Bing map silverlight Localization

Question

Hello,

I am wondering if it's possible to change the resources (NavigationResources) of the Navigation control according to a culture (french in my case) ?

I wish display the labels of the Navigation control in french.

Is there a way to that or do I need to redefine all the Navigation control ?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

I'm not aware of a simple way to redefine only the strings used for the navigation control labels. Setting Culture="fr-FR" on the map object localises the labels shown for placenames on map tiles, but not the control labels of the dashboard. Setting Culture="fr-FR" on the Map.MapForeground (which is the object you normally use to modify the dashboard) does, well, nothing.

I don't know if I'm missing something, because the developer datasheet at http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/7/E/37ECE5D4-5A23-4253-9100-FC0ADDD6B371/Bing_Maps%20Developer_Data_Sheet.pdf specifically states that the navigation control is customisable into a number of supported languages....

As a workaround, the following example demonstrates how you can redefine the navigation control completely, replacing the "Road" and "Aerial" labels with"My Satellite" and "My Road" - although obviously you can use any label you want:

http://www.microsoft.com/maps/isdk/silverlight/default.htm#MapControlInteractiveSdk.Tutorials.ExtendNavControl

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Answer 2

Thank you for your reply tanoshimi!

 

I tried with the specified workaround, but the ZoomIn, ZoomOut and the Compass are still in english... No way to localize these fields.

So I tried to create my own MapControlNavigationBar (Represents a customized or localized NavigationBar control that can be added to a map.).

Once I created this control(with my new resources), I realized that the myMap.MapForeground.NavigationBar is in readonly :S ... No way to assign it directly.. Really don't understand why it's a private set on this property!!!

The workaround I found is to set myMap.NavigationVisibility to Collapsed. And to do (xaml code) :

<bing:map NavigationVisility=Collapsed name="myMap" ....>

<local:MyNavigationControlBar name="navBar" />

</bing:map>

In Code behind :

this.navBar.TargetMap = this.myMap.

Suprinsgly it's works!!!  I thought...

Unfortunately, I still see a tooltip("Pan in any directions") on the pan control.. This tooltip is defined in the MapControlCompass, i would create my own compass, but same thing, I don't know how to assign it to my MyNavigationControlBar, all properties are readonly...

And now I am here, no more ideas...

 

 

Answer 3

You can hide the built in navigation controls and create your own custom ones. This is how many people get around this issue you are experiencing.

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