In HEC-EFM, “languages” are comprised of: 1) name, 2) language file, 3) Quick Start Guide, 4) Demonstration Project, and 5) Language for system labels. Name is assigned by the user to identify the language. Language file is a text file that contains all interface labels. Quick Start Guide and Demonstration Project are file and pathname pointers to customized or translated versions of HEC-EFM user guidance and demonstration projects. Both are optional. If unspecified, HEC-EFM will continue to use the default files associated with those resources that are provided as part of the HEC-EFM install. Language for system labels offers users a choice of language and dialect, which is then used by HEC-EFM to determine format of numeric output in results tables. HEC-EFM 5.0 has a default language named “English (HEC)” that uses labels from a version-specific default language file entitled “EFMLanguage_HEC.txt”.
In HEC-EFM Plotter, languages are comprised of: 1) name and 2) language file. The other HEC-EFM language components are not relevant because Plotter guidance and demonstrations are included as part of the corresponding HEC-EFM materials and Plotter only uses number formats associated with the English (United States) language and dialect. HEC-EFM Plotter 3.0 has a default language named “English (HEC)” that uses labels from a version-specific default language file entitled “EFMPlotterLanguage_HEC.txt” (Figure 75).
Languages may be associated with the software or with particular applications. “Program languages” are languages associated with specific versions of the software. After one or more program languages are specified, new instances of the software will open with the most recently used program language and all program languages will be in the language list. “Project languages” are languages associated directly with an application. When the application is opened, its project language will be used, regardless of any subsequent changes to program languages. Project languages only appear in the language list of the associated project. Supporting both language types allows users to use the software with multiple languages on a single computer and have existing applications use different languages than used in new projects.
Figure 75. Language files for HEC-EFM (left) and HEC-EFM Plotter (right). Language files contain label integers and the corresponding label text.