36 Using the System Default Locale for WebCenter Sites Users

WebCenter Sites Help

When the language packs are installed, the installer writes the language and country code for the locale of the language pack to the LocaleMap database table. For example, Portuguese Brazilian is pt_BR. When there are multiple locales listed in the LocaleMap table the administrator should specify which should be the default locale. This can be done in the following ways:

• Set a new global default language. You can use the WebCenter Sites Local Manager to replace the current default language for your WebCenter Sites system with a different language pack. This language will become the new default language globally on your WebCenter Sites system. You also have an option to set a different default language for individual users, but not from the Locale Manager.

• Set a new default language on a per-user basis. This option allows you to select a default language for individual users that is different from the global default language that you select in the Locale Manager form. See Working with User Profiles and User Attributes in in Administering Oracle WebCenter Sites for information about how to set a user's locale preference.

WebCenter Sites determines which language to use for an individual user through its universal session variable locale. This variable contains the language and country code associated with the user who is logged in.

When a user logs in to WebCenter Sites, WebCenter Sites obtains the value for the locale variable as follows:

• If the user profile has a value for the locale user attribute, WebCenter Sites obtains and uses it.

• If the user profile does not specify a preference, WebCenter Sites attempts to match the locale setting of that user's browser to a locale from the LocaleMap table.

• If the user profile does not set a preference and WebCenter Sites cannot match that user's browser locale, WebCenter Sites uses the default locale that is set for the system.

• If the user profile has a value for the locale user attribute but does not have the files and stylesheets necessary to support that language in the browser, WebCenter Sites uses the default locale that is set for the system. Ensure the files and stylesheets for the locale are located in the application server directory under the CSS folder (/Xcelerate/data/CSS).

• If the default locale does not have the files and stylesheets necessary to support the default locale set for the system, then the admin pages will be displayed without stylesheets and formatting. Ensure the files and stylesheets for the default locale are located in the application server directory under the CSS folder (/Xcelerate/data/CSS).

Note:

When you select a site and set a new system default language from that site, the language is automatically set as the global default language for all sites on your WebCenter Sites system.

To set the system default locale:

1. In the General Admin tree, expand the Admin node, and then double-click Locale.

   The Locale Manager form displays.

2. Click the Edit icon next to the locale.

   A radio button opens on the form in the Default column.

3. Select the Default radio button next to the locale.
4. Click Save.

   The next time users log in to WebCenter Sites, the system displays in the new default language.

Note:

An individual user's language preference (which is set from the User Profiles option) overrides the language preference set for the WebCenter Sites system (which is set from the Locale Manager). See Working with User Profiles and User Attributes in in Administering Oracle WebCenter Sites for information about how to set a user's locale preference.