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[Escalated to Compatibility team] Translating a Custom Field

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This topic contains 1 replies, has 0 voices.

Last updated by Christopher Amirian 1 month, 1 week ago.

Assisted by: Christopher Amirian.

Author Posts
April 24, 2025 at 8:06 am #16962938

justinK-16

Background of the issue:
I am trying to translate a Custom Field added to Elementor Pro from a Plugin. I cannot locate this in either String Translation or Admin Texts. I am not sure how to translate this or whether it needs to be added/registered in XML. The issue can be seen on this page: hidden link

Symptoms:
I expected to see 'Listings Found' to either appear in String Translation or the ATE to Translate. Instead, I just can't locate it.

Questions:
How can I translate a Custom Field added to Elementor Pro from a Plugin?
Does the Custom Field need to be added or registered in XML for translation?
April 24, 2025 at 8:16 am #16963089

Christopher Amirian
WPML Supporter since 07/2020

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Asia/Yerevan (GMT+04:00)

Hi,

Welcome to WPML support. There is a need to have compatibility with WPML when you use a custom widget in Elementor.

The developers of the Elementor addon need to create an XML file and add to the root folder of their plugin.

Here is how to create the XML code:

https://wpml.org/documentation/plugins-compatibility/elementor/how-to-add-wpml-support-to-custom-elementor-widgets/

If it is a matter of just one widget and field, I can try to see if I can generate the XML code for you.

YOu will be able to add it to WPML > Settings > Custom XML Code (tab)

I'd appreciate it if you could give me the URL/User/Pass of your WordPress dashboard after you make sure that you have a backup of your website.
It is absolutely important that you give us a guarantee that you have a backup so if something happens you will have a point of restore.

Make sure you set the next reply as private.

Thanks.
April 27, 2025 at 6:18 pm #16972645

Christopher Amirian
WPML Supporter since 07/2020

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Asia/Yerevan (GMT+04:00)

Hi Justin,

I installed the Multilingual Tools plugin and found the field name and added the proper code to the settings:

<wpml-config>
  <elementor-widgets>
    <widget name="image">
      <fields>
        <field>image>alt</field>
        <field>link>url</field>
      </fields>
    </widget>
    <widget name="directorist_all_listing">
      <fields>
        <field>header_title</field>
      </fields>
    </widget>    
  </elementor-widgets>
</wpml-config>

You can see the result as an example in French here:

hidden link

Thanks.
April 29, 2025 at 2:53 pm #16979873

Christopher Amirian
WPML Supporter since 07/2020

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Asia/Yerevan (GMT+04:00)

Hi,

Our partnership lead asked us to try to replicate the issue on a clean installation as the plugin in question is listed in our compatible list:

https://wpml.org/plugin/directorist-business-directory-plugin/

Would you please install the Directionist plugin on the WordPress installation below?

hidden link

Thanks.
April 29, 2025 at 4:37 pm #16980328

justinK-16

Hi Christopher

I installed the Directorist plugin (it is just the free version) and added some demo listings and pages on install.

If you of to WP Dashboard > Pages > All Listings, you will see it is a page created by Directorist shortcode. Although when using Elementor, it is possible to add an All Listings Widget that is configurable.

I have highlighted the equivalent field in the screenshot from the All Listings page.
hidden link

Let me know if you need anything else.

Thanks for the quick fix with the XML 🙂

Screenshot 2025-04-29 183612.jpg
April 29, 2025 at 5:16 pm #16980454

justinK-16

By the way I have just noticed another one from Directorist - in case your team want to look into this.

It is the word Listings - they will be able to find it on the Single Location page - again, it is also a Directorist widget available in Elementor.

Screenshot 2025-04-29 191320.jpg
May 1, 2025 at 11:16 am #16986420

Christopher Amirian
WPML Supporter since 07/2020

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Asia/Yerevan (GMT+04:00)

Hi,

Thank you for the details. I actually went to WPML settings and enabled the direcionitst listings for translation and the categories and taxonomies.

After making the automatic translation dummy server available to add ES at the beginning of the text, it seems to work ok and the string in question is translated:

hidden link

The problem now I see is the listing is translated, but the all listing page does not show the Spanish listings.

But as the original issue was related to the string translation I want you to check now the sample site to see if it works

Thanks.
May 1, 2025 at 12:21 pm #16986518

justinK-16

Hi

I have had a look and I can not even find the string in String Translation or appearing in the ATE from either the ALL Listings or And Search Pages.

I had a look at:
WP Dash > Directory Listings > Settings > Search > Search Result
And under the "Header" section, there is "Listings Count Text" - "Items Found"

However, when switching to Spanish, the "Listings Count Text" still says - "Items Found"

This is the same for the All Listings Widget they have:
WP Dash > Directory Listings > Settings > Listings > All Listings

Same text in both EN and ES

The sample site is obviously translating "Items found" to "Elementos encontrados".

So I continued looking - I scanned "Directorist - Business Directory Plugin" under "Themes and Plugin localization" and then checked String Translation again and there it was.

So it is working on both the front end, and now I can see how/why in WPML.

I edited it in String translation and the change appears on the front end.

What Directorist Listings did you select Translate for? Was it this - onelisting_layout_settings_page

Is it in Custom Field Translations (system Fields)?
May 1, 2025 at 1:34 pm #16986649

Christopher Amirian
WPML Supporter since 07/2020

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Asia/Yerevan (GMT+04:00)

Hi,

The string in question was simply the one you can search as Items Found in string translation of the sandbox website.

It seems that there is a differnece between the normal shortcode method that is used in the Sandbox and the Elementor Widget that you used in Elementor on your website.

So it seems shortcode method uses the string translation but the Widget overrides that and the custom XML is needed to translate the title.

Would you please add Elementor widgets of Directionist plugin in the Sandbox? I think that is the problem.

Thanks,
May 1, 2025 at 2:09 pm #16986747

justinK-16

Ok, I have added the All Listings Directorist Widget under the shortcode version.

Is it not good practice to use XML?
May 4, 2025 at 11:49 am #16993149

Christopher Amirian
WPML Supporter since 07/2020

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Asia/Yerevan (GMT+04:00)

Hi,

Thank you very much. Now that you have used the Block, it does not show as translated as it is part of the content and it is not compatible with WML and there is a need to add XML code.

The problem is that this plugin is listed as a compatible plugin and you should not add XML code yourself as a customer.

The XML file needs to be generated by the author of the plugin and ready to use without you involving in the XML code.

I reported this to the compatibility team.

Meanwhile I'd appreciate it if you could contact the author of the plugin and share the sample website link and your finding with them and ask them to give solution.

I will get back to you if I have news from the compatibility team.
May 4, 2025 at 2:58 pm #16993392

justinK-16

Hi Christopher

Yes, I agree, as it is listed as compatible with WPML (on their Website and when selling the product to me) that they should be fixing this.

I could provide a huge list of fields and widgets that do not translate. I have found workarounds and ways to do this manually, but it is very slow, repetitive, and frustrating.

The problem is that I have reported these to the plugin developer many times (starting a year ago). Nothing has ever been fixed/addressed, and normally, I am lucky to even get a response. The situation may have changed - I'm not sure, unless I have a major issue, I have given up chasing them.

Let me know if you would like a list and examples of fields not translating to pursue this further.
May 5, 2025 at 2:19 pm #16996688

Christopher Amirian
WPML Supporter since 07/2020

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Asia/Yerevan (GMT+04:00)

Thanks,

I still think it worth the shot and I thank you for it.

For now, I'll wait till I have an opinion from the compatibility team and after that I may ask for a list.

Thanks.