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Overview
ICU (International Components for Unicode) syntax is a reliable system designed to support internationalization (i18n) and localization (l10n) by enabling dynamic text formatting in software. It provides essential features like pluralization, gender-specific text variations, and context-sensitive messaging, helping developers handle the challenges of different languages and cultures. ICU syntax also ensures consistent formatting of numbers, dates, and currencies across various locales. By embedding rules directly in text templates, it simplifies the creation of multilingual applications and ensures clear and accurate communication. This makes ICU syntax a key tool for delivering tailored and precise content in globally used software.

Purpose
The purpose of this feature is to assist linguists in adapting and completing ICU syntax to align with the target language in the Lingotek workbench. When a source segment includes valid ICU syntax elements, these are converted into the corresponding target-language syntax, enabling linguists to translate effectively. To make the process easier, a preview feature is included to show how the source and target ICU syntaxes work after conversion.

Features
This feature supports various types of ICU syntax, including plural, select, selectordinal, function-based syntax (for dates, times, and numbers), and argument-based syntax. It also works with nested and linear ICU syntaxes, provided they follow a valid ICU format. This ensures flexibility and precision, making it easier to manage complex linguistic and formatting tasks.

ICU Syntax Types

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1.Select a source segment from the Workbench's segment table.
2.If the segment does not contain ICU syntax, a message will display: "No ICU syntax detected." and ICU Pluralization tab icon displays the count as 0.
3.If the segment contains invalid ICU syntax, an error message will display: "Invalid ICU syntax in the provided source segment." and ICU Pluralization tab icon displays the count as 0.

View and Translate the Target String

1.If the source segment contains valid ICU syntax, ICU Pluralization tab icon displays the number of linear ICU syntax count and the converted ICU syntax for the target language will appear in the Target String panel.
2.Editable placeholders (highlighted in grey) allow the user to add translated text. Users are not required to fill all placeholders.
3.When the ICU container tab is loaded, the ICU Message Helper section displays input elements based on the target type and argument names.

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1.Once satisfied with the results, click Copy to Target Text to paste the completed target string into the target column of the segment table.
2.Users can also copy the segment at any time, regardless of whether it is fully completed.

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Note:
To simplify the application, the octothorpe syntax (#) is not supported. If a segment includes the # character in SelectOrdinal or any other ICU syntax, users must manually type it. During rendering, the # will be replaced with the corresponding number automatically.

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