translating the Time text to another language - cakephp

Question

How can i translate the default Cake php time helper strings in my application, i'm using in Cake php a function called timeAgoInWords which from the time helper function, it give me a text like 5 hours, 52 minutes ago .
I want to translate this to another language, how can i do that ? i searched the documentation and i didn't get anything .
<?php echo $this->Time->timeAgoInWords($question['Question']['created']) ?>

Answer 1

You need a customized helper to get your stuff done. timeAgoInWords helper does not give the flexiblity of replacing words with your words.
Here, create a file called TimeagoHelper.php under your View/Helper
I am not sure which language you want translation in, I will write in English, you can replace your words.
<?php
App::uses('AppHelper', 'View/Helper');
class TimeagoHelper extends AppHelper {
public function __construct(View $view, $settings = array()) {
parent::__construct($view, $settings);
}
public function timeago($datetime) {
$datetime1 = new DateTime($datetime);
$datetime2 = new DateTime('now');
$obj = $datetime1->diff($datetime2);
if($obj->days == 1) {
$time = $obj->format('%a day'); // Replace your word
} elseif($obj->days == 0) {
if($obj->h == 0) {
if($obj->i == 0) {
$time = $obj->s . ' seconds'; // Replace your word
} else {
$time = $obj->i . ' minutes'; // Replace your word
}
} else {
$time = $obj->h . ' hours'; // Replace your word
}
} else {
$time = $obj->format('%a days'); // Replace your word
}
return $time.' ago'; // Replace your word
}
}
Load this helper in your action or controller.
I have been using php 5.5 since quite sometime, am not sure if it works on lesser versions, i.e. don't remember if concat is allowed as done for seconds and minutes. Incase, it doesn't work, assign them to variables and concat those.
Use it in View's .ctp file like so:
$this->Timeago->timeago($question['Question']['created']);
PS: CakeTime comes in handy too, check out the api for possibilities.
Cheers!