The term language is used in different contexts in ARIS Designer. 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 various purposes on the Administration tab in ARIS Designer.
Database languages
The database language is the language you used when logging in and in which language-dependent database content is displayed, regardless of the method and interface language. This language is displayed automatically in Attribute Editing. You can specify attributes in multiple languages at the same time. You can switch between these languages by logging in again in another language. Database languages are specified on the Administration tab in ARIS Designer.
If you have opened Attribute Editing for a model, for example, the language-dependent attribute values that have been specified are displayed in the various database languages. If you right-click a column title and select Select language, you can add more database languages.
In this example, German and English were selected. English is the alternative language for the database here.
Standard database languages
Language generally available in ARIS. These languages are provided automatically when a new database is created. You manage database languages on the Administration tab.
Language-dependent attribute values are displayed in the editable white fields using the database language you selected when logging in. This language is automatically displayed in Attribute Editing regardless of the method and interface language. Text related to database items is managed using the Attributes tab or the Attributes window. You can specify attributes in multiple database 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.
You can define an default language to display database content if attribute values are not specified in the database language that is currently used.
What are languages in ARIS?
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.
The alternative language can be changed on the Administration tab in ARIS Designer.
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.
System languages
The languages provided by your operating system.