Lesson 232: Steam Short Description CJK 300-Char Receipt on BUILD_RECEIPT (2026)

Direct answer: Before spring fest store visibility, file store_copy_cjk_receipt_v1.json proving every shipped locale has steam_char_count ≤ 300, Steamworks Save succeeded, and capsule screenshots match the localized player build—then promote BUILD_RECEIPT store_copy_cjk. Distinct from Lesson 219 string tables (in-game UI) and help store_copy_receipt_v1 (symptom fix without Photoshop export crosswalk).

Why this matters now (May 2027 CJK capsule paste week)

May 2027 teams finish FMOD bank strip and paste CN/JP/KR short descriptions from Photoshop text layers or Weblate exports—English saves, Japanese fails at 302 characters because full-width ， and duplicate 体験版 clauses were counted in a spreadsheet, not Steam. Marketing blames translators; the fix is git-tracked .txt files, one counter script, and a receipt before BUILD_RECEIPT promotion.

The Steam 300-char CJK help documents fastest recovery; Photoshop/GIMP export proof preflight is the ninety-second art-pipeline gate—this lesson is the BUILD_RECEIPT milestone with CI hook verify_store_copy_cjk_v1.

Beginner path (per-locale save proof)

Time: ~68 minutes first CJK paste week; ~15 minutes when templates are pinned.

Developer path (gates J1–J6)

J1 — Git layout (store-copy/)

store-copy/
  short-description.en.txt
  short-description.ja.txt
  short-description.zh-Hans.txt
  short-description.ko.txt
  char-count-proof.txt          # CI output
  STORE_COPY_CJK_RECEIPT.json   # promoted copy

Rule: never edit Steamworks only—diff must be reviewable in PR.

J2 — Counter script (Steam-matching)

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""store_copy_count.py — BUILD_RECEIPT gate for short description budget."""
import sys
from pathlib import Path

MAX = 300

def steam_char_count(text: str) -> int:
    t = text.replace("\r\n", "\n").replace("\r", "\n")
    return len(t)

def main(path: Path) -> None:
    n = steam_char_count(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
    status = "PASS" if n <= MAX else "FAIL"
    print(f"{path.name}: steam_char_count={n} max={MAX} {status}")
    sys.exit(0 if n <= MAX else 1)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main(Path(sys.argv[1]))

for f in store-copy/short-description.*.txt; do python store_copy_count.py "$f"; done

Archive output → release-evidence/02-store/copy/char-count-proof.txt.

J3 — Photoshop/GIMP export crosswalk

Pair with guide #12 when authored for layer → plain text discipline.

store_copy_cjk_receipt_v1.json

{
  "schema": "store_copy_cjk_receipt_v1",
  "build_label": "spring-fest-2027-rc1",
  "short_description_max": 300,
  "export_source": {
    "photoshop_doc": "store-copy/psd/short-description-masters.psd",
    "weblate_component": "store-marketing-short",
    "git_paths": [
      "store-copy/short-description.ja.txt",
      "store-copy/short-description.zh-Hans.txt",
      "store-copy/short-description.ko.txt"
    ]
  },
  "locales": {
    "english": { "steam_char_count": 287, "steamworks_save_ok": true },
    "japanese": { "steam_char_count": 298, "steamworks_save_ok": true },
    "schinese": { "steam_char_count": 295, "steamworks_save_ok": true },
    "koreana": { "steam_char_count": 291, "steamworks_save_ok": true }
  },
  "paired_receipts": {
    "string_tables_fest": "release-evidence/localization/ADDRESSABLES_FEST_STRING_TABLE_RECEIPT.json",
    "string_freeze": "release-evidence/localization/STRING_FREEZE_RECEIPT.json"
  },
  "gates": {
    "J1_git_sources": "pass",
    "J2_char_count": "pass",
    "J3_export_crosswalk": "pass",
    "J4_steamworks_save": "pass",
    "J5_screenshot_parity": "pass",
    "J6_build_receipt": "pass"
  },
  "cjk_copy_pass": true,
  "fest_promotion_allowed": true
}

Pin under release-evidence/02-store/copy/STORE_COPY_CJK_RECEIPT.json.

BUILD_RECEIPT row (J6)

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

Relationship to help vs guide

Key takeaways

1. Weblate 100% ≠ Steam save for marketing strings.
2. Count in git with the same script before every paste.
3. Full-width punctuation eats budget faster than translators expect.
4. Lesson 219 fixes in-game UI; 232 fixes store short description.
5. Run store-page QA checklist after receipt.
6. Pair Weblate freeze tools on gameplay PO only.
7. 300-character evidence checklist defines slot anatomy—do not delete demo boundary entirely.
8. Q2 capstone 235 wires 232 with 230–234.

Common mistakes

• Using Excel LEN() as authority.
• Pasting About section HTML into short description.
• Localized capsule with English-only installed build.
• Merging help store_copy_receipt without export_source block.
• Skipping ko because “we only market JP/CN this week.”

Troubleshooting

Mini exercise (65 minutes)

1. Add \n\n to short-description.ja.txt—confirm J2 fails.
2. Trim to ≤300; pass Steamworks save; screenshot J4.
3. File receipt with export_source paths.
4. Link 219 receipt in paired_receipts.
5. Set BUILD_RECEIPT store_copy_cjk GREEN.

Continuity — Q2 2027 spring fest shipping (230–235)

Previous: Lesson 231 — Unity FMOD bank-strip boot probe
Capstone: Lesson 235 — Q2 spring fest shipping — arc 230–235 closed.

FAQ

Same as Steam 300-char help?
Help fixes paste failure; 232 adds BUILD_RECEIPT + Photoshop/Weblate export crosswalk.

Same as Lesson 219?
219 = String Tables in player build; 232 = Steamworks short description field.

Use store_copy_receipt_v1 or store_copy_cjk_receipt_v1?
Help cousin for triage; promote store_copy_cjk on BUILD_RECEIPT for this course arc.

CJK short descriptions fail in Steamworks when counters lie—git sources, one script, save proof per locale, then store_copy_cjk_receipt.