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This topic contains 7 replies, has 2 voices.

Last updated by Andrey 1 month, 4 weeks ago.

Assisted by: Andrey.

Author Posts
August 14, 2024 at 7:03 pm #16072270

francescoS-56

Background of the issue:
I've published some posts in Spanish (my default language) and translated them to English, but now I want to change the original language set of those posts. I've read a documentation to do this but that is one post at a time, and there are hundreds that I want to apply this change.

Symptoms:
I need to change the original language of multiple posts in bulk, but the documentation I found only explains how to do it one post at a time.

Questions:
Is there a way to change the original language of multiple posts in bulk?

August 14, 2024 at 8:02 pm #16072418

Andrey
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский )

Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+03:00)

Thank you for contacting WPML support.

The WPML user interface does not currently support bulk options for changing a post's default language. You will need to make the changes for each post individually.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. First, unlink the translations for the post.

You can find more information about this process at https://wpml.org/faq/how-to-disconnect-translations-from-the-default-language-page-or-post/

2. Then, link the pages again and select the original language for the post.

And for this step at https://wpml.org/faq/how-to-link-already-translated-pages/

Remember backup your database before making any changes.

August 14, 2024 at 8:11 pm #16072425

francescoS-56

Hi Andrey, I understand there is no front-end option for this, what I want to know is if I can do this another way, for example, using filters and hooks to select posts in bulk and update that value. Does your team know of other wpml users doing something like that?

August 14, 2024 at 8:43 pm #16072509

Andrey
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский )

Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+03:00)

Thank you for your feedback.

Some users reported that they needed custom database changes, but we don't support these changes. When you use the admin option for a single post, the necessary changes are made to the database automatically (because it is designed, coded correctly, and tested). However, if you try to make these changes manually, you may miss some places, therefore breaking the logic.

I don't know of any pre-existing custom solutions for this, and there are no related hooks. If you're interested in exploring the possibility of creating a custom solution, I can direct you to the icl_translations table, which holds the language information.

https://wpml.org/documentation/support/wpml-tables/#language-information-and-translations

Another idea to consider is exporting the posts, adjusting the CSV file if necessary, and then importing them back with the desired default language. This is only an idea; I can not guarantee it will work in your case.

- https://wpml.org/documentation/plugins-compatibility/export-multilingual-websites-using-wp-all-export-wpml/#Exporting-Multilingual-Websites
- https://wpml.org/documentation/related-projects/wpml-all-import-plugin-website-import-with-wpml/importing-multiple-languages-with-wp-all-import-and-wpml/#import-the-default-language-file

August 15, 2024 at 1:36 pm #16074668

francescoS-56

Hi Andrey, just to be sure, if I have unchecked in WPML > Settings the synchronization to delete a translation when the original is deleted, I should be able to delete the original and then the remaining translation will behave as the original post? Allowing me to translate its content. If that's correct then currently is being deleted even when that is unchecked, it's not allowing me to change the language of an individual post either.

August 15, 2024 at 7:08 pm #16075852
francescoS-56

Quick update, I've solved the last issue about deleting the post, and the other one about disconnecting the translation. Now I've another problem, mainly I wanted to edit by bulk the posts language so I could translate the content, for context those posts were published in Spanish (default language) but all the content, title, seo, etc, was in English.

They were "translated" but as they were already in English there was no change. Now I want to set the post original language to English and translate the content to Spanish. The issue, the "translation" seems to be saved to memory so I have to manually click automatic translation for each text field in the Advanced Translation Editor. What do I need to do so when I open the Advanced Translation Editor I can click the automatic translation and it translated all the texts fields of the post?

Screenshot from 2024-08-15 15-07-13.png
August 17, 2024 at 2:05 pm #16080144

Andrey
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский )

Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+03:00)

Thank you for your feedback.

I have created a new ticket for your new question. By doing so, other users with similar questions can easily find the solution on the forum.

I will respond to your question on this thread: https://wpml.org/forums/topic/split-the-translation-seems-to-be-saved-to-memory-so-i-have-to-manually-click-automatic-translation/

August 17, 2024 at 2:44 pm #16080224

Andrey
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский )

Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+03:00)

Instead of changing the original language post in bulk, here's another idea to consider:

1. Export your English posts using https://wpml.org/documentation/plugins-compatibility/export-multilingual-websites-using-wp-all-export-wpml/#step-1-install-required-plugins.
2. Delete all the posts and clear the trash.
3. Import the English posts using https://wpml.org/documentation/related-projects/legacy-wpml-all-import/#import-in-one-language-translate-with-wpml.
4. Finally, you translate the posts automatically to Spanish using https://wpml.org/documentation/automatic-translation/automatically-translating-multiple-translation-jobs-in-bulk/.

However, testing this on the staging site before or after a full site backup is crucial.

This ticket is now closed. If you're a WPML client and need related help, please open a new support ticket.