Learn how to schedule the processing of imported multilingual content done by the WPML Export and Import addon.
WPML Export and Import works with your chosen import plugins to add language information to imported content and link translations. If you’ve scheduled your imports to happen automatically, you don’t have to manually trigger WPML Export and Import — you can schedule the process to run whenever an import is completed.
This eliminates the need for manual work and allows fully automated imports of multilingual content from beginning to end.
Required Plugins
Install and activate all of the required plugins on both your export and import sites:
- A supported WordPress export and import plugin or tool
- WPML
- WPML String Translation
- WPML Export and Import
- WPML Multilingual & Multicurrency for WooCommerce (only if you’re exporting and importing WooCommerce products)
On your import site, make sure to set up WPML with the languages you’re importing.
Choose Your Preferred API
Depending on your configuration of scheduled imports, use one of these APIs:
- URL Endpoint API: This is an HTTP endpoint for cron jobs — most often used when you schedule actions with the WP All Import plugin. With this method, you simply add another URL to your existing setup.
- Action Hook API. If you’re using PHP to schedule imports (e.g. with Action Scheduler), add this action hook to call the WPML Export and Import process from your script.
Both of these processes result in silent, automated processing of your multilingual content.
Option 1: Configure a URL Endpoint
To set up the URL endpoint:
1. Create a strong and unique security key by adding it to your wp-config.php.
define( 'WPML_IMPORT_KEY', 'your-strong-secret-key-here' );
2. Add the processing URL to your existing configuration for scheduled imports.
The URL form should be:
https://yoursite.com/?wpml_import_trigger=your-strong-secret-key-here
Example With WP All Import Pro
Let’s say you’re using the manual scheduling configuration in WP All Import Pro. Your setup may look like this:
Now, you just need to add another cron command to trigger the WPML Export and Import URL:
wget -q -O - "https://yoursite.com/?wpml_import_trigger=your-strong-secret-key-here"
Essentially, you configure this additional URL the same way you configured your other scheduled cron jobs.
Debugging
You need a way to check errors if they happen. To do this, enable WP_DEBUG_LOG in your PHP.
This allows you to see errors in log entries.
Option 2: Configure an Action Hook
To call the WPML Export and Import process, add the following hook to your PHP code:
// Trigger import processing
do_action( 'wpml_import_process' );
When you schedule the import actions, use the following line to schedule the hook as a background task:
wp_schedule_single_event( time(), 'wpml_import_process' );
And you’re all set! Your process of importing multilingual content is now fully automated and doesn’t require any manual intervention.