Documentation for Multiple Languages Support functionality

[Michał Mach]

Based on IRC conversation, I'm starting this thread to coordinate the effort to create some (at least) basic documentation for Multiple Languages Support functionality, which allows storing and exposing data in many languages in the same time. More to come. :-)

[mathieu]

Thanks Michał

Here is how to activate multi-lingual support:

- Backup your database. The schema of your database will be modified.
- Make sure your hosting provider provides either the MySQL "trigger" privilege or the "super" privilege. ("grant super on *.* to mysqluser@'%' " or "grant trigger on *.* to mysqluser@'%' ")
- Download the "l10n" package for CiviCRM, uncompress and upload to your web host. You should have files such as civicrm/l10n/fr_FR/[...].
- Go to CiviCRM > Admin > Global configurations > Localization
- Enable multi-lingual support
- Add the language (ex: French) from the Localization page.
- In Drupal: Enable the "CiviCRM Language Switcher" block

Here is how to create a multi-lingual profile:

- Switch to a language using the CiviCRM Language Switcher (it seems to be necessary to do it at least once, so that the multi-lingualism interface activates)
- Create a new profile (or edit an existing one)
- Add a field if necessary
- Edit the field again, you will see a "multi-lingual" icon (green square) next to the field label. Click on the icon to translate the field label into other languages.

Viewing the profile in a different language:

- Since your users will probably not see the CiviCRM Language switcher (as it may conflict with Drupal's language switcher), you can link directly to a profile by adding "&lcMessages=en_US" at the end of the URL (where en_US is the language code for your language).

matt (bgm on #civicrm)

[mathieu]

It seems that once you have added the new language, you may revoke the "super" rights (revoke super on *.* from mysqluser@'%' ). Do this at your own risk.  Make sure you backup your database regularly.

If you add new languages, you will have to grant the super rights again. If you don't, CiviCRM will crash during the operationg and may leave your database in a unusable state.

Of course, running on MySQL 5.1 is the best solution. :-)