[mapserver-users] Multilingual map files

[Peter Hopfgartner]

Dear list members

I would like ask how map files for multilingual applications are handled 
by mapserver users.

Multilingual information may impact the map in various ways. As by now, 
those come to mind:

* Fix strings in the map file, (NAME, DESCRIPTION etc)
* Database borne data, changing column for different languages as for 
LABELITEM
* Queries changing with language, so that DATA/FILTER statements must be 
adapted to the current language (e.g. WHERE lang_id='en').

What we are currently doing is to write the mapfiles like:

    CLASS
        NAME "IT:Progetti linee|DE:Projekte Linien"
        SYMBOL 'circle'
        SIZE 3
        COLOR 0 0 255
    END

    METADATA
        "DESCRIPTION" "IT:Progetti|DE:Projekte"
    END

    LABELITEM "IT:gemi|DE:gemd"

and modify the labels through Mapscript before rendering the map. This 
works if the map file is processed by Mapscript, whereas it would not 
work for CGI and W*S services. We would need a map file for each 
language for those services.

How do you handle i18n in MapServer?

Regards,

Peter

-- 
 
Dott. Peter Hopfgartner
 
R3 GIS Srl - GmbH
Via Johann Kravogl-Str. 2
I-39012 Meran/Merano (BZ)
Email: peter.hopfgartner at r3-gis.com
Tel. : +39 0473 494949
Fax  : +39 0473 069902
www  : http://www.r3-gis.com