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[Resolved] Split: product in the original language loses all its variations
This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem: If you're experiencing issues where translating products using semi-automatic translation causes the original product to lose all its variations, this might be due to specific settings in WPML.
Solution: First, ensure that your WPML URL format is set to "Language name added as a parameter" as using different domains per language might not work reliably, especially in staging environments. Next, navigate to WooCommerce → WooCommerce Multilingual (WCML) → Status to check for any configuration warnings. It's crucial to ensure that the product_variation and other related custom types are set to “Translatable – only show translated items” under WPML → Settings → Post Types Translation.
Additionally, go to WPML → Settings → Custom Fields Translation, show system fields, and search for _variation_description. Change its setting from 'lock' to 'copy' or 'copy once' and save. This adjustment should also be applied to other relevant fields.
It's important to take a backup before making these changes as altering locked fields can lead to undesired effects. If these steps do not resolve the issue, or if the solution seems outdated or not applicable to your case, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins.
If the problem persists, please do not hesitate to open a new support ticket for further assistance at WPML support forum.
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No way, I don't want to remove existing products and recreate them.
I'll probably just translate the content with your plugin integrations (deepl/AI).
So here's a new problem: when I translate my products with semi-automatic translation, the product in the original language loses all its variations. See attached screenshot.
This product had over a hundred variations (it's a carpet with many sizes available).
Are you able to reproduce this behavior if you create a new test product?
For example create a test product and assign 4 variations to it, add the translation and publish.
---> what are your results?
I wonder if this is happening only for the imported products due to some sort of miscommunication in the database and the translation prompts a new database entry.
I would like to request temporary access (wp-admin and FTP) to your site to test the issue.
(preferably to a test site where the problem has been replicated if possible)
**Before we proceed It is necessary to take FULL BACKUP of your database and your website. Providing us with access, you agree that a backup has been taken **
I often use the Duplicator plugin for this purpose: http://wordpress.org/plugins/duplicator/
You will find the needed fields for this below the comment area when you log in to leave your next reply.
The information you enter is private which means only you and I have access to it.
NOTE: If access to the live site is not possible and the staging site does not exist please provide me with a duplicator package created with the duplicator plugin.
I’ve changed the WPML URL format to "Language name added as a parameter". Using different domains per language won’t work reliably in the staging environment, as the secondary domain currently redirects to the default URL.
If you navigate to WooCommerce → WooCommerce Multilingual (WCML) → Status, you’ll see configuration warnings, including:
“Some settings from the WooCommerce Multilingual & Multicurrency wpml-config.xml file have been overwritten.”
Custom type product_variation configuration from wpml-config.xml file was altered!
When reviewing the configuration on a fresh installation, you’ll notice that many WooCommerce-related settings are locked under WPML → Settings. These locks are intentional—they help prevent conflicts and unintended plugin behavior.
Please go to WPML → Settings → Post Types Translation and set the following to “Translatable – only show translated items”:
product_variation
Patterns (wp_block)
Templates (wp_template)
Template Parts (wp_template_part)
I’ve prepared a clean environment for reference. You can log in using the link below to compare settings. Any option with a "lock" icon should not be changed, as doing so may lead to unexpected issues.
Oh man, changing these parameters, I tried to get rid of useless translations. Thanks for your help, it worked.
Check attached screenshots, how to get rid of these? I don't want them to be translated. That's why I disabled product variation for translation. These data are not even displayed on the original website and it sucks out all the translation credits for nothing.
Also, the translation page is trying to also the product categories very often. It leads to broken html structure and again on my category descriptions and again, huge credit consumption.
Go to WPML->Settings->Custom Fields Translation -> show system fields -> search for _variation_description click on the 'lock' and change it to 'copy' or 'copy once' and save.
You can do the same for the rest of those fields.
Again do note that changing locked fields can lead to undesired effects.
I am not 100% sure that these specific fields will but I'd recommend taking a backup before making these changes.
It's not worth it to create a new ticket for this, but, I report you an issue with your plugin +/- linked to my issue: woocommerce product categories, when translated together with the products, doesn't conserve their html structure like a blog post. I use
tags and images sometime in them. It's all gone when translating with products in the translation editor. I have to export/import them to translate them on google sheet.
