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Lesson 202: Weblate Export String Table Smoke Before Fest Player Build (2026)

Direct answer: Weblate green proves your PO files—not that String Tables survived an Addressables strip in the player build. This lesson wires string_table_receipt_v1.json, a Localization_Local group contract, and installed-build locale smoke into your live-ops gate chain after Lesson 201 triple-channel labels.

Lesson hero for Weblate string table smoke before fest player build

Why this matters now (October 2026 fest localization)

October 2026 Next Fest teams ship CN/JP/KR store capsules from Weblate freeze week while the fest exe still shows UI_START_BUTTON raw keys. Editor play mode lies: tables load from project assets, not from the stripped player payload. The Unity String Tables empty help is the fix playbook; this lesson is the course milestone that connects Weblate export → import → Build Report proof → BUILD_RECEIPT before upload.

VN siblings use language_receipt (Ren'Py selector evening pipeline)—same store vs build lesson, different receipt schema.

Beginner path (40-minute proof)

Step Action Success check
1 Export PO from Weblate with freeze tag weblate_export_manifest.json lists locales
2 Import into Unity String Tables Editor shows translated entries
3 Move tables to Localization_Local group Include in Build, not stripped
4 Build player for fest lane Build Report lists String Tables
5 Launch installed build per locale First screen translated, no raw keys
6 Write string_table_receipt_v1.json pass: true, raw_keys_visible: false
7 Attach to BUILD_RECEIPT string_table_receipt column green

Time: ~40 minutes smoke; full lesson 68 minutes with CI enumeration + store parity.

Developer path (gates L1–L6)

Gate Check Fail when
L1 string_freeze_receipt conflict_count: 0 Weblate merge blocked (freeze help)
L2 PO import matches weblate_export_manifest hashes Drift between export and import commit
L3 Build Report: Shared Table Data + String Tables Tables stripped from player
L4 Localization_Local non-remote for fest UI Core UI in remote-only group
L5 boot_locale smoke on installed build Editor-only pass
L6 BUILD_RECEIPT string_table_receipt Any L1–L5 red

weblate_export_manifest.json (import ticket)

{
  "schema": "weblate_export_manifest_v1",
  "freeze_tag": "fest-2026-10-rc1",
  "exported_at_utc": "2026-05-25T18:00:00Z",
  "locales": ["en", "ja", "zh-Hans"],
  "po_sha256": {
    "ja": "sha256:abc...",
    "zh-Hans": "sha256:def..."
  }
}

Pin beside PO under localization/imports/.

Localization_Local Addressables contract

Field Fest demo rule
Group name Localization_Local
Build path Local (not remote-only)
Strip Never for fest UI tables
CJK fonts Include in same group if glyphs missing

string_table_receipt_v1.json

{
  "schema": "string_table_receipt_v1",
  "checked_at_utc": "2026-05-25T22:00:00Z",
  "build_label": "fest-demo-2026-10-rc1",
  "addressables_group": "Localization_Local",
  "locales_in_build": ["en", "ja", "zh-Hans"],
  "shared_table_data_sha256": "sha256:abc123...",
  "string_table_manifest_sha256": "sha256:def456...",
  "boot_locale": "ja",
  "first_screen_translated_ok": true,
  "raw_keys_visible": false,
  "string_freeze_receipt_ref": "string_freeze_receipt_v1.json",
  "weblate_export_manifest_ref": "weblate_export_manifest.json",
  "pass": true
}

Store under release-evidence/localization/STRING_TABLE_RECEIPT.json.

Boot locale smoke script (installed build)

// Attach to first scene; log for receipt attachment
void Start() {
  var locale = UnityEngine.Localization.Settings.LocalizationSettings
    .SelectedLocale.Identifier.Code;
  var sample = LocalizationSettings.StringDatabase
    .GetLocalizedString("UI", "START_BUTTON");
  Debug.Log($"boot_locale={locale} sample={sample}");
}

Receipt fails if sample equals the raw key id.

Publish gate

ALTER TABLE release_publish_gate ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS
  string_table_smoke_blocked BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT false;

CI job verify_string_table_receipt_v1 sets blocked false only when:

  • pass: true
  • string_freeze_receipt_ref resolves
  • Thursday row review includes string_table_receipt.tables_ok

Prerequisites

Common mistakes

  • Passing Weblate QA without opening Build Report on player.
  • Stripping Localization_Local to save build size mid-fest week.
  • Screenshots from Editor while exe is English-only.
  • Mixing Ren'Py language_receipt fields into Unity BUILD_RECEIPT rows.

Troubleshooting

Symptom Cause Fix
Keys on first screen Tables not in build L3–L4 group move
English only, no keys Wrong SelectedLocale L5 boot smoke
Store CN, game EN Screenshot / build mismatch Regen from installed locale
Weblate 100%, receipt false PO never imported Re-import + rebuild

Mini exercise (55 minutes)

  1. Export one locale PO from Weblate manifest.
  2. Break L3 on purpose (strip group); confirm gate fails.
  3. Restore Localization_Local; pass installed smoke.
  4. Add row to BUILD_RECEIPT template.
  5. Cross-link from Ren'Py blog Unity comparison section.

Continuity

FAQ

Does this replace the Unity help article?
No—the help article is the fix; this lesson is the milestone in your RPG live-ops receipt chain.

Ren'Py-only project?
Skip Unity gates; use language_receipt from the Ren'Py blog—still run store parity checklist.

Addressables remote for DLC languages?
Allowed for optional DLC; fest UI must stay in Localization_Local.

Weblate proves PO; your player build proves String Tables—file the receipt before October upload week.