The term language is used in different contexts in ARIS. The subdivision is necessary because not all languages of the world are available for every context. The meaning of the term in each individual context is described below.
You use languages to define the representation of database and method content, and the appearance of the program interface. You manage languages for different purposes on the 'Administration' tab, for example, for tenants (configuration) and databases.
Configuration languages
Configuration administrators create the configuration languages of a tenant. You can specify the names and descriptions of all items of the configuration for this tenant (for example, font formats, templates, and filters), of the method, and of queries and evaluation scripts, in all configuration languages available.
Please select only the languages of the operating system that were installed as the ARIS interface language so that all content can be displayed.
Standard database languages
Languages generally available in ARIS. These languages are provided automatically when a new database is created. You manage database languages on the Administration tab.
Language-specific database content is displayed in the database language you used when logging in. This language is automatically displayed in Attribute Editing regardless of the method and interface language. You can specify attributes in multiple languages at the same time. If you right-click a column title and select Select language, you can add more database languages. You can switch between these languages by logging in again in another language.
Alternative database language
The alternative language is the database language in which database content is displayed if attribute values are not specified in the database language used. Using this, for example, you prevent names from being displayed as (Untitled) if they have not been specified in the relevant database language. When you create a database, English (United States) is selected automatically.
Always select the database language in which all attribute values are specified as the alternative language.
For example, if all your database content is specified in German and some in English, select German as the alternative language. Users who log in using the English language will also see database content in German that has not been specified in English.
On the Administration tab, you can change the alternative language.
Method language
The method language is the language in which all ARIS Method names are displayed, regardless of the interface and database language. For example, if you have selected English (United States), method names, such as the names of attribute types, model types, connection types, and object types, etc., are displayed in English. In contrast, the attribute values you have specified are displayed in the selected database language.
You select the method language on the ARIS > Options > General options page. For the change of the method language to take effect you must restart the program.
The language-dependent attribute values are specified in the relevant database language in the editable white fields. The Attribute name column contains method terms in the selected method language English. The Attribute name column title is displayed in the selected interface language.
Interface language
Defines the language in which the user interface is displayed, regardless of the method and database language. The interface language corresponds to the language in which menus, menu items, window titles, dialog titles and contents, and the online help are displayed. You can select all languages that were activated during installation.
You select the interface language under ARIS > Options > General. To change it, you must restart the program. If you have purchased an additional language, run a language update. To do this, administrators run the installation program (Modify program) and select the additional languages to be installed.
Languages in evaluation scripts and macros
These are the languages in which you want to specify text strings. It is strongly recommended that you specify the entries on the properties page of the script in this language so that they can be displayed in the language. Name and Description are especially important. When running a script, text strings are always displayed in the selected interface language. You can also define another language in the script by using the getString method and specifying the language parameter (see ARIS > Help > ARIS Script).
To specify the texts in another language, open the script for editing, right-click next to a tab title, and select Add language or Add language (copy text). A tab is created for the selected language. If you selected Add language (copy text), the source language texts are copied. They need to be translated. If in a language unreadable content appears in report output files or incorrect line breaks show up in model graphics, a used font is missing. In this case you must make the font available.
System languages
The languages provided by your operating system.