Version: (using KDE KDE 3.4.92) Installed from: Mandriva RPMs OS: Linux Locale ru_RU.UTF-8, default KDE language - ru. For zsh completion I need to parse kcmshell --list output; as current zsh does not support UTF-8, I need to force ASCII output. Unfortunately setting KDE_LANG=en_US does not work; the long descriptions are still in Russian: {pts/2}% KDE_LANG=en_US kcmshell --list The following modules are available: desktop - Настройка количества виртуальных рабочих столов kwindecoration - Настройка внешнего вида заголовков окон ... notice that the output of kcmshell itself is properly (un-)translated.
there is really no way to do that. kcmshell is not a simple shell tool, it's part of KDE. And if KDE runs in russia, then kcmshell's list will be in russian - because that's the way KDE tells it (over ksycoca btw). I change it to wishlist because if more think it should support LANG, then maybe kcmshell could be changed to find the desktop files itself.
I am not sure I fully undersand. First, kcmshell has --lang parameter - what is it for? Next, KDE_LANG is official way to change KDE program interface. If a program ignores it, it is a bug, is not it? Even to assist in translation sometimes it is necessary to start application in its "original" language because it is not always clear from translation. Not everyone can afford second KDE desktop in different language. Finally, let's take kcontrol. Starting it as "KDE_LANG=en_US kcontrol" *does* change language of *some* components but not others. Now this is a bug is not it - i.e. contrary to your statement, changing language seems to be possible but not applied consistently. So I still state that both kcmshell and kcontrol behavior is a bug - they do not consistently follow KDE_LANG. I agree that the problem seems more broad then just kcmshell.
You told kcmshell to change languages. Unfortunately, your system configuration cache (sycoca) was in the old language and will remain so.
Hello! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but this project has been unmaintained for many years so I am closing this bug. Kcontrol has been replaced by System Settings in Plasma. Please give the latest version of that a try, and open a new bug in "systemsettings" if you continue to have an issue. Thank you!