Localization

activeCollab 1.1 and later versions come with localization support. This enables you to translate the interface into any language you want; to set the date and time formatting; and much more.

By default, localization support is disabled. In order to enable it, open the config/config.php file and find the following line:

define('LOCALIZATION_ENABLED', false);

Then change the value from false to true. If this line is not present, then add the following line into the config/conifg.php file:

define('LOCALIZATION_ENABLED', true);

Also, make sure that the /custom/localization directory is writable (chmod-ed to 777).

When localization is enabled, the Languages tool will automatically become available in the Administration area:

Another feature will also be made available after enabling Localization - allowing each user to choose any of the installed languages (that you have set-up in the system) as their default language when visiting activeCollab. They option can be found on their profile pages.

When localization is enabled, you'll have an opportunity to add a new language yourself. To do this, insert the language name and language code into the New Language form on the Languages page and click submit:

After the language file is created, you will be able to create a translation file based on dictionaries. A Dictionary is the index of words used in a particular activeCollab module. In order to make a translation you will need to create a new file and to provide a translation for every phrase used in a dictionary. If you don't translate some of the phrases then activeCollab will use the default, English version:

All of your translations will be available in the /custom/localization folder, so you can back them up. If you wish, you can also upload them to the activeCollab Downloads section and share your translation with the rest of the activeCollab Community.

Members of the activeCollab community often share the translations they create with others. These translations are distributed in two formats:

1. Single XML file. This option is available since activeCollab 2 and it was added for easier distribution and management. Please check this article to learn how to import this type of translation package.
2. Multiple PHP files. This option was the only way of distribution in activeCollab 1.1. Even though the single XML package is much more convenient, many users, especially those who used activeCollab before activeCollab 2, still prefer this way of packaging translations. Please check this article to learn how to import this type of translation package.

To export a translation, click on the little Export icon next to the language on the Administration > Languages page:

The standard way of distributing translations since activeCollab 2 is by packaging them in a single XML file. To import one of these files, go to the Languages page in the Administration area and click on the Import Language button in the top-right of the page:

In the following page, select the XML file and upload it. activeCollab will then scan all the information in the file and provide you with all relevant details, including any possible incompatibilities:

If, after reviewing the information in the file, you'd like to continue, just click the **Finalize Import" button to finish the process. The new language option will be available in the Languages list once the Import procedure is complete.

In activeCollab 1.1 translation files were distributed in the form of multiple PHP files, where each file had the translations for a single activeCollab module. This type of translation package can still be imported in activeCollab 2 and later though.

To do this, first create a new language:

Then check your /custom/localization folder where a new folder should have been created with the name of the locale you used. That is the folder where all the PHP files from translation package should be placed:

Once a localization is enabled, it can also be used to translate the templates used by activeCollab's notification emails. If a user has chosen a different default language for their activeCollab set-up then they will receive emails in that language (should a translation be available). If a translation is not available, emails will be sent in English.

activeCollab does not support tools that allow you to change the names of different system features or project sections but, if you really need that functionality, you can use the Language tool to achieve this:

1. Enable localization support and than create a new language on the Administration > Languages page. Though you should not use the en_US.UTF-8 or en_US locale names (see the Warning box below for more details).
2. Translate all strings where the name that you want to change appears.
3. Set the newly created language as the default language, and other users will also see it by default. To set a language as default, click on the checkbox on the left of the language on the Administration > Languages page.