Force Android DateUtils.getRelativeDateTimeString() to ignore the device locale?

Question

I've found using the android.text.format.DateUtils relative APIs that return values like "yesterday" or "2 hours ago" very nice - but my app does not support every language Android does. So, I default to English, but for every language I don't support, the relative string shows in the device's setting.

For example, like:

Last attempt: hace 11 minutos.

I'd like to make the API call default to English for any languages I don't support. However, I don't see anywhere to set the Locale for the API call - I'm hoping I'm just missing it somewhere.

Is there a way to set the Locale just for the API call, ignoring the device setting?

Maragues · Answer 1 · 2016-09-21T07:13:12.917

15

This is working for me up to Android 7

  void forceLocale(Locale locale) {
    Configuration conf = getBaseContext().getResources().getConfiguration();
    updateConfiguration(conf, locale);
    getBaseContext().getResources().updateConfiguration(conf, getResources().getDisplayMetrics());

    Configuration systemConf = Resources.getSystem().getConfiguration();
    updateConfiguration(systemConf, locale);
    Resources.getSystem().updateConfiguration(conf, getResources().getDisplayMetrics());

    Locale.setDefault(locale);
  }

  void updateConfiguration(Configuration conf, Locale locale) {
    if(Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN_MR1){
      conf.setLocale(locale);
    }else {
      //noinspection deprecation
      conf.locale = locale;
    }
  }

edited Sep 21 '16 at 07:13

answered Nov 11 '14 at 11:55

Maragues

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Worked for Android 4.1.2 – Atetc Jul 01 '16 at 03:29
Worked for Android 5.0 – Son Huy TRAN Sep 20 '16 at 10:37
1

Thank you Worked for Android 7.0 but it doesn't work on Android 8.0 , any idea how to make it work on Oreo – Andrew Hossam Feb 17 '18 at 00:35

score 12 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 07 '11 at 06:23

12

According to the source code of the DateUtils class it uses both Resource.getSystem() and Locale.getDefault() method for formatting date and time. You can change the default Locale using Locale.setDefault() method but I don't think it's possible to change the return value of the Resource.getSystem() method. You can try to change the default locale to Locale.US but it seems to me that results will be even worse in this case.

answered Jul 07 '11 at 06:23

Michael

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Thanks @Pixie for looking into it. I pulled down the source and poked around a bit myself and would have to agree. – Eric Jul 12 '11 at 15:49
1

Did anyone find out solution to this problem? – Lukáš Neoproud Dec 23 '13 at 15:22

Force Android DateUtils.getRelativeDateTimeString() to ignore the device locale?

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