How to detect client language?

[Chris Fynn]

Is there an easy way to detect the local language settings of a client
browser or system?

I want to for example determine if the users browser or system is set to
English, French, or Italian and display a message in the appropriate
language.


--
Christopher J. Fynn

[Stephen]

Re: How to detect client language?

Hi there ...
Chris Fynn wrote:[color=blue]
> Is there an easy way to detect the local language settings of a client
> browser or system?
>
> I want to for example determine if the users browser or system is set to
> English, French, or Italian and display a message in the appropriate
> language.
>[/color]

Seems like there was a thread on about this topic about a month or so
ago; maybe a little longer. Seems like the solution revolved around
examining the HTTP_ACCEPT_LAN GUAGE environment variable at the server.
Maybe google for "check HTTP_ACCEPT_LAN GUAGE" and see if that doesn't
find it.

Regards,
Stephen

[Vicomte De Valmont]

Re: How to detect client language?

Hallo

IE has a navigator property which is
navigator.syste mLanguage
and also
navigator.userL anguage
it returns intenrational codes for nationalities: exaple 'it' for Italy.
NS6 has a
navigator.langu age
property which returns a slightly different value: for english it returns
en-US

if you want you can open with different browsers the following file I made:

http://www.unitedscripters.com/hotvamps/browsers.html

upon loading it will list all the properties for each object in a select
menu (starts with the window object of course), upon selection it will
unfold the selected object too (if it is an object). In the second half of
the file you can provide yourself objects, such as "navigator" and click
"Populate" - on both sections you'll see properties, data type, and values
as well. You can check with all the browsers you prefer. I think that can be
helpful to inspect a great deal of properties we webmasters are not always
familiar with or we didn't even know they existed.
You can also check DOM objects as they get unfolded. To reset, reload the
page.

I have not checked with NS4 though - ok I do it now...
yeah it has
navigator.langu age
too and for it reports "en" for english.
You can check by
var
language=(navig ator["language"])?navigator["language"]:navigator["userLangua
ge"];

allow for a value "undefined" for browsers that don't fall in either scope.
ciao
Alberto Vallini

http://www.unitedscripters.com/

"Chris Fynn" <remove%20chris _fynn%20@%20hot mail.%20com%20. remove> ha scritto
nel messaggio news:bnmqq2$5kh $1@titan.btinte rnet.com...[color=blue]
> Is there an easy way to detect the local language settings of a client
> browser or system?
>
> I want to for example determine if the users browser or system is set to
> English, French, or Italian and display a message in the appropriate
> language.
>
>
> --
> Christopher J. Fynn
>
>
>
>[/color]

[Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn]

Re: How to detect client language?

Chris Fynn wrote:
[color=blue]
> I want to for example determine if the users browser or system is set to
> English, French, or Italian and display a message in the appropriate
> language.[/color]

Your request is based on the false assumption that a French, working in
the UK with the French language pack of the English browser and French
keyboard layout on a system with an English-UK locale, is not interested
in the Italian version of the site. Use server-side Content Negotiation
along with language links (without flags!) and let your visitors decide
what they want to see.
[color=blue]
> --
> Christopher J. Fynn[/color]

Please read the OE-FAQ and repair your b0rken signature separator.
It is required to be `-- ' (dash-dash-space) to work but you will
not accomplish this with OE alone (since it removes trailing spaces
on post).


PointedEars

[Fabian]

Re: How to detect client language?

Chris Fynn hu kiteb:
[color=blue]
> Is there an easy way to detect the local language settings of a client
> browser or system?
>
> I want to for example determine if the users browser or system is
> set to English, French, or Italian and display a message in the
> appropriate language.[/color]

No thank you. I have to work with Japanese windows (local market means
English windows is ludicrously expensive, and will disable some
essential software I use), but where possible, I prefer an English
interface. Please, DON'T autodetect this. Ask the user.

Oh, and don't use flags when you ask the user ;)


--
--
Fabian
Visit my website often and for long periods!

http://www.lajzar.co.uk

[Dr John Stockton]

How to detect client language?

JRS: In article <3FC12999.40409 02@PointedEars. de>, seen in
news:comp.lang. javascript, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn
<PointedEars@we b.de> posted at Sun, 23 Nov 2003 22:41:45 :-
[color=blue]
>Please read the OE-FAQ and repair your b0rken signature separator.
>It is required to be `-- ' (dash-dash-space) to work but you will[/color]

The word is "broken"; use of Merkin slang is discourteous to those who
are trying to learn good English.

To be a SigSep, dash-dash-space must be the only thing on the line.

--
© John Stockton, Surrey, UK. ?@merlyn.demon. co.uk Turnpike v4.00 IE 4 ©
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