About Language IDs

The Language IDs form provides information about the Language ID, the language Code, the String Table Name, and other information pertaining to languages defined for the application.

Where the string tables and application message tables are available for a specified language, the Language IDs form is used to select the appropriate tables for that language. For example, to specify a new language for your application, select a Language ID from that column. The system automatically populates other columns with appropriate values for that language. You can then further refine how the language designation handles the language.

Note: The values in the Language ID column are actually the culture codes.

Use this form to view and/or specify these attributes and resources for languages:

  • At the least, the Language ID (culture code), the language Code, and the name of the string table for that language ID and code (String Table Name).
  • Optionally, a description for the language (Description).

    This typically takes this format: NameOfLanguage (NameOfCountry). For example: Spanish (Venezuela)

    The country name makes it possible to distinguish between a base language and a country or regional dialect.

    Note: If you want the language descriptions to display in your local language (rather than the system default language), you can use the DerDescription (derived) property of the Language IDs IDO. See Providing for localization in language fields.
  • Optionally, the subdirectory that contains translated help files (Help Sub Dir).
  • Optionally, the language-culture (culture code) to be used to override the default help location designation for a particular application (Override Middle Help URL).
  • Optionally, the message table used to display messages (Message Language).

    Specify this only if you want system messages to display in a language other than the base Language ID.

  • Optionally, the font to be used to print reports for a specified language (Font Descriptor).
  • Optionally, the date format and numeric format used to print reports for a specified language (Date Format and Numeric Format). The Date Format and Numeric Format columns apply only to SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) reports.

You can customize Language IDs to create a mixed-language user interface. For example, you could revise the default Language ID fr-FR (French [France]) by setting the help subdirectory to en-US (English [United States]). With the Language ID set as fr-FR, the user interface would display in French, but the help would display in English.

Note:  Before you upgrade to a new version, make sure that you do not have duplicate language codes or other bad data. Otherwise, the upgrade will fail.
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