🚀 ARB Excel Converter Tool #

A powerful command-line utility to convert Flutter's .arb localization files into a translatable Excel spreadsheet (.xlsx).

This tool simplifies the localization workflow by extracting keys, values, and descriptions from your primary .arb file into a structured spreadsheet, making it easy for translators to work with.

✨ Features #

• Key Extraction: Extracts all localization keys (e.g., helloWorld).
• Value Extraction: Extracts the default language value (e.g., "Hello World").
• Description Support: Includes the @description metadata, providing context for translators.
• Clean Output: Generates a single Excel file with a clear structure (Key, Value, Description).
• Zero Config: Optimized for standard Flutter localization projects.

📦 Installation #

This is a global command-line tool published on pub.dev.

1. Activate the Tool Globally #

Install the package directly from pub.dev using the Dart package manager:

dart pub global activate arb_excel_converter_tool

2. Verify Installation #

Ensure your Dart SDK bin folder is in your system's PATH, then check if the tool is ready:

arb_export --help

📖 How to Use #

Always run the command from the root directory of your Flutter project (where your pubspec.yaml is located).

1. Basic Conversion (Recommended) #

If your localization file is in the default Flutter path (lib/l10n/app_en.arb), simply run:

arb_export

This will automatically generate a file named localization_export.xlsx in your current folder.

2. Custom Input and Output #

If you have a custom file name or want to specify the output location:

arb_export --input lib/l10n/intl_en.arb --output my_translations.xlsx

3. Usage with Absolute Paths #

You can also point to files outside your current directory by providing the full path:

arb_export -i /Users/name/Projects/myapp/lib/l10n/app_en.arb -o /Users/name/Desktop/export.xlsx

🛠 Available Options #

📝 Example Mapping #

The tool converts your JSON-based ARB data into a structured table:

ARB Input:

{
  "loginTitle": "Welcome Back",
  "@loginTitle": {
    "description": "The title shown on the login screen"
  }
}

Excel Output:

💡 Troubleshooting #

• "Command not found": Make sure the Dart SDK global binaries are in your system PATH.
• "File not found": Ensure you are running the command from the project root or providing the correct relative path to your .arb file.
• Crash on MacOS: Ensure you are using version 1.0.2 or higher to avoid "unmodifiable list" errors.

🤝 Feedback & Issues #

I created this tool to make Flutter localization easier! If you find any issues or have a feature request, please report them on the GitHub Issues page.

Created by Mohit