What does iOS Localizable Stringsdict file do, and how is it associated with localization?
| File Extensions | .stringsdict |
| API Extension | stringsdict |
| Import | Yes |
| Export | Yes |
| Pluralization supported? | Yes |
| Descriptions supported? | No |
| Format Options | convert_placeholder |
iOS Localizable Stringsdict is an XML-based exchange file format used to define language plural rules. It is used when you need to provide several translations for a string in a language with different plural forms (e.g., Arabic). The root element of a Stringsdict file is <plist> that holds one or more <dict> elements. Each dict element represents a key that will be referenced in the source code.
Note: iOS Stringsdict should only be used to provide alternate translations for languages that have different plural rules. Otherwise, the standard localization file format for iOS and OS X is the iOS Strings Resource file format.
Format Options
Convert placeholder
| Identifier | convert_placeholder |
| Type | boolean |
| Upload | Yes |
| Download | No |
| Default | false |
| Description | Placeholder will be converted to match format specific requirements. Example: '$s' => '$@' |
Code Sample
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>pluralized_key</key>
<dict>
<key>NSStringLocalizedFormatKey</key>
<string>%#@localized_format_key@</string>
<key>localized_format_key</key>
<dict>
<key>NSStringFormatSpecTypeKey</key>
<string>NSStringPluralRuleType</string>
<key>NSStringFormatValueTypeKey</key>
<string>d</string>
<key>one</key>
<string>Only one pluralization found.</string>
<key>other</key>
<string>Wow, you have %s pluralizations!</string>
<key>zero</key>
<string>You have no pluralization.</string>
</dict>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>
This format should only be used to provide alternate strings for languages that have different plural rules. To specify language plural rules that can’t be represented by key-value pairs in the iOS Localizable .strings file, use a .stringsdict file.
Creating complex keys trough the Translation Editor
Setting a project’s default file format to iOS Localizable Stringsdict as show below will enable additional functionality in the Add/Edit Key dialog:
This allows adding/editing the NSStringLocalizedFormatKey. Providing multiple placeholders in this field will create the corresponding amount of keys:
Creating keys as above will result in the following:
Please note that manually refreshing the page might be necessary to see the newly created keys and that this functionality is currently only available through the Translation Editor.