localizing raw resources in android app

Question

I want to serve local language content in my app. I am reading a .txt file in res/raw folder using FileReader (Buffered one). I have read that Android can automatically translate text for values/strings.xml file.

Is the same possible for raw text files. I am looking for minimal code changes.

Answer 1

Android does not automatically translate any files.

You as a developer can translate them and put the resources in appropriately qualified folders, like values-en , values-fr and so on.

These qualifiers work on all folders under res , including the raw folder.

No code changes are required, as Android will automatically pick the correct file upon runtime. However, you should always keep a copy in the default folder with no qualifications in case the app is run on a device for which you do not have content available.