Visual Studio 2010 Add-In for sorting language XML files
Background
As EPiServer sites grow, their language files usually grows rapidly as well. It’s not uncommon to have several hundred lines of language keys split into different files.
Maintaining such a site and making sure all language keys are translated in all languages can be a pain. I think there are a few Admin plugins for addressing these problems as well.
In our team we have a common practise to always have one language file per language, and to have them alphabetically sorted. That way, you can easily navigate through them, and by just comparing the line numbers you see if there are differences. No Admin plugins needed.
Problem is, to continuously sorting your keys in alphabetical order, can also be a pain :)
Solution
I put together a simple VS 2010 add-in, which installs to the right-click menu in Visual Studio.
Once clicked, the XML will sort on element name, like so:
Installation
The attached zip contains two files.
Put them in your /Documents/Visual Studio 2010/Addins folder
Visual Studio will pick up the addin:
Feedback
Take it for a spin! Of course this add-in should work on any XML, even if it would be kind of pointless to sort your Web.config :)
Feel free to email me or twitter at @thomas_krantz
I’ll put the source code online somewhere if somebody is interested.
Here’s the file:
Nice one! Haven't tried it yet but I sure will...
For the last six months I have been working on a large global site build.
As one of my colleagues was quickly getting annoyed with maintaining the language file. He developed a VS Macro which would essentially take the text you have selected within a file (.aspx, .ascx, .cs) and replace it with either an inline Translate(), a literal with the text bound to an inline resources call. The originally selected text would be placed in the language file in a relevant element heirarchy based on the file you are editing.
This has saved us hours of time over the last few months. I will have to look at tidying it up and there could be the possibility of sharing it if people are interested.
Croweman: Interesting approach, that would sure make it alot easier working with language keys.
Like the consept, great when all those language files grows out of control:)
but if you are on CMS6 you could use
http://world.episerver.com/Blogs/Anders-Hattestad/Dates/2011/5/IteraTranslate-a-Web-ControlBaseUserControl-that-translate-key-phrases/
Croweman: Yes, please share. Sounds awesome!
Great! Thanks! Will use this and tell my colleagues about it.
The Macro has been released for public consumption here http://world.episerver.com/Blogs/Lee-Crowe/Dates/2011/5/Language-File-Population-Helper-VS-Macro/
Hi Thomas, I've tested your plugin and works fine, but I want to use it to sort my web.config and I need to re-define the sorting when you have many settings, I would like to have it sorted my the name of the setting. So.... could you please send me the code and I'll code it.
Thanks a lot
Hi Thomas.
Thanks for sharing this..
Its very useful article
could you please send me the source code.my email id is vilsanrobin@gmail.com
Thanks