i18n_toolbox

I18n_toolbox is a collection of helpers and active_model additions that solve basic problems that kept showing up when working with multiple language sites:

Showing different images for different locales
Different validates_length_of values for different locales
Truncating text to different lengths depending on locale
Applying "possessive case" correctly with correct use of apostrophes for different languages (ie "Jack's Recipes", "Miles' Recipes", "Recettes de Julien")

Usage

image_tag

Serve up a different image depending on locale.

I18n.locale = :en
image_tag('logo.png', :localize => true) # => /images/en/logo.png
I18n.locale = :ja
image_tag('logo.png', :localize => true) # => /images/ja/logo.png

truncate

Truncate text that appears longer on screen (such as 2 byte Japanese) to avoid breaking layouts dependent on length of text.

config/locales/ja.yml

ja:
  i18n_toolbox:
    character_ratio: 0.5

Output:

I18n.locale = :en
truncate("2 byte characters are wider", :length => 20, :localize => true) # => "2 byte characters..." (20 chars)
I18n.locale = :ja
truncate("2 byte characters are wider", :length => 20, :localize => true) # => "2 byte ..." (10 chars)

validates_length_of

Have different validation lengths for different locales.

config/locales/ja.yml

ja:
  i18n_toolbox:
    character_ratio: 0.5

Model:

class Post < ActiveRecord::Base
  validates_length_of :title, :maximum => 40, :localize => true
  # ...
end

I18n.locale = :en
Post.new(:title => 'English sentences use more chars').valid? # length is under 40, returns true
I18n.locale = :ja
Post.new(:title => 'Japanese sentences use fewer chars').valid? # => length is over 20, returns false

possessive

Often used for user page titles, such as "Michael's Activity Feed" etc.

config/locales/en.yml

en:
  i18n_toolbox:
    possessive: "%{owner}'s %{thing}"
    possessive_s: "%{owner}' %{thing}"

config/locales/fr.yml

fr:
  i18n_toolbox:
    possessive: "%{thing} de %{owner}"