Localization and internationalization round table

Openbravo Get TogetherTechnology DayLocalization and Internationalization Round Table

Barcelona, October 28th 2007Speakers: Jordi Mas, Nicolas Serrano, Paolo Juvara

Introduction

Localization

Accounting

Questions and Answers

Agenda

Introduction

So... What is the big fuss about Localization?Openbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

Local Deployment

TechStack

LegalRequirements

• Locale- Unicode support- National Language Support- Date and numbers formats

• Translations

• Accounting- Chart of accounts- Accounting rules

• Local tax• Reporting• Inventory valuation

Localization Components

BusinessPractices

• Examples- EDI- Electronic ordering & invoicing- Outsourced manufactuing- etc.

VendorPresence

• Local system integrators• Local support• Local community

• Locale- Multiple Language Support

• Web user interface• Wide area network support• High Availability

• Global system integrators• Global support

Global Deployment

• Examples- Global sourcing- Global supply chain planning- Global trade management- etc.

Openbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

• Multiple Currency Support

How do you measure sucess?Openbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

How do you measure success?Openbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

Regional Localization Packs

The Openbravo Localization Stack – Future VisionOpenbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

CountryLocalization

Pack

Openbravo ERP

Regional Localization Packs

CountryLocalization

Pack

CountryLocalization

PackOpenbravo ERP

CountryLocalization

Pack

CountryLocalization

Pack

CountryLocalization

Pack

Localization

Who, what and how much effort requiresOpenbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

• Who can localize Openbravo?

• Anyone can localize Openbravo ERP. Openbravo is leading the effort for Spain and United States. Openbravo community is leading 32 additional localization efforts.

• What does it take to localize Openbravo?

• Translate the user interface.

• Create a local Chart of Accounts file.

• Set-up the local taxes for a specific entity.

• Create dedicated reports to facilitate the filing of official reports (optional).

• How much effort requires to do a basic Openbravo localization?

• 4 weeks of a full time skilled translator.

• 1 week of a person with knowledge on the accounting system of the country.

How can be doneOpenbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

• Community driven process

• All the documentation is available open and free at wiki.openbravo.com.

• Plenty of examples of how has been done for other countries.

• Openbravo and its community gives supports trough forums and IRC channels.

• The localizations are open and freely available to everyone.

• Additionally: Commercial support from Openbravo

• Second level support.

• Specific localization custom training.

What the process is?Openbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

• Basic Openbravo localization process

• Register your localization effort.

• Localize the XML files containing the translations.

• Test the translation.

• Create a chart of accounts.

• Test the chart of account and the accounting.

• Identify any special requirement for your country.

• Upload your work and publish it at Openbravo.

• Update and review your localization in future versions.

Areas of improvementOpenbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

• Areas of improvement that we are exploring

• Easying the installation and distribution of localization packs

• Adding PO (Portable Objects) native support

• Consolidating the strings in the product

• Adding real time statistics of the status of the translations

• Any additional idea?

Accounting

How accounting works?Openbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

• All activity in the company must have an accounting entry– An accounting entry must have account numbers and amounts– Most of the accounting entries must be made automatically– The accounts to be used depend on the accounting system

• It's neccesary to localize the accounting in an ERP

• Account systems are different for different countries

Accounting in localizationOpenbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

• Accounting in internationalization (or in any company) isn't a simple task

– The company must define all accounting entries in the application– May be specific process and reports for a country or / and customers – Accounting is a skilled profession

• But for operating most of the accounting functions of Openbravo you need a simple file– The chart of accounts– It defines the accounts to be used with their features– It is explained in:

http://wiki.openbravo.com/wiki/index.php/Creating_Accounts_Files– You can find examples of chart of accounts of others countries, probably similar to yours

http://wiki.openbravo.com/wiki/index.php/Creating_Accounts_Files

The chart of accountsOpenbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

• It defines the accounts with the following information:– Account value– Account name– Account description– Account type (Asset, Liability, Owner's equity, Expense, Revenue)– Account sign (Debit, Credit, Natural)

• It defines which account to use for automatic accounting:– Account document (Yes)– Default document (a constant for each type)

• It defines the structure of the General Accounting Reports:– Account Summary (Yes / No)– Account Parent (to define the hierarchy of accounts)

Validation of chart of accountsOpenbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

• The process to test a chart of accounts has 3 steps• 1. Test spreadsheet. It detects simple errors in the chart of accounts with 10 test:

•Defaults not defined:•Account Value not null•Name not null•Type in domain•Sign in domain•Document in domain•Document not "Y" with default•Summary in domain•If Document "Y" summary "N"•Not Summary must have Parent

• 2. Initial client setup- It creates an entity and loads the chart of accounts- In version 2.35 has improved with independent modules and enhanced final report

• 3. Test the accounting process- Defines dcouments (invoices, settelements, bank staments...)- Process them and launch accounting process- Test the general accounting reports


• Test spreadsheet


• Initial client setup (v2.35)


• Accounting process

Localization enhancements in Openbravo R2.35 Openbravo Get Together – Localization & Internationalization Round Table

• Simplified the default accounts (now only 30 accounts)

• Updated documentation about creating chart of accounts

• The initial client setup is now modular and with more information for the user

• Audit of international chart of accounts with consulting firm

• Account and tax reports defined by the user

Questions andAnswers

Thank you!

Openbravo Get Together

Localization and internationalization round table

Business

Transcript of Localization and internationalization round table