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Localization in the SharePoint Add-in model

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The approach you take to implement localization for Add-ins is different in the new SharePoint Add-in model than it was with Full Trust Code. In a typical Full Trust Code (FTC) / Farm Solution scenario, localization for custom components such as web parts, User Controls, and Web Controls was implemented with a combination of resource files, .Net managed code, properties, and declarative code. All the artifacts were packaged in features deployed via SharePoint Solutions.

In an SharePoint Add-in model scenario, you use JavaScript or the localization capabilities associated with the web technology you build your Add-ins with to implement localization. Depending on the localized resource, you might also use classic resources files, for example when you need to localize elements deployed to add-in web using feature framework elements in the add-in definition.

High-level guidelines

As a rule of a thumb, we would like to provide the following high-level guidelines for implementing localization.

  • You must install the appropriate Language Packs in your SharePoint on-premises and Office 365 environments to enable users to create websites in a specific language and culture.
  • Using JavaScript to implement localization in SharePoint Add-ins is also an approach you may use to localize content in Script Editor Add-in Parts.

Localization scenarios

There are two distinct scenarios where you may need to implement localization for an Add-in.

  • SharePoint-hosted Add-ins
  • Provider-hosted Add-ins

Add-in web components or assets

In this scenario localization is applied to the Add-in via JavaScript.

  • SharePoint-hosted Add-ins do not have access to server-based resource files in the SharePoint servers, but you have access on the feature element *.resx files.
  • The approach to localize a SharePoint-hosted Add-in and an Office Add-in are very similar because they both use JavaScript.

When is it a good fit?

When you are creating a SharePoint-hosted Add-in, using JavaScript is your best fit because you can implement localization with JavaScript and deploy all of the JavaScript files necessary to support localization with the SharePoint-hosted Add-in. You can also take advantage of this approach if your provider hosted add-in contains also specific add-in web.

Getting Started

Scenario 2 in the Core.JavaScriptCustomization (O365 PnP Sample)) demonstrates how to use JavaScript to localize the text in an Add-in as well as attributes associated with the HTML elements in the Add-in.

The Localize SharePoint Add-ins also demonstrates how to use JavaScript to localize assets in the add-in web.

Remote components

In this scenario localization is applied to the Add-in via the localization technologies associated with the web technology hosting the Add-in.

  • When ASP.NET is used to implement the Add-in, resource files and JavaScript files are used to localize it.
  • When another technology such as PHP, Python, or Ruby are used to implement the Add-in the localization capabilities associated with those platforms is used.

When is it a good fit?

When you are creating a Provider-hosted Add-in, using the localization technology that comes with the web hosting platform is the best fit because you are building the Add-in in a way that does not introduce custom code or additional complexity.

Getting Started

The following articles describes how to localize Provider-hosted Add-ins with resource files and JavaScript.

PnP samples

Applies to

  • Office 365 Multi Tenant (MT)
  • Office 365 Dedicated (D)
  • SharePoint 2013 on-premises