csharp-string-extraction

name	csharp-string-extraction
description	Step-by-step procedure for extracting hardcoded English strings from DAX Studio C# files and replacing them with resource references. Use when localizing ViewModels, services, or other C# code.

C# String Extraction for i18n

Step 1: Add Using Statement

using DaxStudio.UI.Resources;

Step 2: Classify Strings

For each string literal in the file, determine if it is user-facing:

Extract (user-facing):

• Messages displayed in message boxes, dialogs, or output pane
• Status bar text
• Notification text
• Error messages shown to the user
• Tooltip text set in code-behind
• Window/dialog titles set in code

Do NOT Extract:

• Serilog log templates: Log.Information(Constants.LogMessageTemplate, ...)
• Internal exception messages not shown to the user
• Dictionary keys, property names, column names
• DAX query text or templates
• File paths, URLs, connection string keys
• Enum names used as identifiers
• XML/JSON element names
• Regex patterns
• Constants used as technical identifiers

Step 3: Generate Resource Key

Context	Pattern	Example
ViewModel message	{ShortName}_{Purpose}	Document_QueryCancelled
Error message	Error_{Context}_{Purpose}	Error_Connection_Timeout
Status message	Status_{Purpose}	Status_QueryRunning
Format string	Append Format	Export_RowsExportedFormat

Step 4: Replace Strings

Simple string:

// BEFORE
ShowMessage("Query was cancelled by the user");

// AFTER
ShowMessage(Strings.Document_QueryCancelled);

Interpolated string:

// BEFORE
OutputMessage($"Exported {rowCount} rows to {fileName}");

// AFTER
OutputMessage(string.Format(Strings.Export_RowsExportedFormat, rowCount, fileName));

Strings.resx: Export_RowsExportedFormat = Exported {0} rows to {1}

Conditional string:

// BEFORE
var msg = isConnected ? "Connected" : "Disconnected";

// AFTER
var msg = isConnected ? Strings.Status_Connected : Strings.Status_Disconnected;

String concatenation:

// BEFORE
var msg = "Error connecting to " + serverName + ": " + ex.Message;

// AFTER
var msg = string.Format(Strings.Error_Connection_DetailFormat, serverName, ex.Message);

Strings.resx: Error_Connection_DetailFormat = Error connecting to {0}: {1}

Step 5: Record Resx Entries

Record all key-value pairs to add to src\DaxStudio.UI\Resources\Strings.resx.

Important Notes

• Ensure {0}, {1} placeholder ordering works when translated — some languages reorder subjects and objects.
• When a string appears in both a log call AND a user display, extract it and use the resource for the display, keep the log template as-is.
• Watch for [Description] and [DisplayName] attributes — those are handled by the localized-attribute-migration skill.