[RFC] Override Language via URL

[imkingdavid]

This topic requested that users be able to add lang=xx to the URL query string in order to override the board's language for users who are unregistered and do not know enough of the default language or the forum layout to create an account.

This shouldn't be too big of a change, simply check the URL to see if $_GET['lang'] is present and whether or not the chosen language is available for use, and if so, override the board's default language.

EDIT: See Ticket

[callumacrae]

+1

Would be nice to see in 3.1, it would be pretty easy to implement.

[Oleg]

I somewhat agree with this:

Any progress in this area since last year ?
I have the same problem: I want to setup a multi-lingual forum, and I would like to be able to select the forum language via the URL, for unregistered users.

In this case I'm guessing the administrator will provide links for each language that users will click on.

For a user, if you know that you can add &lang=* to the url to have the board appear in your language I'm guessing you know enough about the software to submit a registration form, go to ucp and change your language even if you don't understand a word of what is written on the site (and I believe I actually went through this once with phpbb).

[imkingdavid]

I somewhat agree with this:

Any progress in this area since last year ?
I have the same problem: I want to setup a multi-lingual forum, and I would like to be able to select the forum language via the URL, for unregistered users.

In this case I'm guessing the administrator will provide links for each language that users will click on.

For a user, if you know that you can add &lang=* to the url to have the board appear in your language I'm guessing you know enough about the software to submit a registration form, go to ucp and change your language even if you don't understand a word of what is written on the site (and I believe I actually went through this once with phpbb).

Good point. Perhaps a dropdown list somewhere in the header with a list of all installed languages?

[naderman]

Yup I think a dropdown for guest users in the header would make sense in combination with the language in the URL.

[imkingdavid]

Yup I think a dropdown for guest users in the header would make sense in combination with the language in the URL.

I may be able to work on a patch for this in the coming week since it should be fairly simple to do.

Basically do a database query to get all installed language packs, populate the dropdown. Then when the dropdown value is changed append lang to the URL. Would have to be added to append_sid() as well since it would have to remain in the selected language across page changes? Or how would that be handled? Because we can't update the board default language or the guest user default language since that would change it for all guests. Perhaps a new "lang" column on the sessions table?

EDIT: Ticket posted in the tracker.

[Oleg]

http://tracker.phpbb.com/browse/PHPBB3-9663 is an earlier ticket for the same issue.

[imkingdavid]

http://tracker.phpbb.com/browse/PHPBB3-9663 is an earlier ticket for the same issue.

Actually, that's a duplicate of 10522, this is 10521.

[*Daniel]

Yup I think a dropdown for guest users in the header would make sense in combination with the language in the URL.

I may be able to work on a patch for this in the coming week since it should be fairly simple to do.

Basically do a database query to get all installed language packs, populate the dropdown. Then when the dropdown value is changed append lang to the URL. Would have to be added to append_sid() as well since it would have to remain in the selected language across page changes? Or how would that be handled? Because we can't update the board default language or the guest user default language since that would change it for all guests. Perhaps a new "lang" column on the sessions table?

EDIT: Ticket posted in the tracker.

Wouldn't you be better off put it at the botton of the page? Or that too far?

[imkingdavid]

Wouldn't you be better off put it at the botton of the page? Or that too far?

I think header would be better. From my experience, foreign websites that allow easy guest language switching have it in the header.