Cn2data, LLC specializes exclusively in PO file translation. We use our proprietary software to translate and review the text in your catalogs while preserving the message context, plural forms, and placeholders your project depends on.
What is a PO file?
A Portable Object (.po) file is a translation catalog used by the GNU gettext localization system. It pairs source text with its translation for a particular language or region. Catalogs can contain interface labels, buttons, error messages, help text, and documentation passages.
Each entry keeps the original text in msgid and its translation in msgstr. Additional information can explain where the text appears, what it means, or how it changes when referring to more than one item.
If your website, application, or documentation already uses PO catalogs, those files provide a practical starting point for translation. Our service covers text supplied in .po files only.
Not sure whether PO files are available for your project? Read Can your project use PO files for translation? for common use cases and questions to ask your developer or software provider.
Translation with software context
Software text needs to make sense to readers and continue to work in the application. Our translation workflow supports:
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Message context: Translator comments and context help distinguish words that have different meanings in different screens or situations.
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Plural forms: Entries can contain the different forms required by the target language.
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Placeholders: Common variable patterns such as
%(name)s,{count}, and{{ value }}are checked when translations are saved so that application values can still appear in the text. -
Review tracking: Untranslated entries and entries marked as needing review can be identified and revisited.
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Catalog preservation: Metadata, comments, context, and plural entries remain part of the exported PO catalog. File wrapping and whitespace may be normalized.
Project-specific markup and formatting still need careful review alongside the wording. Terminology guidance and examples of the text in use help make that review more effective.
Our proprietary translation software
Our team uses Cn2data's proprietary PO translation software to search catalogs, edit translations, track review status, and export the results. The software supports optional AI suggestions for individual entries. Suggestions are drafts marked for review and must be explicitly saved; they are not automatically accepted or applied across a catalog.
The deliverable is an editable PO catalog encoded in UTF-8, ready for your team's existing localization workflow. Your team integrates the catalog and verifies how the translated text appears in the running project.
What to prepare
To discuss a translation project, please have the following information ready:
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Your
.pocatalog, prepared for the intended target language with the appropriate language and plural-form headers. -
The source language and requested target language, including the intended region or audience.
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A short description of the product and where the text appears.
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Any preferred terminology, style guidance, or words that should remain unchanged.
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The entries you want translated or reviewed and your desired timeline.
Start a conversation
Tell us about your PO files, intended audience, and translation needs. We can discuss the language requirements, scope, and timing for your project.