which i18n function to use?

[Christian Stimming]

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On Saturday 31 March 2001 13:30, Dave Peticolas wrote:
> You are correct. N_ returns the string argument it is given, and _
> returns the translated version. With respect to the help strings in
> options, those strings are run through gettext just before display,
> and they've always been written with N_, even though they aren't used
> as keys. I went through and looked for i18n problems in the reports
> last night, and I think I changed some of the help strings to use N_
> just to be consistent with prior usage.

Actually, I just thought about that a bit more. If the only reason for 
using N_ with help strings reads "they've always been written with N_", 
and if it's true that "they aren't used as keys", then I would request to 
change the way it's done right now. Instead I would like to suggest we 
restrict the usage of N_ to the cases if and only if strings are used as 
keys, and to use _ in *all* other cases. 

The way it's done right now is quite confusing to me, and I think it's 
reasonable to assume it will confuse other scheme coders as well. The rule 
"if string used as key, use N_, else _" is simple -- why do we have to 
keep the exeption "but if it's a help string in an option, use N_ 
nevertheless because it's always been written like that"... :-))

Christian
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