Here are some notes that might be of interest to some readers.
XLIFF 2.0 candidate standard is due to be published today.
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff- ... -cs01.html
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff- ... cos01.html
Reference in my draft text below to XLIFF refers to XLIFF 1.2 format.
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff- ... -core.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLIFF
MY DRAFT TEXT SO FAR ONLY
If the first character of the line of a readouts.dat file is an ASTERISK the line is a comment for the primary purpose of using a readouts.dat file, namely of providing a text string in a particular language that describes in words the description of a particular pictograph character.
It would be possible, in principle, to use a specially written software tool to convert the contents of a readouts.dat file to an XLIFF file that has the same information content, though presented in an XLIFF structure.
For this purpose, several additional features are now introduced into the format of a readouts.dat file, though in such a way that the same original format may be used when using the readouts.dat file for its primary purpose.
These features are as follows, all being defined only when the first character of the line is an ASTERISK: the definitions being based upon the second character of the line when the first character of the line is an ASTERISK.
*[
On a line starting *[ the text after the second character, if there is any, can be used in the source string of an XLIFF trans-unit element.
As conversion of a localization line of a readouts.dat file to XLIFF coding takes place, the latest use of a *[ line indicates which string should be used in the source string of the XLIFF trans-unit element related to that localization line.
For example
*[en-GB
Please note that no quotation marks are used in the *[ line.
*]
On a line starting *] the text after the second character, if there is any, can be used in the target string of an XLIFF trans-unit element.
As conversion of a localization line of a readouts.dat file to XLIFF coding takes place, the latest use of a *] line indicates which string should be used in the target string of the XLIFF trans-unit element related to that localization line.
For example
*]en-GB
Please note that in the original use for a readouts.dat file there would only be one use of *] in the file, at the start of the file before any localization lines.
There might not be any use of a *[ in the file if the source is pictograph symbols such as emoji.
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As I learn which information that could be in comments in a readouts.dat file that could usefully be formatted so as to facilitate automated transfer into an XLIFF file, I may define other features, for example lines in a readouts.dat file that start with *{ and *} and maybe *_ and, if needed, some others as well.
William Overington
5 May 2014