Translating Crossfire to other languages

There are 9 replies in this Thread. The last Post () by Aldenmar Odin.

    • New

    Hi Team


    I have developed a tool to "one click" translate freelancer with mods to other languages. The tool is called FL-Lingo.


    • FL Lingo compares a modded Freelancer installation with an existing Freelancer installation in the target language.
    • The target-language installation is the source for restored texts.
    • FL Lingo reads text resources from both installations and matches them by resource ID.
    • It can restore existing translated texts automatically when matching entries exist.
    • It is not limited to German.
    • Translation into other languages is also possible, as long as a Freelancer installation in the target language exists.
    • FL Lingo supports strings and infocards from the game DLL resources.
    • It shows open entries that still need manual translation.
    • These open entries can be edited directly or exported for external translation. -> ask chatgpt to translate it to any language and import the text to FL Lingo to get Mod Texts to target language
    • Imported translations can be merged back into the project.
    • Manual overrides are supported for mod-specific text changes.
    • Mod overrides can keep the original mod text or use a custom translated text.
    • Texts that cannot be translated automatically are left in English.
    • This prevents broken or misleading replacements.
    • FL Lingo patches existing mod DLLs instead of blindly replacing them.
    • This helps preserve mod-specific content and resource IDs.
    • Backups are created before translated files are written.
    • Audio from the target-language installation can also be copied if needed.
    • The tool includes an expert mode for detailed review and manual control.
    • Simple Mode for one click user translations.
    • It also includes a simpler workflow for scanning and applying translations quickly.


    I would like to offer this tool to server admins to let users play CF in their own language. At the moment the translation only works in single player, as the launcher for multiplayer will replace the .dll files with english ones again.


    See you :)

    ...................... FL Atlas ...........................................................Savegame Editor....................................................FL Lingo

    305973.png305409.png305505.png

    • New

    screenshots

    • New

    will test it this weekend

    signew.jpg


    cfmoddblogo.png5904.png5904.png
    http://www.moddb.com/scripts/topsite.php?ts=4766


    Only dead fish swim with the stream.
    Don't discuss with idiots. They only drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience there.


    This is ten percent luck,
    Twenty percent skill,
    Fifteen percent concentrated power of will,
    Five percent pleasure,
    Fifty percent pain,
    And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!

    • New

    here are the .dll files.


    the tool is here (but you dont need it, .dll files are already patched)

    GitHub - flathack/FL-Lingo: FL Lingo is a relocalization tool for Freelancer mods. Compare a modded game install with a reference language install, auto-restore known vanilla text, export mod-only entries for external translation, import results, and apply localized strings and infocards back to the game. · GitHub


    the UI is still chaotic, i will have to rework it so better report translation bugs here and i will fix the program or add exceptions to fix the translations themselves.

    Files

    ...................... FL Atlas ...........................................................Savegame Editor....................................................FL Lingo

    305973.png305409.png305505.png

    • New

    You can make a "button" in the launcher to translate the mod. For example, when a player logs in to the game, they can choose which translation (language) they want, click on it, and then they don't need to do it again. It's clear that not everything will be translated, but it's still an option.


    Regarding the interface in the game: Example: replacing certain DLLs, it gave a translation into Russian. Then the OP updated something and everything was gone ;)

    • New

    maybe

    would be pretty cool ;)

    signew.jpg


    cfmoddblogo.png5904.png5904.png
    http://www.moddb.com/scripts/topsite.php?ts=4766


    Only dead fish swim with the stream.
    Don't discuss with idiots. They only drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience there.


    This is ten percent luck,
    Twenty percent skill,
    Fifteen percent concentrated power of will,
    Five percent pleasure,
    Fifty percent pain,
    And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!

    • New

    I am not sure how it works or if it works.

    I ran it and then tried to do some comparisons. Some stuff was translated. Other stuff was not. I fail to see why.

    I am also a bit sceptical about the audio option, not entirely sure what it does, especially since voice stuff is placed in a utf container, moving files would probably just mean that additions to the containers are just missing then?

    signew.jpg


    cfmoddblogo.png5904.png5904.png
    http://www.moddb.com/scripts/topsite.php?ts=4766


    Only dead fish swim with the stream.
    Don't discuss with idiots. They only drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience there.


    This is ten percent luck,
    Twenty percent skill,
    Fifteen percent concentrated power of will,
    Five percent pleasure,
    Fifty percent pain,
    And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!

    • New

    At the moment the audio stuff is just the DIALOGES (story audio) folder unter MUSIC, this is not final yet. but the next step is to open the utf container and move german audio over and keep the modified stuff in the english version. SO in the endresult, it will be a mix of german and english audio. (most mods dont have any additional voices anyway).


    Regarding the missing text translations: the translation works in several steps.

    1. just copy 1 to 1 if the id is identical. Like hud, vanilla weapons, infocards etc. so just vanilla stuff. (AUTOMATIC)

    2. next step is to rename stuff via text replacement, source is a list with common texts, like faction names, standard text in infocards. (AUTOMATIC)

    3. next step is a blacklist, you put stuff here that will have to stay in english, for crossfire I have identified the Freighter shield stuff (cargopod, shield upgrade etc.) this stuff is a MANUAL list.

    4. last step, is: you could export those english remaining texts and translate them external and import them again. this cannot be automated, as any translationservice i found want some $$$ for API access :) so I skipped this step.

    ...................... FL Atlas ...........................................................Savegame Editor....................................................FL Lingo

    305973.png305409.png305505.png

    • New

    FL Lingo v0.1.2 is out!

    Releases · flathack/FL-Lingo · GitHub

    What's new:

    • Reworked Expert Mode interface — the workflow is now split into clear, sequential sections that guide you through each step.
    • pasted-from-clipboard.png
    • Auto-Translation — bulk-translate all open entries using Google Translate via deep-translator. Completely free, no API key required. Includes pause/resume and a preview to review entries before translating.
    • pasted-from-clipboard.png
    • Help buttons everywhere — every action in the editor now has a ? icon with a tooltip explaining what it does.
    • Full documentation — English and German help pages are now available on the Wiki.

    How it works (Expert Mode):

    1. Set your mod and reference folders, then scan.
    2. Review and edit entries in the editor, or use auto-translation to translate open entries in bulk.
    3. Preview translated entries in section 4.
    4. Apply the translation to your mod in section 5.

    Simple Mode is still available for a quick three-step workflow: pick folders → scan → translate.


    I just made this tool just for fun because I didnt see anything like this on the net. It will probably improve in the future.

    Files

    ...................... FL Atlas ...........................................................Savegame Editor....................................................FL Lingo

    305973.png305409.png305505.png

    Edited once, last by Aldenmar Odin ().

    • New

    FL Lingo is now feature complete. So v0.1.3 will be my last relaese, will only fix bugs.

    Releases · flathack/FL-Lingo · GitHub


    FL Lingo can now translate Freelancer mods to over 100 different languages. For legal reasons it "can" only translate "mod" stuff ... ;-)

    ...................... FL Atlas ...........................................................Savegame Editor....................................................FL Lingo

    305973.png305409.png305505.png