This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem: The client is attempting to switch from automatic to manual translation using WPML on their site and is encountering issues where changes made in the Welsh content using the Advanced Translation Editor are not taking effect unless the site cache is purged. They are considering using the Classic Translation Editor as they do on another site, where they manually translate content after creating the English version.
Solution: We advised the client that even if the translations were initially done automatically, they could still manually edit them. To switch from the Advanced Translation Editor to the Classic Translation Editor, they should navigate to WPML -> Settings -> Translation Editor. However, it's crucial to make a full site backup before making this change. We also clarified that manually adding translations in the Advanced Translation Editor is possible by rejecting the automatic translation and starting from scratch. If changes are not reflected on the frontend, this might be due to caching issues, which could persist regardless of the editor used. If the client decides to revert to automatic translations, they can toggle the setting in the Advanced Translation Editor.
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My client is having issues with the advanced editor, especially when going back in and making edits to the Welsh content. They are saying that the changes are not taking affect.
I tested this myself with a test post and i had the same result. I had to purge the site cache in order for the changes to be made live. Obviously this isn't ideal as i don't want to affect site performance and my client won't have access to purge the cache themselves.
I use WPML on another site (egin.org.uk) that uses the same page builder (WP Bakery). They use the old version of the editor and first create the English post then manually add the Welsh to the Welsh post having got the translations themselves.
This is what i would like to do on the DTA Wales site, at least as a test to see if this works better for my client.
I hope that explains my issue in more detail.
If you have any more questions please let me know.
Purging the site's cache sounds like an obvious thing to do after making any changes to a site, not just changes to translations. It also might depend on the caching settings.
In any case, directly to your question, the settings to change the Translation Editor from the advanced to the classic are in WPML -> Settings -> Translation Editor. Please see the attached screenshot.
**** Important! Please make a full site backup (files and DB) before you proceed with those steps****
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
I just performed a test on my test site. I translated a page with the Advanced Translation Editor. Then, in the settings, I switched from using the Advanced Translation Editor to using the Classic Translation Editor. When I edited the translation again, all the translations were preserved, and I could edit them in the Classic Translation Editor. However, you may be using different settings, page builder, or custom fields than what I have on my test site, and I'm unsure how it will work for you. You must test it yourself.
**** Important! Please make a full site backup (files and DB) before you proceed with those steps****
You mentioned that changes made in the Advanced Translation Editor were not shown on the frontend, only after purging the cache. I think that if caching is the issue, the same will happen if you use the Classic Translation Editor.
Suppose translations are not displayed on the frontend after completing a translation with the Advanced Translation Editor, and it is not a caching issue. In that case, we will undoubtedly continue to investigate this issue.
In any case, please know that our recommendation is to use the Advanced Translation Editor.
On the Egin.org.uk site, my client translates the content themselves. They create the English page using the page builder (WP Bakery) and then "copy content from English" on the Welsh side to preserve any layouts. They then manually update the English with the Welsh text.
DTA Wales use the same builder - WP Bakery and are possibly looking to update their site in the same way, now they have a Welsh speaking member of staff.
Although, if you recommend they stay with the Advanced Editor, i will suggest they try clearing the cache the next time they create a new post. Ideally i wanted to avoid mentioning this to them as i didn't want this to slow down the site.
Can they manually add the translation using the advanced editor?
Can you confirm if the site has credits assigned to it for automatic translation, as i will have to discuss with my client about purchasing more if needed.
To the best of my knowledge, clearing or purging the cache (without disabling it) should not slow down the site. The cache will be built again for the necessary content.
You asked: "Can they manually add the translation using the advanced editor?"
Yes, of course, they can manually add translations using the Advanced Translation Editor. You can cancel automatic translation and start the translation from scratch. Or manually correct the automatic translation in the Advanced Translation Editor.
hidden link currently has 24280 credits assigned to it.
I asked my client if they would like to continue to use automatic translations. This is the response:
"I don’t think that’s an option as the automatic translation also seems glitchy and we will pretty much always want to make corrections to the auto-translated text. My impression (I may be wrong!) is that even if we only use the autotranslator it still creates two pages and so whenever further updates are required these will need to be made twice.
When I’ve made changes to pages and made sure I’ve not checked the ‘minor edit, don’t update translated page’ the Welsh page has still not been updated and I’ve had to do everything twice."
Your client wrote: "My impression (I may be wrong!) is that even if we only use the autotranslator it still creates two pages and so whenever further updates are required these will need to be made twice."
I don't understand your client's point. Of course, there are two pages: one in the original English and one in the translated Welsh language. Or have I not understood your client's meaning correctly?
Your client also wrote: "When I’ve made changes to pages and made sure I’ve not checked the ‘minor edit, don’t update translated page’ the Welsh page has still not been updated and I’ve had to do everything twice."
This should not happen. If your client marked the option 'Minor edit - Don't update translation' and the translated page is 100% complete (the pencil icon is shown), then it should work and after updating the original page your client should still see the pencil icon and not the circular arrow icon which indicats that the translation needs an update. If this is not the case, please let us know if oyu want us to investigate why this problem happens on your client's site.
To answer your question: "If my client makes an update to the English post, is there a why to have the Welsh be auto updated based on the English change?"
The Welsh page will not update automatically when the English post is edited unless the site is set to "Translate Everything Automatically" — which it isn’t.
"If this has to be done manually, can you explain the steps my client will need to take please?"
In your current setup:
After editing the English post, WPML will mark the Welsh translation as needing an update. Your client will need to open the translation (by clicking the circular arrows icon), review the changes, and save it. This gives full manual control over the Welsh content.
My site Auto Translation setting is turned off (see attached), but i just created a draft post in English, clicked the add Welsh icon and it opened the Advanced Editor and the content was automatically translated.
Since you have automatic translation credits assigned to your site, our Advanced Translation Editor suggests automatic translation. However, you can reject it and thus not spend any automatic translation credits for it. To reject the automatic translation, click the 'Undo translation' button at the top of the Advanced Translation Editor. Then, a pop-up will appear, asking you what you want to do next time — keep translating automatically or not. Please see the attached screenshots.
Does this explain to you why your client saw the page translated automatically in the Advanced Translation Editor?
