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

Problem:
The client is trying to use the String Translation feature in WPML for their theme and has selected 'Translate What You Choose' in the settings. However, instead of seeing a 'Translate' button, they see 'Add selected strings to translation basket'. Additionally, they are concerned about the efficiency of translating strings manually for each language and the inability to use the 'Advanced Translation Editor' due to an error message.

Solution:
1. The appearance of the 'Translation Basket' instead of a direct 'Translate' button is expected when there are multiple translators assigned on the website.
2. To translate strings automatically, follow these steps:
- Go to String Translation and select the strings you want to translate.
- Choose the languages and add the strings to the translation basket.
- Navigate to WPML > Translations and click 'Take and translate' for the string translation job.
- In the translation editor, click Translate Automatically.
For more details, please check this guide: Automatically Translate Strings
3. If you send multiple strings for translation at once, they will be grouped, allowing you to translate them all efficiently. However, you will see separate translation jobs for each language.

Please note that currently, there isn’t a quicker way to translate strings or to translate them all together in multiple languages. We are actively working on simplifying this process for future versions of the WPML plugin.

If this solution does not resolve your issue or seems outdated, we recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have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 further assistance is needed, please open a new support ticket at WPML support forum.

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This topic contains 5 replies, has 3 voices.

Last updated by Prosenjit Barman 3 weeks, 5 days ago.

Assisted by: Prosenjit Barman.

Author Posts
October 21, 2024 at 6:22 am #16310280

paulW-64

<b>Background of the issue: </b>
I am trying to run the String Translation on the theme using WPML. I have followed the getting started documentation. I have selected 'Translate What You Choose' in the settings because I don't want everything translated.

<b>Symptoms: </b>
When viewing 'Translate selected strings', it shows 'Add selected strings to translation basket' instead of 'Translate' as expected.
I receive an email for the logged in administrator account, but it has a link for every language for a single string and would be very time consuming to execute it in this manner.

<b>Questions: </b>
Why does it show 'Add selected strings to translation basket' instead of 'Translate'?
How can I fix the issue with String Translation on the theme so it runs automatically?

October 21, 2024 at 11:10 am #16311866

Dražen Duvnjak
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Europe/Zagreb (GMT+01:00)

Hello,

Thanks for contacting us.

While you wait for my colleague to take over the ticket, let me try to help you with the issue quickly.

What you are experiencing is actually expected. You know have a Translation Basket instead of just a Translate button, because you have more than one translator on your website.

As for the automatic translation of strings, it works when the Translate Everything mode is enabled, otherwise, you can select all strings, and send them for translation to yourself. Open translation from WPML > Translation, and from Advanced translation editor click on the Translate automatically button.

Screenshot (1).png
October 22, 2024 at 12:08 am #16314626

paulW-64

Hello,

Appreciate the response.

I have gone to the "Translation Queue" as per your suggestion - Open translation from WPML > Translation

However, when I don't see an option for "Advanced Translation Editor". As you can see from the TranslationQueue.png screenshot, it has a few options for the bulk selection and the button labelled "Take and Translate" upon clicking this button it provides the following onscreen error message "The translator could not be assigned could not be assigned to the job".

I had to select all the languages for my current user as "Local Translator". Then repeat the process, and while this then led me to the screenshot using the "Advanced Translation Editor", my expectation was that all of the stings would be executed automatically for all languages at the same time.

I have concerns enabling "Translate Everything", as there are sections of the site which I don't want to translate, and the menu has custom permalinks so the menu can't automatically be created for each language.

Any ideas on how things can be sped up while retaining flexibility?

Although, I have noticed that when selecting multiple strings, that these are grouped together as a single job which makes the process a little faster. And each language, needs to be executed/translated/reviewed individually.

TranslationQueue.png
October 22, 2024 at 8:40 am #16315787

Prosenjit Barman
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Asia/Dhaka (GMT+06:00)

Hello There,

I hope you're doing well! I’ve taken over this ticket and will be happy to assist you further.

To automatically translate a string, the current process is as follows:

1. Go to String Translation and select the string you want to translate.
2. Choose the languages and add strings to the translation basket.
3. Navigate to WPML > Translations and click "Take and translate" but with the string translation job.
4. In the translation editor, click Translate Automatically.

For more details, please check this guide: https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/string-translation/#automatically-translate-strings

If you send multiple strings for translation at once, they will be grouped, allowing you to translate them all efficiently. However, you should see separate translation jobs for each language. For each job, click on the "Take and translate" button to translate the string into that language.

Please note that, aside from the method above, right now, there isn’t a quicker way to translate strings or to translate them all together in multiple languages. Even with automatic translation enabled, you will still need to manually send the strings for translation, open the editor, and translate them from there.

I hope you understand. Please continue using the current method to automatically translate strings until we introduce an alternative approach. Just so you know, we are actively working on simplifying this process and I hope that will be available in the future version of the WPML plugin.

If you have any other questions or need clarification with any particular step, feel free to reach out!

Best regards,
Prosenjit

October 22, 2024 at 11:44 pm #16319599
paulW-64

Appreciate the clarification.

I have one other question, as I need to manually create menus for each language, due to the menu having custom links included.

How I can easily create a custom menu for each language when I can't read the translated language for the pages which aren't custom links?

I have read others experiencing an issue and have raised another ticket.

https://wpml.org/forums/topic/wp-menu-sync-not-picking-up-translated-custom-link-label/?ref=wd

New threads created by Prosenjit Barman and linked to this one are listed below:

https://wpml.org/forums/topic/split-translating-menu-with-custom-links/

October 23, 2024 at 5:08 am #16319821

Prosenjit Barman
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Asia/Dhaka (GMT+06:00)

Hi There!
Thank you for the update!

Regarding your other query, I understand and would be happy to assist. However, to maintain clarity in each thread, we are limited to discussing one issue per thread. Since the issue mentioned in your last response differs from the original topic of this ticket, I have created a new ticket to address it separately. You will receive a response regarding that matter shortly!

Feel free to mark this ticket as resolved if the issue you reported has been successfully addressed!

Best regards,
Prosenjit