Loading of translation files from WP_LANG_DIR plus general improvement

[daveshine]

Since the current implementation of update-secure/custom translation files placed in wp-content/languages/ dir (aka WP_LANG_DIR) DOES NOT work in 2.0.x and 2.1+ branches I found out another solution which seems also a bit more elegant and lightweight.

This could replace current code within "public function load_textdomain()" (arount line 547 in bbpress.php, v2.1 trunk):

load_textdomain( 'bbpress', WP_LANG_DIR . '/bbpress/bbpress-' . get_locale() . '.mo' );
load_plugin_textdomain( 'bbpress', false, dirname( plugin_basename( __FILE__ ) ) . '/languages' );

What the above solution does:
First look in WP_LANG_DIR (wp-content/languages) and after that looking in bbPress lang folder. If there are translation files in both folders WP will combine them on loading - which is a good behavior IMHO.

The first line of the code uses "load_textdomain" because WP_LANG_DIR cannot work with relative path as "load_plugin_textdomain" requires.

That way we could have a proper implementation that finally leads to the display of custom and update-secure language files and at the same uses best practices and recognizes also a possible moving of WP languages folder...

[johnjamesjacoby]

I understand what you're saying, but I am fuzzy on what is broken, or what this solves. I want to *avoid* having custom translations in the plugin folder until we can automatically pull them in via GlotPress. The alternative is deleting the translations for all non-english installs on update, which I'm not okay with.

Oftentimes the translations are lagging behind plugin releases, and aren't ready in time to be packaged together. Until we can slurp them automatically, it's an ongoing problem best solved with keeping translations out of the plugin folder.

[daveshine]

The actual problem is that translation files in wp-content/languages/bbpress/ don't get displayed - regarding 2.0.x and 2.1 branch.

If ever language packs get released with the plugin bbpress/bbp-languages/ they'll get overridden on plugin updates...

My above solution works and users can have custom language files not affected from plugin updates.

[daveshine]

Also, pulling translations in via GlotPress for me is the greatest "rubbish" to think of as these "community translations" are incorrect, not complete and formal/informal wording is mixed up. So especially for German language these so-called "language packs" (via GlotPress) would make things worse and bring no improvement - I want my proper lang files - maintained and improved over long time - not overridden on plugin updates. This is also important for my clients. A solution for custom files not affected by updates is "a must" for such big plugins like "bbPress" (and add BuddyPress etc.). Also the issue with formal/informal versions should be addressed in a perfect world...

[johnjamesjacoby]

Replying to daveshine:

The actual problem is that translation files in wp-content/languages/bbpress/ don't get displayed - regarding 2.0.x and 2.1 branch.

I am 100% confident that it works. I have seen dozens of non-English installs. Possible maybe you're doing something incorrectly?

[johnjamesjacoby]

Any news on this?

[johnjamesjacoby]

Punting to future release, pending more information.

[daveshine]

(Sorry for the delay, was offline for nearly a week and knee-deep in client stuff...)

I just made more tests on my various installs and it seems to work at least since 2.1-r3773 up to 2.1-r3822.
wp-content/languages/bbpress/bbpress-de_DE.mo
and also:
wp-content/plugins/bbpress/bbp-languages/bbpress-de_DE.mo

You can close or remove this ticket now. I will open other tickets for other localization issues with Widgets etc. now to not mix things up here.

I am sorry for not testing enough and posting to early here I just thought it was the best place for that. Really don't know why id didn't work on 2.0.x branch for me - I have only default installs. Ok, since I only use 2.1 branch on all my sites for a few weeks I don't care for 2.0.x anymore :)

[johnjamesjacoby]

Replying to daveshine:

(Sorry for the delay, was offline for nearly a week and knee-deep in client stuff...)

I just made more tests on my various installs and it seems to work at least since 2.1-r3773 up to 2.1-r3822.
wp-content/languages/bbpress/bbpress-de_DE.mo
and also:
wp-content/plugins/bbpress/bbp-languages/bbpress-de_DE.mo

You can close or remove this ticket now. I will open other tickets for other localization issues with Widgets etc. now to not mix things up here.

I am sorry for not testing enough and posting to early here I just thought it was the best place for that. Really don't know why id didn't work on 2.0.x branch for me - I have only default installs. Ok, since I only use 2.1 branch on all my sites for a few weeks I don't care for 2.0.x anymore :)

No worries. Thanks for keeping an eye on this stuff. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.