Startup page remains in english

[bcw]

Hello,
I am trying to customise a newly instance of phpBB for a French community.
I searched this forum, noticed there were more issues around this topic but could not get a solution.

I would like the opening page (when users have not yet logged in) to be in French.
The page for a particular user, after they have logged in, should be by default French, but modifiable via the UCP to another language.
The latter works, the first one does not.
I was hoping the first requirement could be met by setting the board default language to French in the ACPl. I have done that, but no success.
What am I doing wrong?

By the way - I am running phpBB 3.3.9 on an Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS host
Thanks!

[warmweer]

I suspect you installed the board with British English as only language pack (and thus default language).
The user anonymous has English as Language as it's the only one installed.

When you then install a new language and set it as default, users' language isn't changed, basically a new language has become available but anonymous continues having English as language.
Change anonymous' language to French, log out and then see which language is used. (tested on my side )

[bcw]

Thank you.
Indeed - I first installed the forum with only UK English, later added the French package.
I've been trying to change the Anonymous user's language. I would expect that to be in the ACP area, under users and groups. If I click Manage Users,
and select "Anonymous" I can see and change some elements, but the preferred language is not amongst them.
And, I suppose by definition, I cannot login as Ananymous, Correct?

[warmweer]

ACP > tab USERS AND GROUPS > USERS > Manage users > select anonymous user > click on Submit > Select form Preferences from the dropdown
>>> Edit global settings > My language:

[HiFiKabin]

And, I suppose by definition, I cannot login as Anonymous , Correct?

Correct, but if you are not logged in you will see the features that the Anonymous user has.

Set the default language as described above and that is what will be seen to anyone not logged in

[bcw]

Just to make sure I understand you correctly:
Following your screenshot, I need to login as administrator, go to the Board Settings in ACP, and set the language to French, correct?
I did this as a first attempt, but that does not work for me.

[HiFiKabin]

Correct.

... but as that seems not to have worked, try this:-

ACP> Users And Groups> Manage Users > Select anonymous user > Submit > Preferences

Select French and submit

[Mannix_]

I did this as a first attempt, but that does not work for me.

That settings should work for all non logged in users. This won't affect users that already registered and logged in.

[warmweer]

Just to make sure I understand you correctly:
Following your screenshot, I need to login as administrator, go to the Board Settings in ACP, and set the language to French, correct?
I did this as a first attempt, but that does not work for me.

Setting the default language to French will make that the default language for anyone registering from that moment on. But it doesn't change the language of the current members (anonymous is also a member).
As I mentioned, and as HiFiKabin confirmed, you need to change the language of the user anonymous.

[bcw]

Correct.

... but as that seems not to have worked, try this:-

ACP> Users And Groups> Manage Users > Select anonymous user > Submit > Preferences

Select French and submit

That seems to work! At actually looked at that place, but did not spot the form options.
Thanks everyone for thinking along. I am new to this software, but quite impressed so far!

[HiFiKabin]

Glad its solved the problem.