appstore-metadata-localizer

App Store Metadata Localizer

Pull source metadata, translate/adapt it, validate limits, get approval, then upload version or app-info localizations.

ASC Rules

• Confirm flags first: asc localizations --help, download --help, upload --help, asc apps info edit --help.
• Use explicit long flags and JSON for automation; table output is for human selection.
• Prefer deterministic IDs. Do not pick the first row with head -1; use appstore-id-resolver when needed.
• Do not upload translations without user approval.

Scope

• Version fields: description, keywords, whatsNew, supportUrl, marketingUrl, promotionalText.
• App-info fields: name, subtitle, privacyPolicyUrl, privacyChoicesUrl, privacyPolicyText.
• App Store locales: ar-SA, ca, cs, da, de-DE, el, en-AU, en-CA, en-GB, en-US, es-ES, es-MX, fi, fr-CA, fr-FR, he, hi, hr, hu, id, it, ja, ko, ms, nl-NL, no, pl, pt-BR, pt-PT, ro, ru, sk, sv, th, tr, uk, vi, zh-Hans, zh-Hant.

Workflow

1. Resolve IDs:

   asc apps list --output table
   asc versions list --app "APP_ID" --state PREPARE_FOR_SUBMISSION --output table
   asc apps info list --app "APP_ID" --output table
   

2. Download source and existing localizations:

   asc localizations download --version "VERSION_ID" --path "./localizations"
   asc localizations download --app "APP_ID" --type app-info --app-info "APP_INFO_ID" --path "./app-info-localizations"
   

   If download is unavailable, inspect with asc localizations list ....
3. Translate one target locale at a time from the source locale. Preserve formatting and meaning; do not translate from memory.
4. Enforce limits before upload:
   • name: 30
   • subtitle: 30
   • keywords: 100 comma-separated chars
   • description: 4000
   • whatsNew: 4000
   • promotionalText: 170
5. Write .strings files:

   "description" = "...";
   "keywords" = "native,search,terms";
   "whatsNew" = "...";
   "promotionalText" = "...";
   "subtitle" = "...";
   

6. Show a field-by-locale summary table and wait for approval.
7. Upload:

   asc localizations upload --version "VERSION_ID" --path "./localizations"
   asc localizations upload --app "APP_ID" --type app-info --app-info "APP_INFO_ID" --path "./app-info-localizations"
   

8. Verify:

   asc localizations list --version "VERSION_ID" --output table
   asc localizations list --app "APP_ID" --type app-info --app-info "APP_INFO_ID" --output table
   

Translation Rules

• Use formal, professional App Store register. Use formal "you" forms where the language distinguishes them.
• description: natural local-market copy, same formatting, <= 4000 chars.
• keywords: do not literally translate; choose native App Store search terms, comma-separated, no app name, <= 100 chars.
• whatsNew: concise release-note translation.
• promotionalText: localized hook, <= 170 chars.
• subtitle: creative adaptation, <= 30 chars.
• name: keep original unless the user explicitly asks to translate.
• For updates, download current localization, show a diff, get approval, then upload.

Related Skills

• Use appstore-id-resolver when only app/version names are known.
• Use appstore-metadata-sync for non-translation metadata operations.
• Use appstore-subscription-localizer for subscription/IAP display names.