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Multi-language content filter: Difference between revisions

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* <nowiki><span lang="xx"> and <lang></nowiki> should not be used anymore
* <nowiki><span lang="xx"> and <lang></nowiki> should not be used anymore
* existing content can be upgraded using admin/multilangupgrade.php script, there is a link on admin notification page if the upgrade is needed
* existing content can be upgraded using admin/multilangupgrade.php script, there is a link on admin notification page if the upgrade is needed
* multilang filter can be configured to support old syntax - see filter settings; this setting may be removed in 1.9
* multilang filter can be configured to use old syntax only - see filter settings; this setting may be removed in 1.9


== Common problems ==
== Common problems ==

Revision as of 12:55, 12 December 2006

Moodle will allow different resources to appear to users based upon their language. There is a filter called Multi language content (see Filters_(administrator)) and it should be turned on. This page goes into details of several ways of displaying resources to users based on language.

Overview multi language

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.

The multilang syntax was changed in 1.8. <lang> is not supported any more. It is required to add class="multilang" into each <span> tag in multilang block. The new syntax is backwards compatible with old plugins, which means it can be used in older Moodle version.

How to use

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 mulitang block. Please note that class="multilang" is not required prior to 1.8.

Following code

      <lang="XX">your_content_here</lang>
      <lang="YY">your_content_in_other_language_here</lang>

does NOT work.

The obsoleted HTML tagging

      <lang lang="XX">your_content_here</lang>
      <lang lang="YY">your_content_in_other_language_here</lang>

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

will not work in 1.8 and later. In 1.8 the lang attribute without class="multilang" can be used to mark the language of the text - see http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/struct/dirlang.html

How it works internally

  1. filter first looks for multilang blocks in the text
  2. for each multilang block:
    1. if there are texts in the currently active language, print them
    2. else, if there exists texts in the current parent language, print them
    3. else, print the first language found in the text
  3. text outside of multilang blocks will be showed always

Course summary and title tags

To be able to change even resource titles and summaries, you must chose Filter all strings in the adminstration choices.

 <span lang="en" class="multilang">Matematically</span> <span lang="sv" class="multilang">Matematiskt (svenska)</span>

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:

<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> 

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.

Translations with tags

If I were to want to translate a word or phrase to a chosen language in an English text:

If I want to include an explanation <span lang="en"> </span>
 <span lang="sv" class="multilang">(sv: förklaring)</span> in a running text can I do it?
<br />
<br /><span lang="en" class="multilang>If I want to include an explanation in a running text
 can I do it? </span>
<span lang="sv" class="multilang>If I want to include an explanation (sv: förklaring) in a 
running text can I do it?</span>

would both work, but not:

If I want to include an explanation <span lang="en" class="multilang></span>
 <span lang="sv" class="multilang>(sv: förklaring)</span> in a running text can I do it?
<br />If I want to include an explanation <span lang="sv" class="multilang>(sv: förklaring)</span>
 in a running text can I do it?<br />

which would show the Swedish even if English was the chosen language. NOTE taht before 1.8 the "span lang=en" must contain something, at least a space.

New multilang syntax

Template:Moodle 1.8

  • <span lang="xx"> and <lang> should not be used anymore
  • existing content can be upgraded using admin/multilangupgrade.php script, there is a link on admin notification page if the upgrade is needed
  • multilang filter can be configured to use old syntax only - see filter settings; this setting may be removed in 1.9

Common problems

  • Multilang filter is not enabled - go to filter settings and enable it
  • Filter all strings not enabled on sites that need multilang in titles, navigation, headings, etc.
  • extra characters between language span tags - editor might add <br /> or other tags, please review the html in source view
  • extra spaces in language span tag

See Also

Filters_(administrator)

Forum discussion http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=51603