Language Packs - Full site conversion

[envexlabs]

Hey,

 

I have a client who wants to run his store site in many different languages.

 

Is there a way to install language packs that the end user can choose? Kind of like facebook's language app, where the whole site is affected, not just chunks of text if wrapped in a function?!

 

thanks,

 

envex

[JonnoTheDev]

What do you mean install language packs?

Are you asking if there is an addition to an existing commerce system (such as osCommerce) or are you asking how to best implement multiple languages into a website?

[envexlabs]

Hey,

 

I've built my own cart, etc.

 

I just want to be able to convert the whole site to french when a user chooses to do so.

 

Instead of having to create multiple versions of the site in each language.

[JonnoTheDev]

Many ways to implement multi-languages. One way is to store all the static text for the site in language files within constants i.e.

 

en.php

======

define(WELCOME_TEXT,'Hello');

 

es.php

======

define(WELCOME_TEXT,'Hola');

 

de.php

======

define(WELCOME_TEXT,'Hallo');

 

You could then use a cookie to determine which language file to use for the website.

In your website templates you just print out the constants.

// welcome.php
print WELCOME_TEXT;

 

If you also store text in your database you must include fields for each language used. This may require branching the text fields into new tables with a language Id.

 

[envexlabs]

Hmm,

 

this seems like it will be harder than anticipated, but atleast i have a starting point.

 

thanks!

[JasonLewis]

I prefer to use arrays. I have a language file:

 

$lang[0] = "Welcome Guest!";
$lang[1] = "Main Menu";

 

Or you can use a associative array:

 

$lang['welcome_guest'] = "Welcome Guest!";
$lang['menu'] = "Main Menu";

 

These sorts of things are easier to implement during the coding stage, not after it is completed.

[envexlabs]

The only thing is with the arrays and defining, is it could be any word that i need changed.

 

The site/cart and run dynamically, so if the client adds a new word that isn't in the array, it'll still be in english.

 

I was hoping to have a function or something that just found words and converted them.

 

The pirate language function on facebook is a good example.

 

yar mateys

[Adam]

I'd probably suggest using SMARTY, can integrate translation much easier using their template engine..

[JonnoTheDev]

The pirate language function on facebook is a good example

Forgive my ignorance but not everyone uses Facebook. What is this?

[envexlabs]

The pirate language function on facebook is a good example

Forgive my ignorance but not everyone uses Facebook. What is this?

 

NO problem.

 

Basically, you have the content on the site:

 

ie. login, your friend has posted a picture, etc.

 

When you turn on the language app, it converts it.

 

So when you're on pirate language it all changes to:

 

ie: login = abandon ship, your friend = your matey, etc.

[JonnoTheDev]

OK this is a simple string mapping function. Easy if you want your ecommerce website in pirate language. As for a multilingual website this is impossible as you aren't going to store the entire dictionary of each language and map to english words!

Also think about sentence structure in different languages. Replacing each word individually will not produce the correct translation. Even Googles translation tools struggle to do this accuratly!

[envexlabs]

THAT DOES MAKE SENSE GOOD SIR.

 

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP.

 

*SORRY FOR THE CAPS, I'M RENDERING VIDEO *