages with complete interface localisation:

  • 🇬🇧 English (British spelling)
  • 🇪🇸 Spanish (Español)
  • 🇫🇷 French (Français)
  • 🇩🇪 German (Deutsch)
  • 🇮🇹 Italian (Italiano)
  • 🇵🇹 Portuguese (Português)
  • 🇯🇵 Japanese (日本語)
  • 🇰🇷 Korean (한국어)
  • 🇨🇳 Chinese Simplified (简体中文)
  • 🇹🇼 Chinese Traditional (繁體中文)

Changing Language​

Using the Language Selector​

  1. Open the Left Navigation - Click the menu icon (☰) in the top-left corner
  2. Find Language Section - Scroll down to the "Language" dropdown
  3. Select Your Language - Choose from the available options
  4. Instant Update - The entire interface updates immediately
tip

The language change is instant - no page refresh required! All UI elements, menus, dialogs, and tooltips will immediately switch to your selected language.

Language Persistence​

Your language preference is automatically saved and will be remembered across browser sessions. Your choice persists when you close and reopen the browser.

What's Localised​

Complete Interface Coverage​

Every user-facing element is translated:

Navigation & Menus

  • Header navigation buttons
  • Left sidebar menu items
  • Context menus and dropdowns

Map Editor

  • Save/load status indicators
  • Editor toolbar buttons
  • Quick Add component dialog

Map Canvas

  • Canvas toolbar (Select, Pan, Zoom controls)
  • Component tooltips
  • Accessibility labels

Dialogs & Forms

  • Map iteration management
  • Component creation forms
  • Confirmation dialogs
  • Error messages

Footer & Links

  • Attribution text
  • External link descriptions
  • Help and documentation links

Smart Fallbacks​

If a translation is missing or still loading:

  • Fallback text ensures the interface remains functional
  • English defaults provide consistent experience
  • Gradual loading prevents interface jumps

Technical Implementation​

Translation Architecture​

OWM uses a robust translation system built on:

// Example translation usage
import { useI18n } from '../../hooks/useI18n';

const Component = () => {
    const { t } = useI18n();
    
    return (
        <button>
            {t('common.save', 'Save')}
        </button>
    );
};

Reactive Language Switching​

  • Instant updates when language changes
  • Component re-rendering ensures all text updates
  • State preservation maintains your work during language switches

Translation Keys​

Translations are organised by namespace:

  • common.* - Shared UI elements (Save, Cancel, etc.)
  • navigation.* - Menu and navigation items
  • map.* - Map-specific features
  • editor.* - Editor controls and features
  • components.* - Component-related actions
  • sharing.* - Map sharing features
  • footer.* - Footer content

Current Limitations​

DSL Keywords

  • Map syntax keywords remain in English (component, anchor, etc.)
  • This ensures compatibility across all language versions
  • Maps created in any language can be shared universally

Documentation

  • Primary documentation is in English
  • Community translations are welcome contributions

Contributing Translations​

Help Improve Translations​

Found a translation issue or want to suggest improvements?

  1. GitHub Issues - Report translation problems
  2. Pull Requests - Contribute translation improvements

Adding New Languages​

Interested in adding support for additional languages?

  1. Language Files - Translation JSON files for the new language
  2. Testing - Comprehensive testing across all UI components
  3. Community Review - Native speaker validation
  4. Documentation - Usage guides in the target language
note

All translations maintain the same technical accuracy while adapting to local language conventions and cultural preferences.