This group&#039;s feelings? <span class="votesInfo" data-xf-init="tooltip" title="1 member likes this thread!" >1

http://www.france.jalpak.fr

iSeriesCodePoet · May 28, 2002

Are you planning on a static or dynamic site? Lanuages such as Java and (I think) PHP would greatly reduce you work. Also, check out Google, they have a translator that might work for you. Mike Wills
AS400 Programmer

http://www.koldark.net

Please, if you find my post useful, let me know. [thumbsup2]

Sleidia · May 28, 2002

Hello,

Don't forget that people may use an operating system in
Welsh and only partially be able to understand/read this language.

When I was working, in Japan, that was one of my problem.
Using an OS in one language doesn't mean you master the language.
Also, what if you are using a computer overseas or the one of an "exotic" friend?

VERY IMPORTANT I think.

Even big companies start to understand that auto-redirect for language is a bad design.

Have a good day.
My Work...

http://www.pariswave.com

http://www.tppro.com

http://www.tokyo-gas.co.jp/IR/ir_j.html

http://www.scandinavia.co.jp

...and More...

MarcLodge · May 28, 2002

Irrespective of the language/operating system/browser language, I think you've got to give the user the option to choose to continue in the way that he/she wishes.

If you autodirect, you run the risk of a user who is not fluent in the language, being out of their depth, as Sleida comments. It must be better practice to display a Welsh flag and text, alongside an English flag and text and allow the user to choose.

My two penneth, for what it's worth.

Marc

Bastien · May 28, 2002

I think that the easiest way to do this is to have two sets of labels / text for all the elements in the site. Then depending on what the site does, either redirect to a welsh language page for static data, or for those input pages use layers to show/hide the welsh captions for the form elements...use a little javascript to show hide the layers depending on the site choosen....

Also consider setting a cookie with the language pref on the users machine, when they come back you can automatically set the language choice by reading the cookie value...makes things a little more personal and slick to boot...

good luck

Bastien

There are many ways to skin this cat,
but it still tastes like chicken

iSeriesCodePoet · May 29, 2002

I just had an idea. Do your autoredirect, however, give them the option to switch languages. When you do that make it obvious that they can. Mike Wills
AS400 Programmer

http://www.koldark.net

Please, if you find my post useful, let me know. [thumbsup2]

xutopia · May 30, 2002

Lapluman,

Check the apache forum. Apache allows you to not even worry about this. Just create two files index.html.en and index.html.ws and apache checks for you what the language of the visitor is (sent in the header of the request) and then chooses the existing page that best suits the need of the client.

Hope this helps. Gary

http://www.xutopia.com

Haran

Wullie · May 30, 2002

xutopia,

This will only work if the host has it set up on the server.

The server needs to be set up to accept .var files in the DirectoryIndex directive.

Then after your index file, you make your links point to seperate files depending on the language.

Hope this helps Wullie

Wullie · May 30, 2002

Ok...

I am going to confuse this a bit more...

Is there actually a Welsh setting for a browser?

Apache doesn't recognise it as default anyway..

The languages extensions that apache is set up to accept are as follows:

en da nl et fr de el it ja kr no pl pt pt-br ru ltz ca es sv tw

I also checked my browser languages and Welsh is not an option.

Is welsh really that different from english?? I didn't think it was.. I know they have loads of brilliant names for places and they live in the middle of nowhere (Just like us Scots), but I though that was about it.. LOL

Hope this helps Wullie

http://www.boomerang2002.com)

Boomerang · May 30, 2002

Good tip Sleidia,

Maybe it's not important in this case because of what Wullie said that there might be no Welsh setting for a browser. But I think you hit the right point !!
The star is yours,
Erik <!-- My sport: Boomerang throwing !!
This year I will participate at the World Championships in Germany. (

!! Many Happy Returns !! -->

Sleidia · May 30, 2002

Wow, thanks ;-) My Work...

http://www.pariswave.com

http://www.tppro.com

http://www.france.jalpak.fr

http://www.tokyo-gas.co.jp/IR/ir_j.html

http://www.scandinavia.co.jp

...and More...

cian · May 30, 2002

Hi LaPluma,

I am in a similar situation, I'm setting up a site in Irish, English and Finnish. I only have the english site online now.

Some of the guys and gals gave really good comments.
What I would say is DO NOT redirect depending on what browser they are using. My browser is finnish but I dont understand a word i'd be really cheesed off if I was redirected all the time.

What I did/am doing is creating a main page, simply index.htm, which allows the visitor to choose the language they want to view the site in. And on every page I have 3 small flags so a visitor can easly change language when they want.
Its a lot of work but I am creating 3 versions of the site! All my development, testing is done with the english version. When that is up and running I will simply use the same template but replace the text and images with the corresponding translated versions.

This is how I started

http://www.endamcg.com/finland-gaa/

The main page has a para in the 3 languages and here the visitor can choose. As I said I only have the english site up but you can get the idea!

It can be a lot of work, depending on the site. My site is only about 13 pages so it's not a big deal.
This is only my way of doing things so listen to the others, they are the experts!

É

Wullie · May 30, 2002

cian,

I just though of something about the way you are doing this..

You use Gaelic language on that page and have a Irish flag, have you checked that the gaelic setting on a browser is Irish gaelic?

The reason I say this is that Scotland also has a gaelic language and this may be confusing for someone entering your site from here..

Hope this helps Wullie

cian · May 30, 2002

Hi Wullie,

Firstly, I never even thought of it, thanks for pointing that out!!!

Secondly, i think there is only one setting for Gaelic (gd)which would include both, they're quite similar anyway.
But I have to check this, thanks again for the suggestion!!

É

cian · May 30, 2002

Btw Wullie, yeah Welsh is VERY different from english. Only the Welsh would call a place Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
and pretend it actually means something! LOL just kidding! Nice town btw.

É

Wullie · May 30, 2002

LOL... Cian, I was actually looking at a Welsh site a minute ago..

I had no idea Welsh was so different.. I only live a few hundred miles away as well...

Yes, they do have some great names for places, thats what I meant in one of my previous posts. I think they even had a place that uses every letter in the alphabet!! LOL

Wullie

cian · May 30, 2002

History lesson: LOL
Yeah, all the local languages there are very different from English not only Irish, Scots, Welsh but also Manx, Cornish and whatever they spoke on the Shetlands and Orkneys!
Just to confuse things there's a big difference even between the celtic languages, Scots came from Irish so is very similar, but completely different from Welsh for example!!
Fair dues to the Welsh for keeping their language alive!

Sorry, we're getting off topic here!

É

http://www.w3.org/International/O-charset-lang.html

cian · May 30, 2002

Just for your information, here is the link to the W3C's page on "Languages, countries, and the charsets typically used for them"

and they link to:

http://lcweb.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/englangn.html#gh

I'm going to have to update my pages::
Irish (ga)
Scottish (gd)
and Welsh (cy)

Thanks again for pointing that out Wullie!

É