A global BW implementation will definitely need to cater to the different language needs of the user. In this article we will be investigating the ways to implement Language Translation and Supplementation in a BW system that has a multiple language requirement.

Installing a language in the Language Management screen (Figure 1) is only the beginning of the translation/supplementation activity since we have to contend with the 'Degree of Translation' SAP was able to deliver. A lot of the Languages do not have a full translation for Business Content Objects. Also most of BW implementation will be using bespoke objects hence no business content translation.

Figure 1

It will be a painstakingly slow process to manually maintain the text of the objects. Just imagine you being the user and presented with a front end interface as shown below (Figure 2). This would impact user enthusiasm for BW but using translation and or supplementation will avoid this scenario.

Figure 2