SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MULTIPLE LANGUAGE CAPABILITY IN COMPUTER-BASED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is a system and method for providing a multiple language capability in a computer-based target application such as a personal computer-based (PC-based) attendant console for a communications switching system. The multiple language capability of the present invention includes the ability to dynamically change language selections for the text-based information that is visually presented to a user of the target application, which includes commands, labels, status and error messages, help screens, and the like. Users can either select a pre-programmed standard language, customize any of the standard languages to create a modified version of the standard language, or create a new language. In one embodiment, a multiple language capable PC-based attendant console includes a programmable computer with a custom language development function, a privileged operations function for administrators, and an attendant operations function. The programmable computer is coupled to a communications switching system via an adapter means. Selecting an appropriate language for use in the target application is accomplished by retrieving a user profile for an attendant, displaying a current language selection for the attendant, modifying the current language selection by either selecting another standard language as a new language selection or by creating a custom language as the new language selection, and operating the system with the new language selection. In another embodiment, a network of PCs can provide attendant service to the switch simultaneously with several attendants logged into the system. Dynamic language selection changes are simultaneously made for any of the attendants.