Multi-lang. option in a cms

[vedran]

As I mentioned before, I'm making a simple cms, and I would really appreceate if some could tell me how could I create Multi-langguage options. I've seen the way php-nuke does it, and I relly like it. Could someone tell me where can I find tutorials or something like that?

[Jordan]

How does PHP Nuke do it? vBulletin uses "phrases" which are strings stored in a database. The phrase can be made in any language and vBulletin loads those phrases into an array and calls that variable. IE:

PHP Code:

 echo $phraseDB["somePhrase"]; 


Similarly, Joomla 1.x (not 1.5) does it the same way except with files and it does not use an array to hold the vlaues.

[vedran]

phpnuke use something similar to that, stores lang files in langauage folder for example:

PHP Code:

define("_TURNOFFMSG","Turn Off Public Messages"); 


The only thing I don't understand is how does it work :S

[Jordan]

Yup, that looks just like Joomla.

So, say you have an option in your CMS to choose English or French. You have 2 files in your language directory (english.php and french.php). If the user selects English your CMS includess the english.php file. If the user selects French it includes french.php.

The English file contains:

PHP Code:

define("_TURNOFFMSG","Turn Off Public Messages"); 


The French file contains:

PHP Code:

define("_TURNOFFMSG","Désactiver les messages publics"); 


In your CMS where you would normally do this:

PHP Code:

echo "Turn Off Public Messages"; 


you would change it to

PHP Code:

echo _TURNOFFMSG; 


Now, depending on what the user has selected it will output the named constant in English or French.

[vedran]

Yes I know that, what I don't know is how to can I make this only a user option. I mean, once user selects different language, I want only THAT user to see the language he has selected, I don't want whole site to change language

[orjan]

Then you need to go with the database version, or atleast it's simplest. I'm writing such a system myself at the moment actually, so if you want, I can share my experiences.
I'm also writing a translation website so i can let other ppl translate my app. if someone knows a language I don't know.

[Jordan]

Originally Posted by vedran

Yes I know that, what I don't know is how to can I make this only a user option. I mean, once user selects different language, I want only THAT user to see the language he has selected, I don't want whole site to change language

Just allow the user to choose, store that value and load the file based on which lang they choose .
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