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Multi-language content filter: Difference between revisions

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(Added *[https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=320980 this forum thread] about translating a MOOC)
 
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Moodle will allow different resources to appear to users based upon their language.  There  is a filter called Multi language content (see [[Filters_%28administrator%29]]) and it should be turned on. This page goes into details of several ways of displaying resources to users based on language.
{{Filters}}
The Multi-language content filter enables resources to be created in multiple languages. When turned on, it looks for <nowiki><span lang="xx" class="multilang"></nowiki> tags which indicate that a text contains multiple languages. Then it selects and outputs the best language for the current user. The language of the resource will change when the user changes their selected Moodle language.


== Overview multi language ==
== How to use in a course ==


The Multi-language content filter enables resources to be created in multiple languages. When turned on, it looks for <span lang="xx" class="multilang"> tags which indicate that a text contains multiple languages. Then it selects and outputs the best language for the current user. The language of the resource will change when the user changes their selected Moodle language.
To use this feature first create your contents in multiple languages (in the same resource). Then enclose each language block (aka multilang block) in the following tags:
 
{{Moodle 1.8}}
The multilang syntax was changed in 1.8, <lang> is not supported any more. It is now required to add class="multilang" into each <span> tag in multilang block. The new syntax is backwards compatible with old plugins.
 
== How to use ==
To use this feature first create your contents in multiple languages (in the same resource). Then enclose each language block in the following tags:


       <nowiki><span lang="XX" class="multilang">your_content_here</span>
       <nowiki><span lang="XX" class="multilang">your_content_here</span>
       <span lang="YY" class="multilang">your_content_in_other_language_here</span>
       <span lang="YY" class="multilang">your_content_in_other_language_here</span></nowiki>
</nowiki>
 
It is essential to be in the "code" editing (press <nowiki>[<>]</nowiki> in the HTML editor), when you enter these tags for them to work. Please note that ''class="multilang"'' is not required prior to 1.8.
 
The obsoleted HTML tagging
      <nowiki><lang lang="XX" class="multilang">your_content_here</lang>
      <lang lang="YY" class="multilang">your_content_in_other_language_here</lang>
</nowiki>
will not work in 1.8 and later.
      <nowiki><lang="XX">your_content_here</lang>
    <lang="YY">your_content_in_other_language_here</lang>
</nowiki>
does NOT work.
 
==Course summary and title tags==
To be able to change even resource titles and summaries, you must chose "all strings" in the adminstration choices.
<nowiki> <span lang="en" class="multilang">Matematically</span> <span lang="sv" class="multilang">Matematiskt (svenska)</span></nowiki>
would function as English or Swedish title.
 
It doesn't seem to work for course titles (neither long nor short version).
 
In the course summary:
 
<nowiki><span lang="en" class="multilang">Growth is often a major concern in planning society.
How can one avoid superficial conclusions? <br>
(Exists in Swedish too. Finns på svenska också)</span>
<span lang="sv" class="multilang">Tillväxt är ofta använt i samhällsdebatten.
Hur kan man undvika ytliga slutsatser?
(Finns på engelska också. Exists in English too.)
<br /></span> </nowiki>
 
Can show in the chosen language (and point out that the other language is there). Please note that ''class="multilang"'' is not required prior to Moodle 1.8.
 
== Block tags ==
That the filter works on multilanguage blocks is important, see forum: http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=51603 :
From which this is copied (and ought to be shortened):
<nowiki>
... how the multilang filter works:
 
1) First of all it looks for multilang Blocks.
One Multilang block of text is defined as one group of <span lang="XX">
tags together, without anything between them.
 
2) After this detection of Blocks, for each of them, Moodle selects
the best language for the user displaying the info, showing its info
and discarding the rest of lang tags in the block.


So, applying this behaviour to the example you wrote above, we have:
It is essential to be in '''the code editing mode''' (press <nowiki>[<>]</nowiki> in the HTML editor), when you enter these tags for them to work. Only spaces, tabs and enters can be used between the individual languages in the multilang block.


1) Moodle looks for Blocks and it finds TWO blocks:
==How to use for assignment submission agreements==
#Since Moodle 2.8.2 it's possible to have assignment submission statements in different languages.
#With the filter enabled, go to Site administration>Plugins>Activity modules>Assignment>Assignment settings.
#In the submission statement, add (for example)


Block A: <span lang="de">von links</span>
      <nowiki><span lang="en" class="multilang">This assignment is my own work, except where I have acknowledged the use of the works of other people.</span>
Block B:<span lang="en"><span="en"><font size="3"> </font></span>from the left</span>
<span lang="fr" class="multilang">Ce devoir est le fruit de mon travail personnel, sauf aux endroits où l'utilisation d'oeuvre d'autres auteurs est clairement indiquée.</span> </nowiki>


2) For each block, Moodle display the better language. As Both blocks
== How it works internally ==
only contain ONE lang tag, it's returned, so results are:


For Block A: von links
# Filter first looks for ''multilang blocks'' in the text
For Block B: <span="en"><font size="3"> </font></span>from the left
# For each multilang block:
#* If there are texts in the currently active language, print them
#* Else, if there exists texts in the current parent language, print them
#* Else, print the first language found in the text
# Text outside of multilang blocks will be shown always


Then obviously, in one web page, those results are showed as:
== Common problems ==


von links
* The multilang filter is not enabled. It can be enabled by a site administrator in ''Settings > Site administration > Plugins > Filters > Manage filters''.
from the left
* Extra characters between language span tags - editor might add <nowiki><br /></nowiki> or other tags, please review the html in source view
* If the course setting is "force" some language, you won't be able to change the displayed language.
* Extra spaces in language span tag
* Can not easily access language choice dropdown! Unfortunately you must go to the site homepage or your own profile to change the displayed language. It is possible to manually quickly change displayed lang by editing the URL in the browsers address bar. See Tips and tricks below!
* The multilang filter does not work with the course short name! A course's short name is meant as a unique course identifier, so it does not use the multilang filter


The key concept here is the Block of lang. Once you get it, everything is easily to understand.
==Tips and tricks==


Also note that the HTMLEditor seems to introduce an excess of "noisy" tags
===Changing language displayed without going to front page===
  under some circumstances and, if it does so between lang tags, it will be,
It is possible to change the displayed language by manually changing the link.  
in fact, breaking your blocks of langs! It's always recommended to check the
*Here is the default language page at id=2306. This link is in English, the default language:
final HTML generated by the HTML Editor in order to verify that the lang tags
:http://moodle.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=2306
(and their grouping together is conforming blocks of langs) are properly
*The link to change the page display to Spanish is
written.</nowiki>
:http://moodle.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=2306&lang=es ,
*When the default language is an other language, to change the page to an English version, the link would be:
:http://moodle.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=2306&lang=en


== Translations with tags ==
Thus, with a bit of editing, you can manually change the displayed language by adding "&lang=xx" to the URL in the location bar of the browser. Where xx is the abbreviation for the language you want.
If I were to want to translate a word or phrase to a chosen language in an English text:


<nowiki>If I want to include an explanation <span lang="en"> </span>
==The 'Restriction by language' additional plugin==
<span lang="sv">(sv: förklaring)</span> in a running text can I do it?
Language filters are great, but sometimes they can make your resources and activities very complex.
<br />
<br /><span lang="en">If I want to include an explanation in a running text
can I do it? </span>
<span lang="sv">If I want to include an explanation (sv: förklaring) in a
running text can I do it?</span></nowiki>


would both work, but not:
The 'Restriction by language' availability condition is an additional plugin for Moodle 2.7, available in the [https://moodle.org/plugins/view.php?plugin=availability_language Moodle plugins database], that makes it easy to show an English resource only to English users and an activity in French only to French speaking students.


<nowiki>If I want to include an explanation <span lang="en"></span>
[[File:Restriction by language.png]]
<span lang="sv">(sv: förklaring)</span> in a running text can I do it?
<br />If I want to include an explanation <span lang="sv">(sv: förklaring)</span>
in a running text can I do it?<br /></nowiki>
which would show the Swedish even if English was the chosen language. NOTE the "span lang=en" must contain something, at least a space.


== See Also ==
==See also==  
[[Filters_%28administrator%29]]


Forum discussion  http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=51603
*[[Language]]
*Custom menu items in [[Theme settings]]
*[https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=320980 this forum thread] about translating a MOOC




[[Category:Administrator]]
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Filter]]


[[es:Filtros (Administrador)]]
[[de:Mehrsprachiger Inhalt]]
[[fr:Filtres (administrateur)]]
[[es:Contenido multilingüe]]
[[fr:Contenu multilingue]]
[[ja:多言語シンタックス]]

Latest revision as of 13:38, 17 October 2015

The Multi-language content filter enables resources to be created in multiple languages. When turned on, it looks for <span lang="xx" class="multilang"> tags which indicate that a text contains multiple languages. Then it selects and outputs the best language for the current user. The language of the resource will change when the user changes their selected Moodle language.

How to use in a course

To use this feature first create your contents in multiple languages (in the same resource). Then enclose each language block (aka multilang block) in the following tags:

      <span lang="XX" class="multilang">your_content_here</span>
      <span lang="YY" class="multilang">your_content_in_other_language_here</span>

It is essential to be in the code editing mode (press [<>] in the HTML editor), when you enter these tags for them to work. Only spaces, tabs and enters can be used between the individual languages in the multilang block.

How to use for assignment submission agreements

  1. Since Moodle 2.8.2 it's possible to have assignment submission statements in different languages.
  2. With the filter enabled, go to Site administration>Plugins>Activity modules>Assignment>Assignment settings.
  3. In the submission statement, add (for example)
      <span lang="en" class="multilang">This assignment is my own work, except where I have acknowledged the use of the works of other people.</span>
<span lang="fr" class="multilang">Ce devoir est le fruit de mon travail personnel, sauf aux endroits où l'utilisation d'oeuvre d'autres auteurs est clairement indiquée.</span> 

How it works internally

  1. Filter first looks for multilang blocks in the text
  2. For each multilang block:
    • If there are texts in the currently active language, print them
    • Else, if there exists texts in the current parent language, print them
    • Else, print the first language found in the text
  3. Text outside of multilang blocks will be shown always

Common problems

  • The multilang filter is not enabled. It can be enabled by a site administrator in Settings > Site administration > Plugins > Filters > Manage filters.
  • Extra characters between language span tags - editor might add <br /> or other tags, please review the html in source view
  • If the course setting is "force" some language, you won't be able to change the displayed language.
  • Extra spaces in language span tag
  • Can not easily access language choice dropdown! Unfortunately you must go to the site homepage or your own profile to change the displayed language. It is possible to manually quickly change displayed lang by editing the URL in the browsers address bar. See Tips and tricks below!
  • The multilang filter does not work with the course short name! A course's short name is meant as a unique course identifier, so it does not use the multilang filter

Tips and tricks

Changing language displayed without going to front page

It is possible to change the displayed language by manually changing the link.

  • Here is the default language page at id=2306. This link is in English, the default language:
http://moodle.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=2306
  • The link to change the page display to Spanish is
http://moodle.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=2306&lang=es ,
  • When the default language is an other language, to change the page to an English version, the link would be:
http://moodle.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=2306&lang=en

Thus, with a bit of editing, you can manually change the displayed language by adding "&lang=xx" to the URL in the location bar of the browser. Where xx is the abbreviation for the language you want.

The 'Restriction by language' additional plugin

Language filters are great, but sometimes they can make your resources and activities very complex.

The 'Restriction by language' availability condition is an additional plugin for Moodle 2.7, available in the Moodle plugins database, that makes it easy to show an English resource only to English users and an activity in French only to French speaking students.

Restriction by language.png

See also