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We're currently building a multi-language site in Vae and I needed some simple i18n string translation. I've seen a few others ask for this feature so here's two simple implementations anyone can use.

Syntax

<span><v:t>Hello world!</v:t></span> => <span>Bonjour tout le monde</span>

Single language

This assumes you're only translating from the original language to the second language (you could easily upgrade this to support additional languages by using the multi-language variant below).

Setting either _GET[lang] or _COOKIE[lang] enables translation.

Required structure:

• Settings
    • Translations
        • Text - Text (e.g "About us")
        • Translation - Text (e.g "A propos de nous")

Code (put this in __vae.php):

function translate($attributes, $tag, $context, $callback) {
    $locale = $_REQUEST['lang'];
    $key = vae_render_tags($tag, $context);

    if ($locale) {
        $language = language($locale);

        if ($language) {
            $translation = (string)vae(sprintf('settings/translations[text="%s"][language=%d]', $key, $language->id))->translation;

            if ($translation) {
                return $translation;
            }
        }
    }

    return $key;
}

vae_register_tag('t', array(
    'handler' => 'translate'
));

Multi-language translation

This implementation supports any number of languages but with the cost of extra complexity.

Required structure:
• Settings
    • Languages
        • Name - Text (e.g. "English")
        • Locale code - Text (e.g "en")

    •Translation names
        • Name - Text (e.g "About us")

    • Translations
        • Language - Single association to Languages
        • Name - Single association to Translation names
        • Translation - Text (e.g "A propos de nous")

Code (put this in __vae.php):

function translate($attributes, $tag, $context, $callback) {
    $key = $tag['tags'][0]['innerhtml'];
    $settings = vae('settings');

    $translationId = (int)$settings->get(sprintf('translation_names[name="%s"]', $key))->id;

    if ($translationId) {
        $languageCode = $_REQUEST['lang'];
        $languageId = (int)$settings->get(sprintf('languages[%s]', $languageCode ? sprintf('locale_code="%s"', $languageCode) : 1))->id;

        if ($languageId) {
            $translation = (string)$settings->get(sprintf('translations[name=%d][language=%d]', $translationId, $languageId))->translation;

            if ($translation) {
                return $translation;
            }
        }
    }

    return $key;
}

vae_register_tag('t', array(
    'handler' => 'translate'
));