We've attempted to localize Billings in German and by the looks of it, we've gotten a good portion done (including the help files). This is our first localization project so we are still ironing out which localization technologies and process to use.

We have a few known issues with this beta:

• there are some words that have not been translated
  
• some buttons needs to be stretched to fit the German word we've chosen (or we need to choose a different German word or phrase)
  
• some windows also need to be stretched
  
• report/invoice/estimate templates have not been translated
  

You can interchange this beta (version 2.5.2 German Beta 1) with the shipping version 2.5.1. If you feel there are too many discrepancies, you can always revert to the 2.5.1 version.

We need feedback on the following:

• have we chosen appropriate words
  
• is there any way we can choose shorter terms such that the UI does not have to be stretched
  
• is the application workable for you in the current state
  
• please inform us that you are trying this beta in German
  

UPDATE: Feb 01, 2008. New Beta available, see below.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: AJ,

Thank you very much, - it is a very good idea to have billings in german now. I had first look at it and will use the german beta from now on.

I just had a first look at the german beta. You still have some work to do. Not only are you missing some words (I'll post you some ideas for the missing words soon) but also some fields which are obligatory by german law.

Tax number : UID ( With the exception: Steuerbefreit gem.§ 19 UStG. for small business) and the time of performance / period of performance: Leistungszeitraum. Last but not least one wants to have his bank details on the invoice. I'll have a look for good examples.

Best regards,

Max Holzapfel

/Edit: small mistake... small businesses need also an UID but don't need to calc taxes for their services.)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Touri,

Great too that Billings will be available in German. Yes, I noticed some errors in the text too (some right away in the very first setup/initial settings windows).

Actually, I found it easier to relate to some of the German terms than the US-terminology (e.g. slips) and that despite being English (although I live in Germany). Unfortunately so much is clipped due to too short text boxes that I found it distracting from evaluating the software (which I am doing at the moment), so I switched over to the English version.

Touri/Max is correct, but the second aspect relates more to the Invoice templates, which I imagine would be adaptable (maybe fields for account/BLZ/IBAN/BIC needed somewhere in the program - still learning here). There are a number of "must haves" for German invoices to be correct.
BTW: when I was still classed as "Kleinunternehmer" (§19 UstG), I did not need to have a UID number. You just have provide your normal tax number on invoices. Once you have a UID number you can provide that instead of your tax-number.

It would also be good to have a few more reports for those who have to make monthly/quarterly VAT tax returns, for instance, invoiced in a period with tax listed, and invoices paid within a period, for those doing "Ist-Besteuerung" VAT returns.

BTW: I read Veerle's review before looking at Billings, and it seems she must have similar legislative demands for Belgium.

It's good to see that you're trying to meet the requirements of the German market. Billings is pretty much what I need.

I have one question though, how do I change the language to German? I have downloaded the German beta but I'm working with OS X in English. Usually I can just tick off the checkbox for a given language in the application info box. But the languages are greyed out, although English and German are both available.

Update:
I don't know why it worked, but I ripped out the English.lproj directory, started Billings and put the English resource directory back in. After that I could tick off the language box as needed.

Since it looks like there's a lot of work to do wouldn't it be good to give out updated betas to your German customers so they can send you feedback? Omnigroup does quite a good with the Omnifocus alpha this way.

Beta testing isn't fun so it would be nice if you can show some support for people like me who would love to buy your software and give feedback but still need to see some key improvements in the localization.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Timon,

Hi Timon, öffne eine shell (Terminal) und schreibe dort
/Applications/Billings.app/Contents/MacOS/Billings -AppleLanguages "(German)"

Dieser Schalter -AppleLanguages "(German)" funktioniert in mit jedem Program das eine Deutsche Sprache hat.

Alternative kannst du im Finder auf das Program klicken, Apfel + i dort unter Languages kannst du die Sprachen einstellen, funktioniert hier leider nicht.
mfg
=========================================================================

Hello timon, open a new shell (Terminal) write /Applications/Billings.app/Contents/MacOS/Billings -AppleLanguages "(German)"

This switch -AppleLanguages "(German)" works with any other Application whit German Language.

Alternative try this, in Finder click the Application to change his localization, press Apple + i now you can change the Language.
Good Luck.

Thanks for the work!

Actually the biggest issue I'm seeing is the missing "Art" (timedSlipKindName and so on).

Is there any project plan when we can expect the next version?

Thanks a lot!

Hey,

nice to see that there is some work for a german version. I'd really like to see it soon.

Could anyone please tell me on which version this beta is based on?

Thanks
Tobias

BETA 3 AVAILABLE NOW

Sorry for the delay. We had to change the way we do localization. The old way wasn't maintainable and would have caused problems in the long run. With this new system, you will stay current with features and bug fixes even if the localization for those new features or bug fixes is not done.

We have beta 3 with the new localization system. We still have have a few things to localize in German (some terms, templates and reports).

The is a beta of 2.5.6 and it is interchangeable with v2.5.5.

Download it here.

Hi,

I am very interested in the german localization of Billings - if you need some help, please don't hesitate to ask for.

Thx,
Vanderhellen

Marketcircle - please finish the localization as soon as possible...we need that great software!

And if you need help during the process you are welcome to ask the german users here!

We are ready for testing the next betas!

hi marketcircle,

any progress ?
how is the localization doing ?

regrads
rob

ps: i'm waiting wishful for a better localized version

Big Apologies!

We had to redo our localization system. We've made some changes in Billings 3. Please see the Billings 3 Localization status thread.

I'm closing this thread as it applies to Billings 2.

Thanks.