Embed language strings into Javascript code

Hi,

I am using language files to localize my script. For example, I include lang_english.php that holds the english language strings like:


define("_WAIT","Please Wait...");
define("_ERRORNAME","Please enter your name");


Then use the defined string in my scripts like


echo _ERRORNAME;


As fas as PHP scripts are concerned, everything works fine so far. But, I can't localize my Javascript codes. For example form error alerts. I include my javascript files externally in my header.php, like


<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="js/form.js"></script>


and for example in form.js:


function validateForm() {

var myForm = document.forms["myForm"];

if (myForm.name.value == "") {
// This is what I'm trying to localize!
alert("Please enter your name");
myForm.name.focus();
return false;
}

}


So far, I couldn't get it to work. I tried to rename form.js to form.php and tried


alert(<?php echo _ERRORNAME; ?>);


But that didn't work either. Any advices?

You would have to do link to a php file as the javascript source.
<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="js/form.php"></script>
Then in form.php you would do something like this
<?php
header("Content-Type: text/javascript");
include('lang_english.php');
$errorname = _ERRORNAME;
echo <<<EOF
function validateForm() {

var myForm = document.forms["myForm"];

if (myForm.name.value == "") {
// This is what I'm trying to localize!
alert("$errorname");
myForm.name.focus();
return false;
}

}
EOF;
?>

Hi Aerospace, that answer was fast!

Could there be an easier way to do this? lang_english.php includes already all the strings and I have some forms which almost have 100 variables, so defining each variable again would supersize the file, I guess.

Without using heredoc you would have to echo out each line of the js file, then you would just concatenate the constants where needed.
<?php
header("Content-Type: text/javascript");
include('lang_english.php');
echo "alert('"._ERRORNAME."');";
?>
You really should be doing the validation server side. Seriously 100 variables? Are you kidding? What the heck are you submitting?

You really should be doing the validation server side. Seriously 100 variables? Are you kidding? What the heck are you submitting?


No, I am not :) I am already doing a validation on server side. I am doing the javascript validation to prevent the "heck" from being submitted in case there is an error :)

Please check your PM :)