Setting the Map language in the Maps API for Java ME

This article explains how to alter the map language of a Java ME application

Article Metadata

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Code Example

Source file: File:MapLanguageMIDlet.zip

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Tested with

SDK: Nokia SDK 1.0 for Java

Devices(s): X3-02

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Compatibility

Platform(s): S40, Symbian^1, Symbian^3

Device(s): All

Dependencies: Maps API for Java ME v1.0

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Article

Keywords: Location API, Nokia Maps, MapDisplay, Application Context, Language

Created: jasfox (23 Mar 2012)

Last edited: trashedDev (18 Jun 2012)

See Also

• Map API for Java ME
• Implementing a custom MapUrlProvider overlay
• How to create custom Map View

Introduction

By default all the maps in the Map API for Java ME will display in English. The API is able to support a variety of other languages however. The language used to display labels on the map is set in the ApplicationContext, and this should be done prior to displaying the map itself. The setDefaultLanguage() method takes a three letter MARC Code. If an unsupported language is requested, the map will display in English by default.

Examples of usable MARC codes include:

• ARA Arabic
• CHI Chinese
• GER German
• ENG English
• FRE French
• ITA Italian
• RUS Russian
• SPA Spanish

Implementation

This is a simple example of a minimal map which will display in one of eight random languages.

public class MapLanguageMIDlet extends MIDlet {
    protected void startApp() throws MIDletStateChangeException {
 
        // Please initialise the appId and token first
       ApplicationContext ctx = ApplicationContext.getInstance();
 
        ctx.setAppID("MyAppId");
        ctx.setToken("MyToken");
 
        Display display = Display.getDisplay(this);
        MapLanguageDemo minimalMap = new MapLanguageDemo(display, this);
        display.setCurrent(minimalMap);
    }
    protected void destroyApp(boolean unconditional) throws MIDletStateChangeException {}
    protected void pauseApp() {}
}

public class MapLanguageDemo extends MapCanvas implements CommandListener {
 
    private final Command EXIT = new Command("Exit", Command.EXIT, 1);
    private final static String[] MARC_CODES = {"ARA", "CHI", "GER", "ENG",
        "FRE", "ITA", "RUS", "SPA"
    };
    private final static String[] LANGUAGES = {"Arabic", "Chinese", "German", "English",
        "French", "Italian", "Russian", "Spanish"
    };
    protected MIDlet midlet;
 
    public MapLanguageDemo(Display display, MIDlet midlet) {
        super(display);
        this.midlet = midlet;
        init();
    }
 
    private void init() {
        addCommand(EXIT);
 
        Random r = new Random();
        int i = r.nextInt(LANGUAGES.length);
        ApplicationContext.getInstance().setDefaultLanguage(MARC_CODES[i]);
        setTitle(LANGUAGES[i]);
        setCommandListener(this);
        // Set map over Europe.
        map.setState(
                new MapDisplayState(new GeoCoordinate(53.1, 13.1, 0), 4));
    }
    public void commandAction(final Command c, Displayable d) {
        if (c == EXIT) {
            midlet.notifyDestroyed();
        }
    }
    public void onMapUpdateError(String description, Throwable detail, boolean critical) {
        Alert alertView = new Alert("Map error: ", detail.getMessage(), null, AlertType.ERROR);
        display.setCurrent(alertView);
    }
    public void onMapContentComplete() {
    }
}

Example Output

Chinese	Russian	Arabic