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This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:
I've been searching and reading a ton of stuff on how to use WPML and I can't seem to figure some things out.

What I want to do: choose which pages/posts/etc. to translate and have them done automatically. Then, whenever I edit the original content, I want the translated content to update with the new content and translate it without any further actions on my end. Basically sync translated content with the original and automatically translate whatever's new in the original content.

I started with a post and I selected Translate + Translate automatically from the Translation Management page. This created a new translated post in Spanish. All good so far. Now if I go to edit the original post and just add a sentence, the translated sentence doesn't appear on the published Spanish page and on the Translation Management page the post says it needs an update (also, when updating the original post, I left the checkbox for "minor change - don't update translation" unchecked). If I go to edit the Spanish post, I see the untranslated sentence in there and I can click on Translate automatically and then I can click on Complete translation. But I want to avoid that last part, I want edits to the original to automatically be reflected in the published translated content. Is that possible? In settings WPML is set to "Publish right away without reviewing."

I also tried using Duplicate instead of Translate but I don't understand what the difference is between Translate and Duplicate despite reading a lot of posts on it, so if someone could please explain that to me, I'd very much appreciate it. If I use Duplicate, it just creates a duplicate in English. Then I have to edit the duplicate and translate it using Translate automatically. I don't see what the point of Duplicate is since Translate did that without me having to go and edit the post and use the Translate automatically button.

Also, the post slug isn't automatically being translated. It's still in English and if I go to edit the translation, I don't know how to have the slug translated automatically (I can only add it to Spanish like it is in the original, still in English). In settings I have it set to "Translate (this will include the slug in the translation and not create it automatically from the title)" but it's not translating.

I also don't understand why posts aren't showing up on the Translations queue page at all until I visit the post and simply click on Edit translation. Then they show up as Completed (once I add the slug to Spanish and click on Complete translation).

Hope I can get some answers, there's a lot of confusing stuff with WPML.

Solution:
The client set the slugs as translatable in WPML -> Settigns and then manually edited the translations to translate the slugs.

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Last updated by chazE 1 week, 4 days ago.

Assisted by: Lauren.

Author Posts
January 8, 2025 at 2:30 pm #16573922

chazE

Background of the issue:
Hi,

I've been searching and reading a ton of stuff on how to use WPML and I can't seem to figure some things out.

What I want to do: choose which pages/posts/etc. to translate and have them done automatically. Then, whenever I edit the original content, I want the translated content to update with the new content and translate it without any further actions on my end. Basically sync translated content with the original and automatically translate whatever's new in the original content.

I started with a post and I selected Translate + Translate automatically from the Translation Management page. This created a new translated post in Spanish. All good so far. Now if I go to edit the original post and just add a sentence, the translated sentence doesn't appear on the published Spanish page and on the Translation Management page the post says it needs an update (also, when updating the original post, I left the checkbox for "minor change - don't update translation" unchecked). If I go to edit the Spanish post, I see the untranslated sentence in there and I can click on Translate automatically and then I can click on Complete translation. But I want to avoid that last part, I want edits to the original to automatically be reflected in the published translated content. Is that possible? In settings WPML is set to "Publish right away without reviewing."

I also tried using Duplicate instead of Translate but I don't understand what the difference is between Translate and Duplicate despite reading a lot of posts on it, so if someone could please explain that to me, I'd very much appreciate it. If I use Duplicate, it just creates a duplicate in English. Then I have to edit the duplicate and translate it using Translate automatically. I don't see what the point of Duplicate is since Translate did that without me having to go and edit the post and use the Translate automatically button.

Also, the post slug isn't automatically being translated. It's still in English and if I go to edit the translation, I don't know how to have the slug translated automatically (I can only add it to Spanish like it is in the original, still in English). In settings I have it set to "Translate (this will include the slug in the translation and not create it automatically from the title)" but it's not translating.

I also don't understand why posts aren't showing up on the Translations queue page at all until I visit the post and simply click on Edit translation. Then they show up as Completed (once I add the slug to Spanish and click on Complete translation).

Hope I can get some answers, there's a lot of confusing stuff with WPML.

Thank you!

Symptoms:

Questions:
Is it possible for edits to the original content to automatically be reflected in the published translated content?
What is the difference between Translate and Duplicate in WPML?
How can I have the slug translated automatically?
Why aren't posts showing up on the Translations queue page until I edit the translation?

January 9, 2025 at 2:13 pm #16578249

chazE

Hi,

Do you have any updates on why slugs aren't translating? I would really hate to have to go through 60+ pages and manually translate them (AND use ChatGPT since the Advanced Translator Editor just copies them in English).

Thanks!

January 9, 2025 at 11:14 pm #16580071

chazE

i couldn't wait around for an answer anymore. WPML is extremely buggy, this is just one of the many issues i've had with it and i've wasted an enormous amount of time with it because of how buggy it is.

i've manually updated all the slugs using ChatGPT to translate because the "Advanced" Translation Editor or whatever it's called displayed the original URL but didn't translate it.

this plugin is AWFUL.