Background of the issue:
I am working on a development site using WPML on a Full Site Editing (FSE) site. I have set up the site before and received help from a staff member named Andreas W. who logged into my system to fix issues I couldn't resolve.
Symptoms:
Translated pages and portfolio pages do not show up and seem 'frozen'. Only one template was translated, and CF7 is not translated or visible in the translation management. The sidebar on portfolio pages and the 'read more' button on category pages are not translated.
Questions:
How can I resolve the issue of translated pages and portfolio pages not showing up?
How can I manually add templates for posts to the translation queue?
How can I translate CF7 since it does not appear in the translation management?
How can I translate the sidebar on my portfolio pages?
How can I translate the 'read more' button on category pages?
Welcome to WPML support. I will answer this ticket before the ticket is assigned to one of my colleagues.
It seems that you used "Filterable Portfolio" plugin to create your portfolios which are not tested with WPML. So it might be a compatibility issue that needs to be checked by the developer of the plugin.
If the issue that you gave the screenshot is related to the right side items, try to see if the items need to be set as translatable as usually plugins use custom fields to implement those.
After that please make sure you refresh the portfolio items:
- Go to your Dashboard > Portfolios.
- Open the edit screen of the original portfolio. You should see a pencil/circle/gear icon in the sidebar options under the "Languages" section.
- Make a small change, for example, add an extra blank space at the end of a sentence/paragraph.
- Save it.
- You should now see that a circular arrow appears beside the 2nd languages links, this means that an update is required.
- Edit the translation again and save it up to 100% translated.
For the contact form 7 please make sure you follow the steps below:
I did report various issues, you answered 2 of them (eventually the AI-summary was not complete ;)).
Here we go,
1) Untranslated areas with FILTERABLE PORTFOLIO Plugin (Translating custom Fields)
I followed your instruction until (including) point 2. Point 3: There is no category "Properties" is in "Translation management" shown.
Where can I translate the contents of the custom fields? I searched several places but could not find anything.
Right now the Portfolio Plugin has yet another issue: The settings page is completely blocked. I cannot change any settings. I contacted the developer. 🙁
2) Translating CF7
In the translation manager the form is being shown as translated. But it does not show when I open the page. When I go to "Forms" (in the sidebar) there is only one form, which is the original German one. Where is the translation supposed to show up? When I try to edit the English contact page the form that is embedded through shortcode is the German one.
My Workaround: Create a new form in english? Isn't that the easiest way?
3) Issues that I reported but that were not referenced by AI:
5 Pages and 5 portfolios were translated, however they do not show up on the website:
hidden link hidden link hidden link hidden link hidden link
hidden link hidden link hidden link hidden link hidden link
4) Only one template was translated. Other templates - p. ex the template for posts (hidden link) were NOT translated (see heading in the sidebar which is still in German; weird as well: The related posts being shown in the sidebar are different German/English, even with all posts being translated).
5) NEW ISSUE: I cannot open the page "Übersetzungen" (4th point of the WMPL-Menue in the sidebar. See screenshot.
I'll try to add the next steps for all the issues. Eventually I'll split the ticket so it's easier to follow up.
1.
WPML cannot guarantee compatibility with every WordPress product. Unfortunately, the FILTERABLE PORTFOLIO Plugin is not supported. We recommend switching to a known compatible product. I suggest you to try a tested alternative: https://wpml.org/plugin/search-filter-pro/
2.
If creating a new form in English is a suitable flow for you, it's perfectly fine.
The form translation is available in the Advanced Translation Editor. To see it, in WPML -> Translation Management select the form and send it to translate, assign yourself as the translated. Then in WPML > Translations you'll be able to open and edit the translation.
3.
Check if the translations are not drafts or in the trash.
4.
How was the template created? How was it translated?
5.
Please follow the instructions mentioned on this page: https://wpml.org/documentation/support/debugging-wpml/
Then, try to reproduce the issue and check your installation's **wp-content** folder to see if a file named **"debug.log"** was created (it will only be generated if a server error occurs).
If the file was created, please upload it to a platform like **Google Drive** or **Dropbox** (whichever you usually use) and share the link with me (make sure it is publicly accessible) so I can analyze it.
Topic 1, Filterable Portfolio Plugin
Actually there is a bug in the v1.6.5. Since I switched back to v.1.6.4. much of the troublesome issues are gone. The plugin is working fine. AND: Activating/deactivating it makes no difference with WPML issues.
Thanks for your plugin recommendation. Hwever.. ours is really BEAUTIFUL... :):):)
Topic 2: I translated everything automatically already. The Form WAS translated,however did not show up anywhere. So I deleted the WPML CF7 plugin and manually translated the form. Works. I guess the only issue is the messages upon sending.. I guess we can live with that. 🙂
Topic 3: WHERE can I check if translations are draft or trash? I have no Idea!
Topic 4: The templates are super basic templates. In part templates of Theme tT5, in part themes of Child Theme of TT5. Modifications I did is stuff like changing font color and such. Super basic stuff. AND: I am not talking of templates for the filterable-portfolio-plugin, but rather templates for displaying categories or templates for single blog posts = very basic TT5 templates.
Topic 5: Dropbox: hidden link
Okay... now some observations from my side:
A) My impression is that the WPML is kind of "stuck". I wished for a button so that WMPL would re-check the entire site to find if there are parts (pages, templates etc.) that are not yet translated. And this way hopefully find the other templates
B) You did not yet comment on the issue regarding that I cannot open the page "Translations" (4th item in the WPML sub menue). See screenshot attached to my message above, June 23, 2025 at 10:09 am
This behavior tells me that something is not working with WPML AT ALL.
C) On WPML-> Support -> Troubleshooting contains some interesting buttons (but I do not dare to press one)...
If I understand correctly, 1 and 2 are "solved" for you, right?
For issue 3:
You can go to pages or portfolio, switch to the secondary languages using the language switcher in the admin bar and check the status of the post/page.
For issue 4:
• In WPML → Translation Management → Templates, select every template and template-part you rely on (single, archive, sidebar) and send them for translation. Ensure each reaches 100 % in the Advanced Translation Editor. 
• In the Site Editor, switch to the secondary language via the admin bar, locate any stray translated template, and delete it. 
• Go to WPML → Settings → Page URL, enable “Translate” for Slug Translation, then re-translate the templates so the slugs (post-names) match. 
• Flush permalinks and purge caches.
Issue 5 and also for the "Translations" problem :
The debug information is almost empty, nothing helpful there 🙁
Can you please try the following:
**IMPORTANT:** Please try this in a staging environment or at least with a backup of your site files and database before continuing.
Disable all plugins except WPML-related and temporarily change to the parent theme.
Is the issue resolved with these settings? If so, please reactivate one by one to see which conflicts.
For issue 3: OK, now I got what you mean. No, no drafts etc. See Screenshots. Please note that in both screenshots the number of pages (pages German vs. pages English) differs - after I had ALL pages being translated automatically. If I check in the WPML Translation Management there are no pages/portfolios left to be translated. Everything IS translated.
For issue 4:
First Bullet: There is only ONE Template shown!
Second Bullet: There is no way to switch languages in the FSE Editor (see Screenshot) (Did you ever work with FSE?)
Third Bullet: I am VERY hesitant to do that. I had this in my last development setup and it caused tons of problems. I want Slugs to be added automatically
4th Bullet: I re-did Permalinks and there is no caching plugin at all.
For issue 5:
I did it all:
# disable all plugins except WPML-related
# change to the parent theme.
Result: NO issue resolved with these settings. Still only one template in the Translation Management shown (which already translated) and still no way to open "Übersetzungen" (4th point in the WPML-sub menue), see my screenshot June 23, 2025 at 10:09 am.
I would like to request temporary access (wp-admin and FTP) to your site to take a better look at the issue.
It would be better to a testing site where the issue is replicated.
The information you will enter is private which means only you and I can see and have access to it.
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.
This will allow me to create a copy of your site and your content.
Once the problem is resolved I will delete the local site.
**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.
Because there is an error in WPML > Translations, for now, you can review and approve the translations going to Pages and clicking in the "eye" icon. Then you will be redirected to the review page, where you can approve the translation. Please check the screenshots attached.
I went to WPML > Support > Troubleshooting and clicked on "Cancel in-progress automatic jobs". You may need to resend some jobs.
About the posts' template. I scanned the child theme (WPML > Theme and Plugin localization). And also made a change (and reverted) to the template. After that, it appeared in WPML > Translation Management, available to translate. Check the screenshot I've shared.
This is just a quick note to say you did a fantastic job! 🙂
At first glance all the translations look perfect, no differences in pages/posts/portfoios in GER and EN. WOW! 🙂
Then... It’s 8:30 PM here and I had a long day. So I’ll dive into your screenshots and test everything more thoroughly on Monday. Could you please keep this ticket open until then?
Thanks again for the great work—speak to you soon.
Now I found time to look in detail into your findings. Here my remarks:
Missing translations for some pages and portfolios: As I always choose the setting "Publish and mark for review" the not-yet-review cannot have been the cause... anyway, these pages show now, perfect! 🙂
Translation page: This page seems to work now. Perfect!
Reviewing items with the eye symbol: Thanks!
I willl keep in mind your Troubleshooting advice ("I went to WPML > Support > Troubleshooting and clicked on "Cancel in-progress automatic jobs" - Just in case. 🙂
QUESTION:
I did not understand how you make drafts show up (one of your screenshots WPML > Translation Management > Jobs) -> I see no way how to filter for pending drafts?!
STILL AN ISSUE
The following is weird because I am sure it worked when I checked on Friday night. But now the sidebar is again not fully translated. Just compare yourself: hidden link hidden link
I have no clue why it worked and now no longer works. But I leave this for later.
Thanks and regards,
Karin
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