Languages without the flags

**Lynoure** · 06-07-2003, 03:21 PM

I would want to have language selection without the flags (as there are no 100% certainty that a Finnish person will want Finnish language and not some other). I let the image field in language empty, but as a result each load generates an error message as OsCommerce tries to use /webstore/catalog/includes/languages/finnish/images/ as the image. How can I get rid of this problem?

**Lynoure** · 06-13-2003, 02:15 AM

I got it solved already, by editing boxes/languages.php

**Lynoure** · 11-17-2003, 11:07 AM

If somebody is interested, I did this Language name only - language selection fix for MS2-MAX. Should I send a patch somewhere or just post an URL for the modified file?

BTW, has anybody else ever wondered why languages don't have symbols of their own?

**jpf** · 11-17-2003, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Lynoure

If somebody is interested, I did this Language name only - language selection fix for MS2-MAX. Should I send a patch somewhere or just post an URL for the modified file?

BTW, has anybody else ever wondered why languages don't have symbols of their own?

You can "Attach" a file to a post here!

You can ALSO make a graphic of whatever you want (with or without text) and upload that.

Most people know that when they select the Union Jack (British) flag - that is something with ENGLISH - even though your from the US or Austialia. Ditto with French with the "french" flag - even if your from Quebec Canada or other larger "french" speaking area of the world. Using FLAGS for Countries to denote the lauguage on MANY "international" products. I come from a Multilingual area and MANY MASS PRODUCED import items have flags in the instuctions/manual to denote language. The NEXT most common is the ISO lauguage desinination in a oval - many people don't know what ISO is or what the abrivations are - so this is not that good....

EN = English
DE = German
FI = Finnish??
ES = Spanish
etc...

Flags are the best way - and is used on MANY websites - If I go to a site that is not in a lauguage I know of ----I look for the Union Jack or a USA flag.... If none - I use a online translation service....

**Lynoure** · 11-18-2003, 04:16 PM

Do UK and USA both have only one official language (English)?
What language would you associate with the flag of India, for example? Finnish flag is also mildly ambiguous, as we have two official languages: Finnish and Swedish.

Nowadays flags are also often used on websites to show an access point for a local versions (e.g. prices in UK versus prices in Sweden), adding to the ambiquity.

Anyway, YMMV as always.

Here attached is my Text only languages.php. It has not been tested very much yet, but it seems to work.

For those of you wondering why I chose a list instead of a drop menu:
Would you rather go look in a drop menu called 'Kielet' or find it easier to click on the 'English' link that is in plain sight?