# Script to extract text from application

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/script-to-extract-text-from-application/156820>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [January 3, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/script-to-extract-text-from-application/156820 "2009-01-03T14:52:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tuktuk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@tuktuk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tuktuk)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/script-to-extract-text-from-application/156820/1 "2009-01-03T14:52:33Z")

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I have a Rails application, that has grown quite large. At the moment  
all texts are placed inside the template files like this:

### This is a header

And inside the ruby code (like flash messages, model error messages,  
etc.)

I now have the situation, that I want to place all text in an external  
textfile in order to be able to e.g. translate the entire site.

Is there an easy way to extract all these texts and replace them with  
e.g.

l(:some\_text\_key) in the ruby code and

\<%=l(:some\_text\_key) in the templates?

or do I have to go through all files manually? (yikes)

BTW: I will happily move to Rails 2.2 if that is any help.

- Carsten