Set app language dynamically and globally?

Yii 2.0 General Discussions
1

Hi,

I am trying to set the app language of my application using user input. Is it possible to set the language dynamically and globally for the whole application, without using the config? I use the advanced template with separate backend and frontend;

I’ll try to explain my situation: When a user is logged in, I can see from which country he/she is. So I want to check of her language is available for the application. I want everything to be translated. If the translations are not available, I want the application set to default English. In case a language is available, I want to set the available language.

I can set the language using \Yii::$app->language but it only works for the controller I am in at that moment. When I go to a different controller, the language setting is lost. I want it globally in the whole application. How can i do this? Does anyone have a tip for me?

Thanks.

2

If you use a BaseController for all controllers, just apply language change in init() of BaseController.

3

You mean that I need to create a base controller that extends controller and the use my application controller to extend the BaseController? I found similar solutions like that online. Wasn’t sure that was the best way to solve the problem or not.

4

Exactly. You need to create a BaseController extended by all other controller,

so you can override init() method of BaseController and change language.

5

Great. Thanks for the reply! I am going to work in that. Should not be a problem! :slight_smile:

6

That is a difficult way to do it because you have to change every controller. Just use the "as beforeRequest" event handler in your configuration and pass it a class like this:


'as beforeRequest' => [

        'class' => 'app\components\LanguageHandler',

    ],

Then in your class, it looks something like this:


<?php


namespace app\components;


/* 

 * To change this license header, choose License Headers in Project Properties.

 * To change this template file, choose Tools | Templates

 * and open the template in the editor.

 */


class LanguageHandler extends \yii\base\Behavior

{

    public function events()

    {

        return [\yii\web\Application::EVENT_BEFORE_REQUEST => 'handleBeginRequest'];

    }

    

    public function handleBeginRequest($event)

    {

        if ( \Yii::$app->getRequest()->getCookies()->has('_lang') 

          && array_key_exists(\Yii::$app->getRequest()->getCookies()->getValue('_lang'), \Yii::$app->params['languages']))

        {

            \Yii::$app->language = \Yii::$app->getRequest()->getCookies()->getValue('_lang');

        }

    }

}

I have a whole video about language stuff on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3axQ3VRRwWc

1 Like
7

Oh cool, thanks! I will look at your solution later today when I am back home again. :slight_smile: Thanks for the tip!

8

@Lukos Thanks for the tip! I just tested it and it works excellent!

9

Thank you for post)) It really helped me)) such a great work of yours