Openlayers fails to draw features when the map's div container has directionallity "rtl" applied

[openlayers]

If you have a OpenLayers Map displayed inside a div, and the div has dir="rtl", when you load features from a WFS server, they don't get properly drawn.

To reproduce, just create your div using:

<div dir="rtl" id="map" name="map"></div>

And create your map as usual (in javascript):

var map = new OpenLayers.Map("map");

( don't forget to add some WFS layer on top of the map )

This arises in arabian environments where dir="rtl" is common.

[ahocevar]

In principle, this can be easily fixed by adding dir="ltr" to each layer's div. The attached patch does this and fixes the issue.

It would, however, be interesting to hear why someone would set dir="ltr" on the map div. Probably because it is required to have controls with text inside the map div? If so, the proposed fix would be ok, but another way to fix is would be an option for OpenLayers.Control to set dir to "ltr", or even to make this locale dependant.

What do others think?

[ahocevar]

Replying to ahocevar:

It would, however, be interesting to hear why someone would set dir="ltr" on the map div.

This should of course read dir="rtl"

[openlayers]

This issue has appeared in geodjango usage within the automatic Django Admin app. In this case the rtl was being set across the whole page.

FYI:  http://code.djangoproject.com/ticket/9278

-Dane

[crschmidt]

After discussion on #openlayers, I think this is the right choice:

1. It fixes the problem of vectors not working with an rtl map 2. It is perfectly reasonable that people could want rtl behavior in the layerswitcher and text inside the map, but not have broken vectors. 3. rtl text in vector layers in IE won't work, but that's life until someone gives us a real fix.

I've tested this patch and it does what it says on the tin. Andreas, thanks; please commit.

[ahocevar]

(In [9114]) Fixed rendering issues in (vector) layers when map div has dir="rtl" set. r=crschmidt (closes #1778)