I have identified some changes to several core strings in Moodle. I understand it is possible to simply customise the default language but I am wondering if it would be easier long term to create a new language and keep the core language unchanged. If I later ever need to migrate the language this would also be easier. If this is best practice how exactly do I go about this, I wasn't able to find this information unfortunately.
Is it best practice to create a new langauge or customise the default one?
Number of replies: 6Re: Is it best practice to create a new langauge or customise the default one?
Hi John,
I'm not sure what you mean by 'I have identified some changes to several core strings in Moodle'. Do you mean core language strings changed and in a way that they are now wrong in the translation?
-> in that case the best approach is to change them on https://lang.moodle.org. That way all users of your language benefit from your work and you don't have to maintain it.
Do you mean that the wording in the language pack is not according to your needs?
-> In that case make the changes locally, using the language tool in your Moodle installation. The changes will survive upgrades of your site and you can move them to other installations too - they are in the moodledata/lang/xx_local folder.
Re: Is it best practice to create a new langauge or customise the default one?
Hi Koen, thank you for that, I was asking about the second option. I can see now where to access this in moodle data, a few more questions on this please if you don't mind. If I delete this en_local folder from moodledata will that simply remove all of the changes and essentially "reset" the language pack I have modified? I am just wondering if it is safer to create a new custom language pack eg. en_johnsversion, install it and make all of the changes there as oppose to the default built in language pack? I couldn't find information about installing a custom language pack so not sure if this is even possible.
Re: Is it best practice to create a new langauge or customise the default one?
Hi John,
If you remove en_local folder, it will delete all your personnalization for en language.
After that, i don't understand why you'd want to create your own language pack ; can you explain the real aim?
If you want to avoid an admin to delete it accidentaly, you can change users/group rights on this folder.
If it's because you plan to share it with the community, because your personnalization could be useful for lot of people, i could understand.
Otherwise, i don't understand why you'd want to recreate something already existing...
If you remove en_local folder, it will delete all your personnalization for en language.
After that, i don't understand why you'd want to create your own language pack ; can you explain the real aim?
If you want to avoid an admin to delete it accidentaly, you can change users/group rights on this folder.
If it's because you plan to share it with the community, because your personnalization could be useful for lot of people, i could understand.
Otherwise, i don't understand why you'd want to recreate something already existing...
Re: Is it best practice to create a new langauge or customise the default one?
Hi Severin, ok sure that makes more sense now. There's no point to create a new language pack in that case like you said, since as Koen mentioned above any changes made in this folder (en_local) can then be easily copied and pasted into another installation is that correct, making the migration very straight forward?
Re: Is it best practice to create a new langauge or customise the default one?
Yes, that is correct.
On update of the language packs (happens daily automatically) or when you update your site to a new version, the _local folders won't be touched. You can also easily make a backup of that folder or copy it to other moodle installations if you want. Since it's all folders and files, it's also easy to merge, modify, ...
New language pack versions of an existing language are only created when there is a real benefit for the community.
Re: Is it best practice to create a new langauge or customise the default one?
Awesome, thank you Koen.