Translating content

An item can exist in several languages. Each language is a translation of the same item: it has its own text, but the same place in the tree, the same images where a field is not translatable, and the same version history. This page explains how to see which translations an item has, how to translate it, and how to remove a translation.

Content languages and the interface language

Two kinds of language are easy to mix up:

• Content languages are the languages your items are written in. They are set up for the site by an administrator.
• The interface language is the language of the administration's menus and buttons. You choose it for yourself in the right column, under Interface; it changes nothing in the content.

See which translations an item has

On an item's page, the line under the buttons shows a small badge per content language of the site. A filled badge, such as EN or DE in the picture, is a translation that exists; a dashed badge, such as QLO, is a language the item is not translated into yet. The badge of the language you are looking at is the dark one. Point at a badge to read what it means.

The Translations tab lists the translations in full, with their locale and the main language, and names the missing ones. Below the list, Use the main language if there is no prioritized translation makes the item always available: visitors of a language it is not translated into see the main language instead of nothing.

Translate an item

1. Open the item.
2. Click the dashed badge of the language, or choose the language in the list next to Edit and press Edit.
3. If the page asks, choose the new language under New translation and, under Translate based on, the existing translation to start from: its text is copied into the form. Choose None to start with empty fields.
4. Translate the fields. In the left column of the form, Base translation on and View show the text of another language with each field while you work.
5. Press Send for publishing.

To change an existing translation, choose that language in the list next to Edit, then press Edit. The edit form names the language next to its title. Each translation is published on its own: publishing the German text does not change the English one.

The main language

One translation of each item is its main language, usually the language it was created in. Where an item is set to be always available, the main language is shown to visitors of a language the item has no translation in. To make another language the main one, open the Translations tab, choose it in the Main column and press Set main.

Remove a translation

1. On the Translations tab, tick the languages to remove.
2. Press Remove selected and confirm.

The main language can never be removed; make another language main first. A removed translation is gone from every version and cannot be brought back from the history.

Who may do it

Editors whose role may edit or translate the item in that language. A role can be limited to one language, so a translator may be allowed German only. The language must be one of the site's content languages.

What can go wrong

• "You do not have permission to create a translation in another language." Your role is limited to other languages. Ask an administrator.
• The language is not offered. It is not a content language of the site yet, or the item already has it; then choose it as an existing translation.
• Visitors do not see the translation. No site shows that language yet. An administrator adds it to the site's language list.
• Visitors see English text on the German site. The item has no German translation and is always available, so the main language is shown. Translate it.

Read more

• Languages, in the help center.
• How do I translate an object into another language?
• How do I remove a translation or change the main language?
• How do I find what is not translated yet?
• The assistant can translate a field for you: see The AI assistant in the editor.