Monday 15 May 2017

Oniyosys Localization Testing: For Better Optimized Market Specific Softwares



At Oniyosys, we are dedicated to our commitment in performing all testing for the improvement of software lifecycles. Localization testing requires professional knowledge and careful control of the IT environment: clean machines, workstations, and servers with local operating systems, local default code pages, and regional settings within a controlled system configuration are only a few reasons. Moreover, the knowledge and experience gathered from testing one localized version can provide ready solutions that may be needed in other versions and locales, as well. 


What is Localization Testing?


Localization Testing is a software testing technique, where the product is checked to determine whether it behaves according to the local culture, trend or settings. In other words, it is a process of customization of a specific software application as per the targeted language and country.

The major area affected by localization testing includes content and UI. It is a process of testing a globalized application and its UI, default language, currency, date, time format and documentation are designed keeping in mind the targeted country or region. It ensures that the application is otimized enough for using in that particular country.

Example:

1. If the project is designed for Karnataka State in India, The designed project should be in Kannada language, Kannada or relevant regional virtual keyboard should be present, etc.

2. If the project is designed for the UK, then the time format should be changed according to the UK Standard time. Also language and currency format should follow UK standards.

Why to do Localization Testing?


The purpose of doing localization testing is to check appropriate linguistic and cultural aspects for a particular locale. It includes a change in user interface or even the initial settings according to the requirements. In this type of testing, many different testers will repeat the same functions. They verify various things like typographical errors, cultural appropriateness of UI, linguistic errors, etc. It is also called as "L10N", because there has 10 characters in between L & N in the word localization.


Best practices for Localization testing:



  • Hire a localization firm with expertise in i18n engineering
  • Make sure your localization testing strategy enables more time for double-byte languages.
  • Ensure that you properly internationalize your code for the DBCS before extracting any text to send for translation


Sample Test Cases for Localization Testing


S.No Test Case Description
1. Glossaries are available for reference and check.
2. Time and date is properly formatted for target region.
3. Phone number formats are proper to target region.
4. Currency for the target region.
5. Is the License and Rules obeying the current website (region).
6. Text Content Layout in the pages are error free, font independence and line alignments.
7. Special characters, hyperlinks and hot keys functionality.
8. Validation Message for Input Fields.
9. The generated build includes all the necessary files.
10. The localized screen has the same type of elements and numbers as that of the source product.
11. Ensure the localized user interface of software or web applications compares to the source user interface in the target operating systems and user environments.


Benefits for Localization Testing


Following are the benefits of localization testing


  • Overall testing cost reduction
  • Overall support cost reduction
  • Helps in reducing the time for testing.
  • It has more flexibility and scalability.



Localization of Testing Challenges:


Following are the challenges of localization testing


  • Requires a domain expert
  • Hiring local translator often makes the process expensive
  • Storage of DBCS characters differ in various country
  • Tester may face schedule challenges


At Oniyosys, we conduct localization testing to ensure that your interactive project is grammatically correct in a variety of languages and technically well adapted to the target market where it will be used and sold. It requires paying attention to the correct version of the operating system, language and regional settings.

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