Adding localised strings to info.plist

Targets macOS
1

My new app needs access to the Contacts. This works fine if I add the info.plist file from the MBS example. However, my app is localised and I want localised reason strings. At some point this must have worked for my old app. But when I use the code below access to Contacts is denied. How do I get localised strings into the info.plist?


dim dbg as String
if debugBuild then dbg = ".debug"
dim appNameForShell as string = PropertyValue("App.MacOSXAppName") + dbg +".app" + "/Contents/Info.plist"
appNameForShell = replaceall(appNameForShell, " ", "\ ")
Dim AppPath As String = CurrentBuildLocation + "/" + ReplaceAll(CurrentBuildAppName, " ", "\ ")
if right(AppPath, 4) <> ".app" then appPath = appPath + ".app"

'contacts
dim command as String = "/bin/echo 'NSContactsUsageDescription = ""Nur Deine Email-Adresse und Dein Name werden benötigt.""; '>>" + appPath + "/Contents/Resources/de.lproj/InfoPlist.strings"
Call DoShellCommand(command)
2

Instead of putting localized strings directly in Info.plist, reference them using key/value strings, and provide localized versions in InfoPlist.strings files.

Use this syntax in your Info.plist for localizable values:

<key>CFBundleDisplayName</key>
<string>$(CFBundleDisplayName)</string>

Create these in the appropriate .lproj folders (e.g. en.lproj, fr.lproj, etc.).

Example: en.lproj/InfoPlist.strings:
CFBundleDisplayName = "My App";

Example: fr.lproj/InfoPlist.strings:
CFBundleDisplayName = "Mon App";

2 Likes
3

That’s what I’m already doing. The path for the file is de.lproj/InfoPlist.strings.

Edit: This is what should happen. But as far as I can see the main entry in the plist is missing:

Screenshot 2025-05-29 at 18.52.37
Screenshot 2025-05-29 at 18.52.371952Ă—1532 339 KB

Sigh… so why do the AppleScripts work with this plist but not the Contacts? I hate this stupid sugar. I’ll check that out tomorrow.

4

Those localized folders belong at the top level of your bundle, not in the Resources directory.

But you also need an entry in the top-level Info.plist file that references the name in the file.

5

If it is intended for the AppleStore, in order for the app to be approved yuo may need this item too:

< key>NSContactsUsageDescription<< /key>
< string>Users may request data from Contacts app. Contacts will not be shared or uploaded.< /string>

edited: added < plus space in order to may key appear. Needless to say that the space will have to deleted

6

Carlo, did you read her initial post? She wants to localize that string, she already knows she needs it.

7

Sorry for the unecessary noise.

1 Like
8

Got this finally solved. Greg was correct, I was missing the correct entry in the main plist file. Also the Xojo script was missing double quotes around each '““NSContactsUsageDescription”” . The translations do not go to the top level of the bundle but the Resources directory.

9

It’s fine to read Carlo’s post as well, as reference for other users who need this information as well.

1 Like