Re: [boost] [locale] Review

Subject: Re: [boost] [locale] Review
From: Artyom (artyomtnk_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-04-18 17:25:35

> >>
> >> My language  settings currently use ',' as  decimal separator as do the 
>settings
> >> for
> >> the   french (Canada) language settings.
> >>
> >> The commented out  version outputs  "3,14000000001".
> >> This is what I would expect  to happen.  The  boost::locale version
> >> outputs  "3.14000000001".
> >>
> >> It looks to me like the   punctuation stuff isn't being set up correctly.
> >> The as::number  thing  doesn't do anything either.  Only locale::format  
>catches
> >> on
> >> and does it  right.
> 
> > It is by  design.
> 
> Then what is the correct work-around to get past this  "design"?  Some 
> people, like me, make frequent use of boost::format  (which your version 
> cannot replace because it does not implement 'g'  formatting), and other 
> functions that output in characters specific to the  locale and know 
> nothing about as::anything.
> 

I see much more complains about the other way around when people
accidentially getting csv files like

  3,435,  3,456, 3,345

And don't understand why.

> This is a problem.   The library, perhaps rightly, doesn't follow 
> standard conventions but it  also doesn't replicate those functions which 
> do.  Can I use only your  translation functionality without imbuing the 
> streams with your  locale?

Yes you can use *gettext API and pass locale explicitly, you can
also install message facets only and not formatting
ones (see generator reference documentation).

> Something tells me that won't work out quite 
> right.
> 
> If  this design is going to stick, then there certainly needs to be a 
> documented  workaround so that those of us who need the behavior can get  it.
> 

There are two workarounds:

1. Use boost::locale::as::number manipulator.
2. Use locale you want as base locale in generator:

   gen.get(std::locale("de_DE.UTF-8"),"de_DE.UTF-8");
   // the base is C++ librarie's default one.

   But I really do not recommend you doing anything like that.

Artyom