The Essence of Localization Testing Services
In these times of burgeoning technology, the world is becoming a global village. As the world becomes smaller, things, people, situations, news, become more local. The industries including are all adapting their products to specific locale and culture. It's the need of the hour that there's an independent testing of localized Software product so as to ensure that they are run and understood equally well by each user irrespective of their Locale/Geography.
Software Localization Services ensures that a product released in the US is used in the same fashion by a person living and working in Germany. While the former works in English, the latter busies himself with the same commands in Deutsche. To attain this sort of a global balance, all software has to be sensitive to various languages, and locales. However, the work doesn't stop there. After developing the software, it is up to the localization tester to ensure consistency of User Interface and Functionality of the software across various languages.
Software Localization Services is as important as software development. However at times Organizations tend to neglect Localization Testing Services and at times release the product at different locales without getting it verified thoroughly by a team of experts. As a result no matter how good the product is, there are some inevitable errors that crop up for the end users. This Articles points out several loopholes For instance, when a tester working on a French platform decides to create a login ID in English, you know that spells trouble! To avert possible disaster, its best to create a localized login to weed off any initial hiccups that may arise during the actual installation of the software by the end user.
Another common mistake noticed with most testers is their negligence in entering any data/command in localized character. Testing software in a particular language necessarily entails providing all inputs in that language. By entering data in localized characters, a tester cleanses the process to a great extent and ensures the end user doesn't waste time over possible errors. The tester should be vigilant enough to identify the possible problematic characters and he\she should then address these characters head on so that if a problem arises and persists, it can be rooted out at the testing stage, saving the end user great time and energy!
More often than not, a tester fails to use localized test data. This practice is like mixing salt in cold milk; no matter how much you stir, some residue will always remain! Similarly, no matter how extensive the test data, until and unless it is accurately localized, it would prove to be a greater liability than a valuable asset! For instance, if a tester has video files as test data then he\she should be aware of the different video formats of various countries. It does require expertise to provide effective Localization Testing Services.
If the locale belongs to a North or South American geographies, the tester should test using videos with NTSC format as these countries use this format. Similarly, if the locale belongs to Western European languages or South Eastern GEOs, it should be tested on PAL and if the locale belongs of Eastern Europe GEO, then the tester should test on SECAM.
Amongst other common mistakes made by experts of localization testing is their reluctance in using the native operating system. Instead, they use MUL Packs (multi-user interface language packs). This hazardous practice is often considered as a cost effective supplement to the original native operating system.
Services on Localization testing have to be as region-focused as possible. The obvious corollary to this focus is the installation of native operating systems and testing the software in an actual scenario rather than making a recipe for disaster by doing it on a superficial platform. Therefore, even though MUL may seem like a cheaper option in the short run, it can turn into a much greater liability in the long run.
Last but not the least, experts on Localization Testing Services should be well versed with the effective usage of the OSK (On Screen Keyboard) and its locale specific nuances and nitty-gritty's. This is essential for performing localization specific testing pertaining to Shortcut and Hotkey testing. A simple example of this point is how in some languages like German and Polish, an Alt GR button is present that acts as a short cut to the special characters pertaining to a particular language. While in a language like Japanese, there is no OSK, instead there is Char Map which displays the special characters pertaining to Japanese. It's essential for the tester to know these short cuts, so that the process of testing is enhanced to the greatest possible extent.
The crux of executing services on localization testing is that it requires the tester to get into the shoes of the end consumer; it requires them to create a real situation and test on it so that the end result of testing process is as satisfying to the customer as it is to the actual tester! A little care at pre release stage of a localized Software product can save precious dollars.
Software Localization Services ensures that a product released in the US is used in the same fashion by a person living and working in Germany. While the former works in English, the latter busies himself with the same commands in Deutsche. To attain this sort of a global balance, all software has to be sensitive to various languages, and locales. However, the work doesn't stop there. After developing the software, it is up to the localization tester to ensure consistency of User Interface and Functionality of the software across various languages.
Software Localization Services is as important as software development. However at times Organizations tend to neglect Localization Testing Services and at times release the product at different locales without getting it verified thoroughly by a team of experts. As a result no matter how good the product is, there are some inevitable errors that crop up for the end users. This Articles points out several loopholes For instance, when a tester working on a French platform decides to create a login ID in English, you know that spells trouble! To avert possible disaster, its best to create a localized login to weed off any initial hiccups that may arise during the actual installation of the software by the end user.
Another common mistake noticed with most testers is their negligence in entering any data/command in localized character. Testing software in a particular language necessarily entails providing all inputs in that language. By entering data in localized characters, a tester cleanses the process to a great extent and ensures the end user doesn't waste time over possible errors. The tester should be vigilant enough to identify the possible problematic characters and he\she should then address these characters head on so that if a problem arises and persists, it can be rooted out at the testing stage, saving the end user great time and energy!
More often than not, a tester fails to use localized test data. This practice is like mixing salt in cold milk; no matter how much you stir, some residue will always remain! Similarly, no matter how extensive the test data, until and unless it is accurately localized, it would prove to be a greater liability than a valuable asset! For instance, if a tester has video files as test data then he\she should be aware of the different video formats of various countries. It does require expertise to provide effective Localization Testing Services.
If the locale belongs to a North or South American geographies, the tester should test using videos with NTSC format as these countries use this format. Similarly, if the locale belongs to Western European languages or South Eastern GEOs, it should be tested on PAL and if the locale belongs of Eastern Europe GEO, then the tester should test on SECAM.
Amongst other common mistakes made by experts of localization testing is their reluctance in using the native operating system. Instead, they use MUL Packs (multi-user interface language packs). This hazardous practice is often considered as a cost effective supplement to the original native operating system.
Services on Localization testing have to be as region-focused as possible. The obvious corollary to this focus is the installation of native operating systems and testing the software in an actual scenario rather than making a recipe for disaster by doing it on a superficial platform. Therefore, even though MUL may seem like a cheaper option in the short run, it can turn into a much greater liability in the long run.
Last but not the least, experts on Localization Testing Services should be well versed with the effective usage of the OSK (On Screen Keyboard) and its locale specific nuances and nitty-gritty's. This is essential for performing localization specific testing pertaining to Shortcut and Hotkey testing. A simple example of this point is how in some languages like German and Polish, an Alt GR button is present that acts as a short cut to the special characters pertaining to a particular language. While in a language like Japanese, there is no OSK, instead there is Char Map which displays the special characters pertaining to Japanese. It's essential for the tester to know these short cuts, so that the process of testing is enhanced to the greatest possible extent.
The crux of executing services on localization testing is that it requires the tester to get into the shoes of the end consumer; it requires them to create a real situation and test on it so that the end result of testing process is as satisfying to the customer as it is to the actual tester! A little care at pre release stage of a localized Software product can save precious dollars.
