Multi Language Site Creation Using MVC C# , ASP.NET Using Visual Studio 2013 – Kannada / Arabic / English

Haneef Puttur

8 years ago

Scenario : You want to create an web application which supports multi language. Your site may contain models , form labels, hyper links which needs to be in the required language. We can also have a language switcher.

Solution : Use Resource .resx xml file.

Tools Required : Visual Studio 2013

Features:

Extend as many number of Languages you want
Form can be created with different language labels
Link labels can be changed
language switch option
Easily editable Resource Files

Create New Project

Select Web ==> Asp.net MVC4 Web Application ==> Project Name :: Haneef

Select Internet Application

Right Click Project Name ==> Add New Folder ==> Name it as Resources

Right Click Resources Folder which we created ==> Add New Item

Select General Tab from left Hand Side and Select Resources File from Right Side

Name the new file as LangText.Resx

Now Enter the string Name and Value as shown below, Click Access Modifier as Public, Then Click Save All as shown

Now Right Click LangText.Resx ==> Copy

Paste to Same Folder

Now Rename the Pasted File as LangText.Ar.Resx

Now Edit the Content of Resx file to include Arabic Translations and Save.

Now Again make a copy for Kannada Language file and LangText.Kn.Resx

Now Double Click LangText.Kn.Resx and include the Kannada Translations.

Now Add a new Controller

Name it as LangController

Now add following Code to the controller

// Add this using statements 
using System.Globalization;
using System.Threading;
// Add a method
 public ActionResult Change(string lang)
 {
 if (lang != null)
 {

Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture(lang);
 Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentUICulture = new CultureInfo(lang);

}
 HttpCookie cookie = new HttpCookie("Language");
 cookie.Value = lang;
 Response.Cookies.Add(cookie);

return View("Index");
 }

Add Using System.Threading..

Now Open Global.asax and following codes

//Added by Haneef
 protected void Application_BeginRequest(object sender, EventArgs e)
 {
 HttpCookie cookie = HttpContext.Current.Request.Cookies["Language"];

if (cookie != null && cookie.Value != null)
 {
 System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = new System.Globalization.CultureInfo(cookie.Value);
 System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentUICulture = new System.Globalization.CultureInfo(cookie.Value);
 }
 else
 {

System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = new System.Globalization.CultureInfo("En");
 System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentUICulture = new System.Globalization.CultureInfo("En");
 }
 }

Now Open View=> Shared > _Layout.cshtml and Replace Navigation with following codes

 <li>@Html.ActionLink(Haneef.Resources.LangText.Home, "Index", "Home")</li>
 <li>@Html.ActionLink(Haneef.Resources.LangText.About, "About", "Home")</li>
 <li>@Html.ActionLink(Haneef.Resources.LangText.Contact, "Contact", "Home")</li>
 <li>@Html.ActionLink(Haneef.Resources.LangText.Language, "Index", "Lang")</li>

Now Let Us use The Resource Dictionary in our Models.

Open Models ==> AccountModels.cs

Include usning Haneef.Resources ; at the header

Use this codes for User Name and Password Fields

// Username 
 [Display(ResourceType = typeof(LangText), Name = "UserName")]

//Password
 
[Display(ResourceType = typeof(LangText), Name = "Password")]

See the below mappings for better understanding

Now Open LangController.cs file

Right Click on Index Method and Click Add View

Now add following Action Link Codes

<ul>
 <li>@Html.ActionLink("English", "Change", "Lang", new { lang = "En" }, null)</li>
 <li>@Html.ActionLink("Kannada", "Change", "Lang", new { lang = "Kn" }, null)</li>
 <li>@Html.ActionLink("Arabic", "Change", "Lang", new { lang = "Ar" }, null)</li>
 <li>@DateTime.Now.ToString()</li>
</ul>