[geeklog-devel] Geeklog Multi Language Setups IMPORTANT

[Tom]

I have a few points I want to discuss. Since I don't run a multi-language
site I thought it was best to get some opinions on a few changes I was
planning to make things a little clearer when setting up a multi-language
site:

Point #1

I was working on this issue

http://project.geeklog.net/tracking/view.php?id=1620

which is a bug about Topics assigned to all languages are not displaying in
the Topic Block for Multilanguage sites.

After looking at things more closely to make sure stories, blocks, etc.
where working I realized that the block was behaving as it should and in a
multi-language site any topic, story, etc. not assigned to a language
doesn't get displayed period.

I am not sure I like how this works as it is confusing to new users and old
alike (I didn't remember how it worked!).

Basically I would like and item (story, topic, etc..) not assigned to a
language to be returned along with any item that does belong to a language
for a specific language. I see this being useful to people who want to
include content to be displayed for both languages without having to create
separate items.

Besides the topic block this change is easy and only requires a few line
changes for COM_getLangSQL


Point #2

Remy also came up with a few ideas to make multi language sites easier to
setup (http://project.geeklog.net/tracking/view.php?id=1621). While I do not
have the time at the moment to work on every item in his list here is what I
propose.

- On the user My Account page. Currently if the user is allowed to pick a
language he can pick any language that is available in the language
directory. This is fine for single language sites but for Multi Language
content sites this doesn't work. Only language mappings setup in the config
should be displayed here since picking a language not mapped means no
language is set (at least for stories, topics, etc..) and for example all
stories are returned, even those assigned to other languages.

- In the configuration tab "languages & locale" Change config variable:
"language" into "default site language". In the tool tip we should also
point them to the "Users" tab and the "Allow User Language (?)" config
option since this controls if the user is able to switch the language.

- We also need to make it clear what a Multi Language site means. It means
that Geeklog will not only display the labels, etc. in the selected language
but content like Topics, Stories and Blocks as well. On the "Language" tab I
think we should move the "Language Files" and "Languages" config options
into a separate frame below the Language Frame called "Multi-Languages".
There tooltips should also be updated  to explain that these 2 config
options are linked and must be setup similar and also explain that this
refers to content in multiple languages.

- While we are at it then, I think we might as well move the "Allow User
Language (?)" config option from the Users tab to the Language tab since it
does affect if the user can even switch languages.

Thoughts???

Tom