This is a plugin for NativeScript that implements internationalization (i18n) using the native capabilities of each platform. It is inspired from nativescript-i18n
A lot of thanks goes out to Ludovic Fabrèges (@lfabreges) for developing and maintaining this plugin in the past. When he had to abandon it due to shifted priorities, he was kind enough to move the repo to me.
tns plugin add nativescript-localizeCreate a folder i18n in the app folder with the following structure:
app | i18n | en.json <-- english language | fr.default.json <-- french language (default) | es.js You need to set the default langage and make sure it contains the application name to avoid any error.
import{NgModule,NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA}from"@angular/core";import{NativeScriptLocalizeModule}from"nativescript-localize/angular";import{NativeScriptModule}from"nativescript-angular/nativescript.module";import{AppComponent}from"./app.component"; @NgModule({declarations: [AppComponent],bootstrap: [AppComponent],imports: [NativeScriptModule,NativeScriptLocalizeModule],schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]})exportclassAppModule{}<Labeltext="{{'Hello world !' | L }}"/> <Labeltext="{{'I am %s' | L:'user name' }}"/>import{localize}from"nativescript-localize";console.log(localize("Hello world !"));constapplication=require("application");constlocalize=require("nativescript-localize");application.setResources({L: localize});<Labeltext="{{L('Hello world !') }}"/> <Labeltext="{{L('I am %s', 'user name') }}"/>constlocalize=require("nativescript-localize");console.log(localize("Hello world !"));constpage=args.object;page.bindingContext=newObservable();import{localize}from"nativescript-localize";Vue.filter("L",localize);<Label:text="'Hello world !'|L"></Label><Label:text="'I am %s'|L('user name')"></Label>Each file is imported using require, use the file format of your choice:
{"app.name": "My app", "ios.info.plist":{"NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription": "This will be added to InfoPlist.strings" }, "user":{"name": "user.name", "email": "user.email" }, "array": [ "split the translation into ", "multiples lines" ], "sprintf": "format me %s", "sprintf with numbered placeholders": "format me %2$s one more time %1$s" }consti18n={"app.name": "My app"};module.exports=i18n;Add the .default extension to the default language file to set it as the fallback language:
fr.default.json The app.name key is used to localize the application name:
{"app.name": "My app" }Keys starting with ios.info.plist. are used to localize iOS properties:
{"ios.info.plist.NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription": "This will be added to InfoPlist.strings" }This plugin uses the native capabilities of each platform, language selection is therefore made by the OS.
import{overrideLocale}from"nativescript-localize/localize";constlocaleOverriddenSuccessfully=overrideLocale("en-GB");// or "nl-NL", etc (or even just the part before the hyphen)In your app.ts / main.ts / app.js
import{on,launchEvent}from'@nativescript/core/application';import{androidLaunchEventLocalizationHandler}from'nativescript-localize/localize';on(launchEvent,(args)=>{if(args.android){androidLaunchEventLocalizationHandler();}});And in your settings page where user chooses the language:
import{overrideLocale}from"nativescript-localize/localize";constlocaleOverriddenSuccessfully=overrideLocale("en-GB");// or "nl-NL", etc (or even just the part before the hyphen)Important: In both cases, after calling override Locale, you must ask the user to restart the app
For Example:
import{androidas_android}from'@nativescript/core/application';import{overrideLocale}from'nativescript-localize/localize';alert({title: 'Switch Language',message: 'The application needs to be restarted to change language',okButtonText: 'Quit!'}).then(()=>{L.localize.overrideLocale(selectedLang);if(isAndroid){_android.foregroundActivity.finish();}else{exit(0);}});Important: In case you are using Android app bundle to release your android app, add this to App_Resources/Android/app.gradle to make sure all lanugages are bundled in the split apks
android{// there maybe other code here // bundle{language{enableSplit =false } } }Tip: you can get the default language on user's phone by using this
import{device}from'@nativescript/core/platform';console.log("user's language is",device.language.split('-')[0]);Tip: overrideLocale method stores the language in a special key in app-settings, you can access it like this,
import{getString}from'@nativescript/core/application-settings';console.log(getString('__app__language__'));// only available after the first time you use overrideLocale(langName);As a workaround, you can trigger a change detection from within your component constructor:
constructor(privatereadonlyparams: ModalDialogParams,privatereadonlychangeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef,){setTimeout(()=>this.changeDetectorRef.detectChanges(),0);}For unknown reasons, the very first creation of it resets the application locale to the device default. Therefore, you have to set the desired locale back. This is native bug and the workaround is
<WebViewurl="https://someurl.com" @loaded="webViewLoaded"/>import{overrideLocale,androidLaunchEventLocalizationHandler}from"nativescript-localize/localize";import{getString}from'@nativescript/core/application-settings';constlocale=getString('__app__language__')functionwebViewLoaded(){overrideLocale(locale)androidLaunchEventLocalizationHandler()}