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FormulasQuestion / moodle-qtype_formulas

Formulas question type for Moodle
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Detect locale settings for automatic setting of decimal separator #148

Open mijenner opened 2 weeks ago

mijenner commented 2 weeks ago

Description of proposed feature

According to documentation on dynamiccourseware a javascript has to be added to enable Formulas correct handling of decimal separator if it isn't point separator (but the alternative comma separator).

Proposal is to integrate this functionality into the system so that it can be controlled through one Moodle settings (Site administration -> Language -> Language Settings) and let Formulas detect what locale the rest of Moodle is using and adapt accordingly.

How can the new feature be used?

It will ease installation and possibly adaption of the plugin.

Additional comments

Great plugin which in my opinion should be core of Moodles quiz system.

PhilippImhof commented 2 weeks ago

Thanks for your suggestion. Please also see this comment: https://github.com/FormulasQuestion/moodle-qtype_formulas/issues/11#issuecomment-1826836852

PhilippImhof commented 2 weeks ago

As always, I have to emphasise that this is not simply a localisation issue. Some input fields allow entering more than just numbers and the comma has a very specific meaning in those cases. I fundamentally oppose to any solution that would lead to different handling of the various answer types, because in extreme cases, students would be able to use the comma in one part of a question, but not in another one.

For now, people just have to remember one single thing: never use the comma as a decimal separator with Formulas question. While that might go against their local usage, it is easy enough to remember. And I still find it acceptable in the sense that we also have to use a point with Wolfram Alpha, SageMath, Maple, Mathlab or all programming languages. Also, all calculators I have ever seen use a "." button for the decimal separator, even those sold in e.g. Germany.

mijenner commented 2 weeks ago

Noted. Same goes for Geogebra.

PhilippImhof commented 2 weeks ago

Also, I will of course keep in mind your suggestion when trying to implement the solution described in the linked comment, e. g. by only considering the comma, if it is a valid decimal separator according to the student's language setting.