Translating a web page using Array function

Question

I want to use the array function of PHP to translate a website. I have created PHP files with arrays in them for all the text to be translated.

<?php 
//ESPANOL
$lang = array(
              'work' => 'Trabajo'
              'packaging' => 'Empaque'
             );

And then I am calling them inside my nav.php file, and will in the content section too.

<?php include('includes/languages/es.php'); ?>
<a href="#"><?php echo $lang['work']; ?></a>

All pretty straight forward.

What I want to know is how to switch between these array files without editing the HTML, so that I don't have to link to another 'index_es.php' etc. I understand that the link would be something like this, but I don't know how this is going to work.

<a href="index.php?es.php>Español</a>|<a href="index.php/?en.php">English</a>

I'm guessing I need to include another file that includes the language files and then the link can choose from them but I don't know what the code would be for this. Would it involve including a 'lang_directory' above the link and then somehow including from there??

**Also I would like to avoid using Zend/Gettext translation becuase I want to learn this inside out.

Austin Brunkhorst · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-10 11:45:17Z

3

You can make another dimension containing the target language. Then pass a GET parameter to select that language. If the language isn't recognized you can fallback to English. Here's a sample.

$languages = array(
    'en' => array(
        'work' => 'work',
        'packaging' => 'packaging'
    ),
    'es' => array(
        'work' => 'Trabajo',
        'packaging' => 'Empaque'
    ),
);

// default language to use when the requested isn't found
$defaultLanguage = 'en';

// language requested via GET
$requested = $_GET['locale'];

// use the requested language if it exists, otherwise the default language
$language = isset($languages[$requested]) ? $requested : $defaultLanguage;

// our translations
$translation = $languages[$language];

// "work" translated based on the language
echo $translation['work'];

And the link for Español would look like this.

index.php?locale=es

edited Mar 10, 2013 at 11:45

answered Mar 10, 2013 at 11:39

Austin Brunkhorst

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5 Comments

Adam Brown Over a year ago

So this is a Multi-Dimensional Array? And I would put all the languages in one file and then include it at the start of the <body> tags as locale.php and the link would run through the array and take use the language it requested?

Austin Brunkhorst Over a year ago

Yes this is a multidimensional array, and yes that sounds correct.

Adam Brown Over a year ago

The locale.php would be in the parent directory of index.php then? How does the link work? I mean if I have already included locale.php how does the ?locale=es change it?

Austin Brunkhorst Over a year ago

locale.php would be in the same directory as index.php. As for ?locale=es, it's evaluated with $_GET and selects the languages array according to what locale is equal to.

user285594 Over a year ago

How do you handle the full sentence? $translation["work work working a english sentence" ] ?

Nabab · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-10 11:51:54Z

2

I'd keep your array system, correct the links into something like index.php?lang=en and then include your file depending on the lang parameter:

if ( isset($_GET['lang']) && file_exists('includes/languages/'.$_GET['lang'].'.php') ){
  include_once('includes/languages/'.$_GET['lang'].'.php');
}

And if you want to keep the language parameter in your session, do something like this:

if ( isset($_GET['lang']) && file_exists('includes/languages/'.$_GET['lang'].'.php') ){
  $_SESSION['lang'] = $_GET['lang'];
}
if ( !isset($_SESSION['lang']) ){
  // Default language
  $_SESSION['lang'] = 'en';
}
include_once('includes/languages/'.$_SESSION['lang'].'.php');

answered Mar 10, 2013 at 11:51

Nabab

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6 Comments

Adam Brown Over a year ago

So this would be something like using <?php the code you put ?> before everything and then changing the links?

Nabab Over a year ago

Yes (sorry for the delay!)

Nabab Over a year ago

Don't forget session_start() !

Adam Brown Over a year ago

This seems like the most simple and effective. I'll try it and let you know how I get on. Thank you

Adam Brown Over a year ago

When I go between links after changing language it reverts to the ENG lang file. How do I avoid this so it stays in the current language? I'm assuming by adding something in the link php?

|

Chikachi · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-10 11:59:33Z

One way to do this is by using sessions.

Make a lang.php file that will be used to change between languages.

<?php
        //Start session
        session_start();
        //Do we get a lang variable
        if (isset($_GET['lang'])) {
                //Make sure we only get the lang filename
                $lang = basename($_GET['lang']);
                //If the file exists, then save it to session
                if (file_exists('includes/languages/' . $lang . '.php'))
                        $_SESSION['lang'] = $lang;
        }
        //If the client were refered here (via hyperlink) send them back
        if (isset($_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER']))
                header('location: ' + $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER']);
?>

In the header of the files you want multiple languages, insert.

<?php
        //Start session
        session_start();
        //Default language
        $lang = 'english';
        //If the client have set a language, use that instead
        if (isset($_SESSION['lang']))
                $lang = $_SESSION['lang'];
        //Load language file
        include('includes/languages/' . $lang . '.php');
?>

The links to change language will then be like this:

<a href="lang.php?lang=espanol">Español</a>|<a href="lang.php?lang=english">English</a>

Out can also take the code from the lang.php file and put in a included file that will be loaded before the inclusion of language file and remove the HTTP_REFERER redirection.

The links to change language will then be like this:

<a href="?lang=espanol">Español</a>|<a href="?lang=english">English</a>

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