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Hi everybody,
We have a discussion on the Danish mailing list about the translation of
"[Runtime]" in all the cases like
"IsNull Function [Runtime]"
(https://help.libreoffice.org/Basic/IsNull_Function_Runtime)
As always, if one understands the original meaning completely, it is much
easier to translate correctly. Nuances in meaning can show up in the
details, and those nuances could mean the difference between two different
words in the target language, even if only one word is used for both
meanings in the source language.
I am unsure what [Runtime] actually means here. As a programmer, I am aware
of the distinction between run time and compile time. But in this case, it
doesn't quite make sense to me why it is so important to state "runtime"
after each function that it even has to be mentioned at the most prominent
place, the heading? What functions would work only at compile time? Or what
functions exist in two different versions, one at run time and one at
compile time? And if there was such a function with more than one version,
wouldn't it make sense to only distinguish so "loudly" between those two
versions for that specific function, but not for all other functions? Is
there a "[Compile time]" tag in use at all? I can't seem to find one.
Microsoft does not state something similar to "[Runtime]" in their
documentation of the Excel version of IsNull, and to me that seems much
more reasonable:
(IsNull is just an example here, the same goes with all other functions and
statements).
To me, the loud "[Runtime]" seems to disturb more than it helps, especially
because even as a programmer I don't understand the point. Can anyone
explain why it is so important to state such a rather non-important fact as
"[Runtime]" loud and clear in the most prominent place, the heading? Most
if not all functions are run time functions; why is it important to put
that fact in the heading?
I am asking these questions in an attempt to gain a deeper understanding,
because maybe there is a point I am missing. Maybe there is an important
distinction that exists in LibreOffice but not in Excel? Or a situation
where it is crucial to know that the specific function is a run time
function, and if you didn't know, you could wreak havoc? I can't come up
with one, but maybe someone can?
In short: What is the rationale of putting that "[Runtime]" after each
function and statement all up there in the heading of every function and
statement in the Help?
Best regards,
Jesper