Xcode – Storyboard/XIB and localization best practice

localizationxcodexib

The officially recommended method for XIB/Storyboard localization is to create .xib and .storyboard files inside xx.lproj (where xx is the two letter language ID) for each localization you want to support.

This creates a problem because you have multiple files that in many cases share the same UI, that are prone to change. If you wanted to re-design the UI for one view, you'll have to do it multiple times (worse if you entered the localizable string values in the xib itself). This goes against the DRY principle.

It seems way more efficient to call NSLocalizedString() where you need it, and just use one XIB or Storyboard for one base localization.

So, why should(n't) I create localized XIB/Storyboard files?

Best Answer

You can make a category on UILabel, UIButton etc. like this:

#import "UILabel+Localization.h"

@implementation UILabel (Localization)

- (void)setLocalizeKey:(NSString*)key
{
    self.text = NSLocalizedString(key, nil);
}

@end

and after that on your xib file use User Defined Runtime Attributes to link the UILabel (or UIButton etc.) to a key saved in your Localizable.strings file

user defined runtime attributes

This way you can have all your strings in one file and you do not have to create a separate xib for each language.

Related Solutions

Ios – How to load custom UITableViewCells from Xib files

The right solution is this:

- (void)viewDidLoad
{
    [super viewDidLoad];
    UINib *nib = [UINib nibWithNibName:@"ItemCell" bundle:nil];
    [[self tableView] registerNib:nib forCellReuseIdentifier:@"ItemCell"];
}

-(UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath
{
    // Create an instance of ItemCell
    PointsItemCell *cell = [tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:@"ItemCell"];

    return cell;
}

Iphone – Do I need to add localization files to each xib

Well, you can also consider to create an localized.strings file, and place the translations by code so you don't have to copy that multiple times (I don't know if that's really, but if). You can make a NSObject which inits when your App starts or do this by your AppDelegate.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Ios – How to load custom UITableViewCells from Xib files

Iphone – Do I need to add localization files to each xib

Related Topic