Incoherence in object names if more than one language installed using duplicate

[Ruud Riem-Vis]

First create a clean database using the minimal profile using french (or another non-english language) and use all the default values.
Then add the module "product".
Now do the following (in the non-english language):
Go to "Products->Configuration->Product Categories"
Clic "New" and give the name "aa", then clic "Save".
Clic "New" and give the name "bb", then clic "Save".
Clic "Form->Duplicate" (one the top menu) and give the name "cc", then clic "Save".
Clic "Form->Duplicate" (one the top menu) and give the name "dd", then clic "Save".
Now clic on "List", you will have the product categorie "aa", "bb", "cc" and "dd".
Double clic on"aa" and clic on the flag to see the translations. You will see "aa" for the non-english language and "aa" for english.
Clic "Next" to select the next record and clic on the flag to see the translations. You will see "bb" for the non-english language and "bb" for english.
Clic "Next" to select the next record and clic on the flag to see the translations. You will see "cc" for the non-english language and "bb" for english!
Clic "Next" to select the next record and clic on the flag to see the translations. You will see "dd" for the non-english language and "cc" for english!!!

Apparently the duplicate action does not duplicate the translated version but puts the non-english value into the english entry of the duplicate.

It is also very misleading that the english translation follows the non-english original until the first "Save " action, after which it is frozen. Any modification made afterwards will not be taken into account although you haven't done any translation.

Now for each record change the name as follows "aa" becomes "aaa", "bb" becomes "bbb", "cc" becomes "ccc" and "dd" becomes "ddd". Look at the translations, only the non-english version has changed.

Now change the user language preference to english and look at the "Product Categories" list. You will see "aa", "bb", "bb" and "cc"!

This behavior is very disturbing as it all happens behind the scenes. In fact, the english names (or even the names for all installed languages) should "follow" the non-english naming as long as there is no explicit translation entered. A correct duplicate action should copy the entire record information (and not take the non-english source for the english duplicate), but the side effect in this case can be very misleading.
The worse situation occurs when you switch your language (for example to report bugs), and modify sometimes in English, sometimes in the non-English language. In that case, you get a real mess...

[Olivier Dony (Odoo) (odo-openerp)]

Assigned to a more specific duplicate bug