[Video] Translation management tutorial and best practice

Description: The video below describes the steps of how to manage translations in Jems.

Best practice for labelling

Jems supports translations and to change the labels on user interface elements. The system adapts its layouting within certain constraints (e.g. buttons will resize up to a certain limit). Here are some best practices to consider for user interface labels:

Labels on interactive UI elements like buttons, toggle buttons, navigation, tabs

As few words as possible, no filler words or whole sentences, clearly define effect and context of action for the user. Can even go with single words, if context is absolutely clear (e.g. navigation).

Good: “Submit project application”

Bad: “Submit” (Not enough context. What will be submitted?)

Bad: “Click here to submit the project application form for assessment” (Full sentence. Unnecessarily long, too much information.)

Context-info (the circles with an “i”)

If information is needed for a user to fill out the form: put it in the descriptions where its immediately visible to the user. The context-info elements are supposed to provide secondary information instead: they answer certain questions that a user might have at this point.
Keep information short and to the point, make sure to provide 1-2 key infos per element in a readable sentence, and refrain from overloading them with unnecessary details.

Good: “Amounts in budget tables are rounded down to 2 digits after the comma.”

Bad: “Please be aware that amounts in the budget table below are rounded down to 2 digits after the comma.“ (Longer than necessary)

Bad: “Please indicate to which strategies and policies your project will contribute.” (This information is needed by the user to correctly fill out the form. Put directly in description instead, do not hide inside context-info!)

Further information

A short online search for best practice to label certain UI elements will usually come up with useful guidance. When in doubt, or faced with special edge cases or questions, please feel free to contact us!