using new tag attributes

[nepenthe]

hello..I need to use different tag attributes for my multi language web project.for example

 

<span textTranslation="welcome"></span>

 

when i call the javascript function, it searches and finds the the tags with textTranslation attribute.and then  changes the innerHTML of that tag with appropriate translation..it works well..

 

but what i want to ask is using undefined atrributes is a problem or not? also html validators can't recognize that attribute and give errors.

 

what do you recommend?

thanks

[ToonMariner]

This sounds like an ideal candidate for an ajax app....

 

How ever may I susggest this...

 

just give each span that is going to be translated a class

 

Like so

 

<span class="translate">Welcome</span>

 

NOW by having some text within the span when the page loads this will help you transloation app (it can always refer to englisjh in this case);

 

Now you can do this in js

 

function translateSpans()
{
els = document.getElementsByTagName('span);
var text = null; 
for(var i = 0; i < els.length; i++)
{
  if (els[i].className == 'translate')
  {
   text = els[i].innerHTML;
   // do the bit that finds the translation.
  els[i].innerHTML = 'text found in translation look up';
  }
}
}

 

all that will valdiate and then you won't need to worry about undefined attributes again!!!!

[fenway]

Maybe, but isn't it "bad" somehow to have classes that do nothing? Granted, expando-properties aren't cross-browser (though I really don't see what the issue is).

[nepenthe]

thanks for the answers..

 

I think this method is better than mine but I'm not sure, is it really "bad" to have classes that do nothing?

 

I also have another question..I use xml files for language translations. I make an ajax request to get the translations to an array at the beginning while the page not loaded completely..At this time, visitors see the span's innerHTML for example: firstname,welcome, or err_invalid_name...

 

Do you think should I display a loading info or making "translate" classes hidden in this period is a good solution?

[ToonMariner]

classes don't 'do' anything anyway!

 

On your second point - just hide the container until the ajax request is complete.