PRE-PROCESSING CODE TO IDENTIFY AND MODIFY FORMAT OF KEYS

A method, computer program product and data processing system for identifying and modifying the format of keys in a resource file source code and in the associated a program code. In one embodiment of the present invention, a program reads a resource file source code for keys written in a non-standard format. Upon detecting one or more keys written in a non-standard format in the resource file source code, the program modifies the format of those one or more keys so that they are written in a standard format. The program may then read the associated program code for any text that matches the written format of the one or more keys written in the non-standard format. Upon detecting any text that matches the written format of the one or more keys written in the non-standard format, the program replaces any matched text with the updated written format, i.e. standard format, of the one or more keys whose format was modified. In another embodiment of the present invention, a report may be generated which indicates the modifications of the format of the one or more keys in the resource file source code and in the associated program code. In another embodiment of the present invention, the user of the program may be provided an option as to whether or not to save the modifications of the format of the one or more keys in the resource file source code and in the associated program code.