iOS 9 disable support for right-to-left language

Question

My iOS app is in Arabic (right-to-left) language only. Prior to iOS 9 the views layout and view animations were all by default left-to-right. So, I had customised the complete app and had reversed the default behaviour e.g. back button in navigation bar was set to be on the right instead of default left.

But now when the app is compiled using latest SDK (Xcode 7 beta 4), everything is the opposite of what I need.

Is there any simple way to force the app to show views and behave like iOS 8 and 7?

I searched and found a solution but it involves changing the constraints(Uncheck the "Respect language direction") for all views. But this is not a feasible solution in large projects.

This is a screenshot after compiling with Xcode 7 beta 4.

and this is a screenshot when compiled with Xcode 6.

have you tried the answers in the post? – Abdullah Umer Oct 12 '16 at 13:08 — Abdullah Umer, Oct 12 '16 at 13:08

Kamran Khan · Answer 1 · 2015-08-25T07:35:50.007

22

Edit: The following code may cause unexpected behavior as @wakachamo pointed out. So, please watch out for issues e.g. Interactive pop gesture doesn't work, alertviews don't show, etc. Its better to follow the instruction provided by @wakachamo if this doesn't work for you

Add this to app delegate didFinishLaunchingWithOptions method.

[[UIView appearance] setSemanticContentAttribute:UISemanticContentAttributeForceLeftToRight];

Also add guard to support earlier version so that the property doesn't cause any crash.

if([[[UIView alloc] init] respondsToSelector:@selector(setSemanticContentAttribute:)]) {
        [[UIView appearance] setSemanticContentAttribute:UISemanticContentAttributeForceLeftToRight];
    }

[[UIView alloc] init] instead of [UIView appearance] because respondsToSelector is not currently working with [UIView appearance] for setSemanticContentAttribute. You can also add iOS 9 Check

#define SYSTEM_VERSION_GREATER_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO(v)  ([[[UIDevice currentDevice] systemVersion] compare:v options:NSNumericSearch] != NSOrderedAscending)

if(SYSTEM_VERSION_GREATER_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO(@"9.0")) {
        [[UIView appearance] setSemanticContentAttribute:UISemanticContentAttributeForceLeftToRight];
    }

edited Aug 25 '15 at 07:35

answered Aug 24 '15 at 16:21

Kamran Khan

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This is not a supported configuration and will lead to several bugs and inconsistencies in your app. – wakachamo Aug 24 '15 at 19:04
Yes it may be the case, but it is the only thing that works till now for navigationcontrollers, to make them left to right, as far as I know. For individual items semanticContentAttribute works best as you described. – Kamran Khan Aug 25 '15 at 06:26
Thanks guys! I had found a more simple solution for my case. Please see my answer. – Abdullah Umer Aug 27 '15 at 14:44
1

I had to add this string: ' [[UIView appearanceWhenContainedIn:NSClassFromString(@"_UIAlertControllerView"), nil] setSemanticContentAttribute:UISemanticContentAttributeUnspecified]; ' Otherwise actionSheets won't display any buttons except for cancel button. – mas'an Sep 30 '15 at 12:33
2

Regarding navigation controllers, setting the semanticContentAttribute on UINavigationController.view should do the right thing. – wakachamo Feb 28 '16 at 10:18
@AbdullahUmer where's ur answer.. add url – iosMentalist Nov 23 '17 at 15:22

score 16 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 05 '15 at 12:20

i found the correct way from Apple Developer Forums

here iOS 9 beta - UIAlertController is not working

just add this code to make alertview work with it

 if(SYSTEM_VERSION_GREATER_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO(@"9.0")) {
            [[UIView appearance] setSemanticContentAttribute:UISemanticContentAttributeForceLeftToRight];

    [[UIView appearanceWhenContainedIn:[UIAlertController class], nil] setSemanticContentAttribute:UISemanticContentAttributeUnspecified];
    [[UIView appearanceWhenContainedIn:[UIAlertView class], nil] setSemanticContentAttribute:UISemanticContentAttributeUnspecified];



}

It does not work properly http://stackoverflow.com/questions/32932463/rtl-language-behavior-in-ios-9 — Soheil Novinfard, Feb 27 '16 at 09:33

score 13 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 20 '15 at 11:04

I know its too late to answer. But I have figured it out (Only the navigation bar issue).

The answer is adapted from @Kamran Kan. Thanks @Kamran.

Jus replace the UIView with UINavigationBar in @Kamran's answer. then the code will be as follows.

#define SYSTEM_VERSION_GREATER_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO(v)  ([[[UIDevice currentDevice] systemVersion] compare:v options:NSNumericSearch] != NSOrderedAscending)

if(SYSTEM_VERSION_GREATER_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO(@"9.0")) {
    [[UINavigationBar appearance] setSemanticContentAttribute:UISemanticContentAttributeForceLeftToRight];
}

Since it is only effect the UINavigationBar, the other controls won't effect. So the UIAlertView is working fine...

Thanks, this answer works for my question https://stackoverflow.com/questions/45736141/position-of-navigation-buttons-in-rtl-languages-are-not-correct-in-ipad?noredirect=1#comment78460346_45736141 — Mohnish Hirudkar, Aug 18 '17 at 10:38

score 7 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 29 '15 at 11:23

7

There is no easy way. It's recommended that you migrate to standard API as much as possible long-term.

Another approach is to set the semanticContentAttribute of all the affected views to UISemanticContentAttributeForceLeftToRight, but this is just as feasible as setting all your constraints to use Left/Right instead of Leading/Trailing. In addition to this, you'll also have to gate these calls around an availability check if you're targeting iOS <9.

answered Jul 29 '15 at 11:23

wakachamo

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i am having a problem in the UITextField placeholder. it is still showing from right to left. I tried to alter the: UITextField.appearance(). semanticContentAttribute and UITextField.appearance().UITextField.appearance().makeTextWritingDirectionLeftToRight(nil) but useless – iosMentalist Nov 23 '17 at 15:48

score 5 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 16 '16 at 14:21

5

SWIFT 2 Code

if #available(iOS 9.0, *) {
     myView.semanticContentAttribute = .ForceLeftToRight
}

answered Jan 16 '16 at 14:21

Husam

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Ramkrishna Sharma · Answer 6 · 2016-12-04T05:11:34.103

4

For SWIFT 3

if #available(iOS 10.0, *) {
     UIView.appearance().semanticContentAttribute = .forceLeftToRight
}

edited Dec 04 '16 at 05:11

answered Nov 04 '16 at 09:35

Ramkrishna Sharma

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score 3 · Answer 7 · edited Nov 24 '17 at 15:42

3

Use Storyboard and choose for each specific view controllers

Semantic->Force Left-to-Right.

edited Nov 24 '17 at 15:42

iosMentalist

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answered Dec 21 '16 at 10:40

Sedat Y

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iOS 9 disable support for right-to-left language

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