WordPress + WPML

Use of WPML

We limit ourselves here to the description of the translation management functions of WPML.

You can find general information, installation and configuration instructions on the WPML homepage.

In the following we use English screenshots, because the German localization of WPML is not yet optimal in some places.

Data exchange with CAT tools

You could also use WPML to translate individual web pages directly in WordPress. But this is only profitable if it is a small, one-time job. With the Advanced Translation Editor, WordPress offers CAT features such as glossary and translation memory. However, the functionality is not technically mature and represents an isolated solution.

An external CAT tool such as memoQ, which is used by PRODOC, usually has significantly better functions that increase effectiveness.

If you need other translations in addition to homepage texts, it makes even more sense to transfer the translations to an external CAT tool. You then have access to translations of brochures, manuals, etc. and the homepage translations are also available for other media.

WPML uses the XLIFF format for data exchange with CAT tools.

Mr. Weimar from PRODOC has carried out an XML configuration for our WordPress theme. We were able to import the Chinese translations from PRODOC without any problems and only minor post-editing work was required.

Configuration of WPML

Basic setup

You can find the basic settings in the Settings pane.

In the Multilingual Content Setup tab, 2 settings are important.

How to translate posts and pages

Under How to translate posts and pages. Create translations manually must be selected.

Translated documents options

1. Draft prevents translated pages from being published immediately after importing XLIFF data and thus becoming generally visible. Foreign-language pages generated from imported data should be checked in any case, even if hardly any adjustments are usually necessary.
2. Translate causes the URL to also be forwarded for translation. This is usually desirable for SEO.

Plugin for translation management

WPML consists of several components. The WPML Translation Management plugin must be installed in order to use the translation management features of WPML.

Configuring translation managers and translators

After installing the WPML Translation Management plugin, the Translation Management submenu is available in WPML.

• Select Translation Management from the WordPress menu under WPML:

Appointing translation managers

If translation managers and translators have not yet been configured, the following screen appears:

With one of the three buttons at the bottom of the screen you can:

1. Create a new WordPress user that acts as the translation manager
2. Select an existing WordPress user as translation manager
3. Make yourself a translation manager

Appointing translators

After setting up a translation manager, the translators are still missing:

• Click on Add Translator; the Add new Translator window appears:

1. Choose yourself or another WordPress user from your company if you do not want to grant PRODOC access to your WordPress environment. You will then have full control, but also more administrative work.
2. Create a PRODOC employee as a new user and assign him or her the translator role if you want to minimize the effort involved in distributing translation documents.

IMPORTANT! In both cases, assign all language pairs to the translator in the next step. Neither you nor a PRODOC employee will be able to speak all languages, but it is important that one employee can manage the translation documents for all languages. The distribution to individual translators will then be done in our CAT tool.

The WPML translation management setup is now complete and you can generate translation documents.

Prepare translation of individual pages with WPML

Under Translation Management you will find the Translation Dashboard:

1. Search for the desired files on the homepage using a filter
2. Select the files to be translated

Further down in the window under Select translation options

1. Select the languages into which the previously selected files are to be translated
2. Click on Add selected content to translation basket

At the top of the window, it appears the new tab Translation Basket

Go to the Translation Basket and scroll down

1. Enter desired deadline
2. Select translator
3. Send all items for translation Click on

This creates the translation jobs. Translation jobs are managed in the Translations submenu.

Editing translation jobs

You only need to perform the following steps if you have chosen yourself or an employee as your Translator. If the Translator is a PRODOC employee, we will take care of these steps for you.

Selecting newly created translation jobs

Go to the Translations submenu to edit the translation jobs you have just created

In the Translations submenu, you can see all Translation Jobs that have ever been created with WPML.

1. Select the previously created Translation Jobs
2. Scroll all the way down

Creating XLIFF files

Clicking on Apply creates a ZIP file that contains an XLIFF file for each previously marked translation job.

You can save this ZIP file on your local computer and send it to us for translation via email or sharefile.

Importing translated XLIFF files

If you receive translated XLIFF files from PRODOC, you have to import them into WordPress.

• Click on Durchsuchen

You can then select individual XLIFF files, or alternatively a ZIP file with multiple translated XLIFF files.

• After selecting the files to import, click Upload

WPML now imports the XLIFF files and creates foreign language pages in WordPress that are synchronized with the German original page.

Tasks after importing translations

Now the translated pages are in your WordPress system. There’s still a few things to be done:

• Check translated pages:
  • Has everything been translated? If applicable, provide feedback to PRODOC – a customary XML configuration may be necessary or an additional string translation may be required.
  • Are you happy with the formatting and layout?
  • If SEO optimization was applied during translation: are slug, title and meta description translated and do they contain the desired keywords?
• Synchronize menus:
  • For this there is an extra function in the WPML menu: WP-Menu Sync
  • The keywords defined after SEO optimization should also be used here
• Publish translated pages