[Resolved] Button links don't appear in ATE

Hello Jon,

I am glad it helped.

Hard to tell the root cause of the problem. But I think it's related to mixing the editors.

I understand they are doing this because they can't translate links in the buttons. But I suggest avoiding this workaround, as it creates more problems than it solves.

How to translate the link depends on how the link is inserted in the original content. But in general, links are handled automatically if the target is already translated.

If not, I suggest checking this:

1.
WPML → Settings → Translate Link Targets > Scan now and adjust links

2.
Make sure you are using relative URLs.

As I said, it should be handled automatically, but sometimes it's inserted in an element coming from an Elementor or Gutenberg add on, and it needs to be taken care of. If your client can't make it work, we are here to help 🙂

As a final note, the Advanced Translation Editor is better than the Classic Translator Editor (legacy) handling links.

Best Regards,
Otto

Hello Jon,

By relative URL's I mean this:
/slug-of-the-page

instead of:
hidden link

For internal links, this is better so WPML understands that the URL should point to the right language and handles it automatically.

Sometimes using the full URL WPML treats it as an external link and it does not handle the language then.

Using WP Bakery shouldn't be a problem, as it is fully compatible with WPML:
https://wpml.org/plugin/wpbakery-page-builder/

The ticket will remain open for two weeks without activity, if you need more time, just drop a message here.

Best Regards,
Otto

Hello Jon,

Thanks for the heads up. The ticket will remain open for two weeks.

Best Regards,
Otto

Hello Jon,

I am sorry, but credentials were removed for security reasons. Can you please provide me with access again?

**IMPORTANT**
- Please make a backup of site files and database before providing us access.
- If you do not see the wp-admin/FTP fields this means your post & website login details will be made PUBLIC. DO NOT post your website details unless you see the required wp-admin/FTP fields.
- Maybe I'll need to replicate your site locally. For this, I'll need to temporarily install a plugin called “Duplicator” or "All in One WP Migration" on your site. Once the problem is resolved I will delete the local site.

Best Regards,
Otto

Hello Jon,

Thanks.

Related to the second issue, if your client keeps mixing editors, problems will keep appearing.

As I mentioned before, there are two options here:

- Use the WP editor for the translations. They'll need to retranslate and keep using it as explained here:
https://wpml.org/documentation/translating-your-contents/using-different-translation-editors-for-different-pages/

- Or try to fix the links problem, which depends on how the links are added in the original page.

The workaround your client is doing may seem to fix the issue, but it generates more problems than it fixes.

Regarding the translation unpublished issue, can you please elaborate on how the translation was done? Did they mix editors when translating it?

Best Regards,
Otto

Hello Jon,

No, existing translated content is not deleted when you switch the editor preference to the WordPress editor.

Changing the default editor from WPML’s Translation Editor (ATE/Classic) to the WordPress editor does not erase translated posts/pages. The translated posts remain in the database. What you do lose is the connection to ATE/CTE segment memory and the “translation job” workflow for those items. After switching, edits happen directly in the translated post (native editor), not in ATE/CTE.

BUT, if you switch back to ATE/CTE, the translated posts content may be lost.

Always take a backup before a broad workflow change.

Mixing ATE/CTE with native editor may lead to status mismatches and odd slug/permalink states—like the 404 you saw in Welsh. Moving fully to the WP Editor removes that variable.

To set the WordPress Editor as default, check this documentation:
https://wpml.org/documentation/translating-your-contents/using-different-translation-editors-for-different-pages/

There is no way to remove the option to switch back to the WPML editor 🙁

To sum up, about the existing translations when you flip the switch:
* They **stay published** as they are.
* For any item that used to open in ATE/CTE, the first time you open the translation you may see a prompt to switch editor—choose WordPress editor.
* ❌ Please make a full website backup before proceeding ❌
* If you switch back to ATE/CTE, the translated posts content may be lost.

Best Regards,
Otto

Hello Jon,

I am sorry I wasn't clear, yes, you are right:
ATE = Advanced Translation Editor
CTE = Classic Translation Editor

Best Regards,
Otto