Android Code Snippet Localizator with assets for every language instead of DB

The B4XLocalizator is a tool, to create sqlite db from excel file with keys and values of supported languages. The created db file than can added in app projects as asset, with the localizator class copied to another file location and fills a "strings" map with keys and values depending on the selected language.

For my needs I changed it a bit. Beside "BuildDatabase" the Localizator tool creates in "BuildMapFiles" an array of maps (for each supported language) and writes it in files like "strings_en.dat, "strings-de.dat". Now I can add this files as assets in my projects and depending on the selected language the "strings" map reads all data directly. No need for copy asset files and I also have better control and access to the results of Localizator tool, as I can open the files in normal texteditors.

Private Sub BuildMapFiles (Xls As String, Output As String)
    Try
        Dim result As XLReaderResult = xl.Reader.ReadSheetByIndex(Xls, "", 0)
        
        Dim langs As List
        langs.Initialize
        Dim iCols As Int = result.BottomRight.Col0Based
        Dim mapArr(iCols) As Map 'Array of maps one for each language
        For col = 1 To iCols
            Dim val As String = result.Get(xl.AddressZero(col, 0))
            langs.Add(val)
            mapArr(col - 1).Initialize
        Next
        For row0 = 1 To result.BottomRight.Row0Based
            Dim key As String = result.Get(xl.AddressZero(0, row0))
            For col0 = 1 To result.BottomRight.Col0Based
                Dim val As String = result.Get(xl.AddressZero(col0, row0))
                mapArr(col0 - 1).Put(key, val) 'add key-value pair from excel column to the map of this language
            Next
        Next
        For langNr = 0 To iCols - 1
            Dim sFile As String = Output & "_" & langs.Get(langNr) & ".dat"
            If File.Exists(sFile, "") Then File.ReadMap2(sFile, "", mapArr(langNr)) 'use also data of older map file or delete it, if not wanted
            File.WriteMap(sFile, "", mapArr(langNr))
        Next
        LogMessage("MapFiles created successfully!")
    Catch
        Log(LastException)
        LogMessage("Error: " & LastException)
    End Try
End Sub

Private Sub LoadStrings
    Dim sAvailableLangs As String = "en de" 'supported languages (asset files like "strings_en.dat" are included)
    If sAvailableLangs.Contains(Locale) = False Then Locale = "en" 'Default
    strings.Clear
    strings = File.ReadMap(File.DirAssets, "strings_" & Locale & ".dat")
    
    Log($"Found ${strings.Size} strings."$)
End Sub

 

[aeric]

It's a personal preference. For me, I prefer to use SQLite DB Browser to open, find keys or values and update the database instead of working on text file.

 

[Cadenzo]

Yes, of course in many cases SQLite could be better for this. It's now my first time using localisation. And as always I have to reinvent the wheel before using it