want to translate a widget but cannot find it

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

Problem:
The client is unable to find the translation for a widget in the String Translation. They have tried placing ads in different sidebars and setting one widget per language, but the translations are not appearing as expected.
Solution:
1. Navigate to WPML >> String Translation and click on the Translate texts in admin screens » link at the bottom of the page.
2. Use the search box to find the widget text or URL and enable its translation.
3. Return to the WPML >> String Translation page to add the translation for the widget.
For more detailed instructions, please refer to our documentation: Translating strings that don’t appear on the String Translation page

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Tagged: Not WPML issue

This topic contains 7 replies, has 2 voices.

Last updated by Noman 1 year, 4 months ago.

Assisted by: Noman.

Author	Posts
December 10, 2023 at 10:12 am #15030763
margreetF	I cannot find the translation of my widget in String Translation. I have put an English ad image (for a quiz) in my second sidebar and would like to have it translated to Dutch, or the other way around (which I also tried and which did not work as well). I also tried putting the Dutch ad in the first sidebar, and the English version of the ad in the second sidebar, but somehow that did not work as well , which I thought very strange. I have tried all the solutions suggested in the threads, including setting one widget per language. So 1 widget for your default language and 1 for your translation, which also does not work. So now I have a Dutch ad of a different design in the widget above the page, and an English ad in the second sidebar. Not ideal. But I would like the Dutch version of my second sidebar ad to appear when visitors go to the Dutch version of the site.
December 10, 2023 at 1:23 pm #15031253
Noman WPML Supporter since 06/2016 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Asia/Karachi (GMT+05:00)	Hi, Thank you for contacting WPML Support. Sorry for having issues in widgets translation, could you please try to follow the below steps and see if this resolves your issue: 1. Go to WPML >> String Translation page and click on the Translate texts in admin screens » link at the bottom of the page. 2. Search for your widget text/url in the search box and enable the translation. 3. Then go to WPML >> String Translation page and add the translation. Here is a doc for more details: https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/string-translation/finding-strings-that-dont-appear-on-the-string-translation-page/#translate-admin-and-settings-strings Please let me know if this resolves your issue or if you need further assistance with this issue. Thank you
December 11, 2023 at 7:49 am #15033337
margreetF	I found some strings (a great many belonging to this image, do I need to translate them all? It seems overjill, I never used to have to do this). Anyway, nothing has changed.
December 11, 2023 at 7:49 am #15033339
margreetF	I found some strings (a great many belonging to this image, do I need to translate them all? It seems overkill, I never used to have to do this). Anyway, nothing has changed.
December 11, 2023 at 8:17 am #15033515
margreetF	Tried sth else. Put the ad in custom html and gave it a title. Put in the Dutch ad in the widget. The title appeared in the String Translation as Dutch. The actual ad appeared only in the admin section as an English text. So changed the language to Dutch. Translated the ad and it seems to functioning properly. Stiil, I would appreciate if things worked properly. Is there any solution to this very roundabout way of doing things?
December 11, 2023 at 8:32 am #15033661
margreetF	I don't believe it, the Dutch ad in the second sidebar just changed back to English. And the language switcher in the menu has disappeared again (another problem I wanted to address).
December 11, 2023 at 8:40 am #15033889
margreetF	It seems English seems to wish to manifest itself as the dominant language on my site, and seems to have full control (for changes back a Dutch ad to an English one by itself). Any suggestions?
December 11, 2023 at 1:46 pm #15037857
Noman WPML Supporter since 06/2016 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Asia/Karachi (GMT+05:00)	1. WPML registers the strings in WPML >> String Translation page in the English language. If your website's default language isn't English, you can change the source language of those strings to Dutch by following these steps: https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/string-translation/how-to-change-the-source-language-of-strings/ 2. When you put content in a widget, WPML remembers it on the "String Translation" page. Even if you remove the widget, the content stays there. When you add the widget again, it registers the content once more, causing duplicate instances. Checking the source code of widgets shows which one is active on the website. Alternatively, you can translate all instances. 3. If you use different widgets in different languages, please follow these instructions: https://wpml.org/errata/display-on-language-setting-not-retained-for-wordpress-legacy-widgets/. This might solve your issue. 4. If the language switcher disappears, try removing it from "WPML >> Languages" page by pressing the little trash icon and then add it again. Let me know how it goes. If the issue comes back, observe the steps that cause the switcher to disappear so we can investigate further. 5. If the issue persists, please provide temporary access (WP-Admin and FTP Login info) to your site (preferably staging site), so that I can look into your setup and debug the issue. Your next answer will be private, meaning only you and I can access it. === Please backup your database and website === ✙ I would additionally need your permission to deactivate and reactivate Plugins and the Theme and to change configurations on the site. This is also a reason the backup is essential. ✙ Please provide me with a page links/screenshots where I can see the untranslated widgets Thank you
December 15, 2023 at 3:41 pm #15074301
margreetF	I have removed all old string translations and then everything worked as it should. Still strange that I have to find my string translations in the admin section, but at least it works now. Still haven't found out why my language switcher keeps disappearing but will try to find out when it occurs. Thank you very much for the help!