Hi,
I'm writing all my blog posts in German and translate them to English using WPML. Recently I noticed that all the English category entries get deleted when I'm updating an English translation. I have to get back to the english post and assign the categories manually again. This is very annoying, as I'm doing a lot of corrections currently and can't rely on my translation manager. What's my problem?
Best
Werner
1. Clarification
1.1 I understand your problem to be the following:
a - You create post in DE with taxonomy assignments
b - You then translate post to EN , taxonomy assignments are also translated
c - When you Update/Edit post in EN , taxonomy assignments are then erased on the save.
To correct you:
d - Update/Edit post(again) and re-assign the translated taxonomies. Save post. This time, the save does not erase the taxonomies
Is this a correct description of the workflow you are doing?
1.2 In step "c" above, are the taxonomies (categories) marked correctly when you "save" the post?
1.3 Are you using the WPML Translation Editor?
1.4 Do you have the following setting enabled?
WPML > Settings > Posts and pages synchronization > Copy taxonomy to translations
yes - your workflow concerning my problem is correct.
As far as I can see, I have the setting that you mentioned enabled - see screenshot (my WordPress installation is in German and the German translation is a bit strange...).
I'm usually updating the translations one by one via the update button in the post itself - I'm using the Translation Editor only when I'm updating a lot of stuff at once.
So maybe the one taxonomy for the post's category is not transferred. I'm a bit confused by the taxonomy setting. There are so many. The first screenshot is from the settings section in WPML, the other one appears in the edit mode of my blog posts. I'm really not sure, if there is the setting for the categories somewhere.
1. Diagnostic - minimal configuration setup
Please confirm that the issue still exists if you temporarily deactivate your non-WPML plugins and change your active theme temporarily to Twenty Nineteen.
2. Workflow and Troubleshooting.
After you confirm that the issue still exists even in a "minimal" configuration setup (step 1 above), would you mind if I ran through your workflow on your site? I would create a new post and a new taxonomy so that I don´t bother your active posts/categories.
This way I can debug the issue.
Temporary Access to your system
Please provide access to your system (wp-admin and ftp) so that I can further investigate this particular problem. The fields to provide this data are included in a private section that I will open for your next response. You can find it above the comments area. The information in this private section is only visible between WPML Support and you.
I wait for your feedback on the diagnostic step and the logon details.
thanks for the tip with my plugins. It looks like there is an incompatibility with WPBakery Page Builder. When I switch off the plugin, WPML is transferring the categories fine. With Page Builder switched on, the categories are deleted during translation. The problem is, that my website relies heavily on Page Builder elements - and the plugin was packaged in my theme - so I don't have full support from Page Builder.
Do you still want access to my site to be able to debug the issue?
You are right - unfortunatey, the error is still there.
I have set up a sandbox site here: hidden link
Please login and upload your version of WP Bakery Pagebuilder plugin.
Then please see if you are able to replicate the issue in this new site.
If we can replicate it, then this is indicating a new compatibility issue between WP Bakery Pagebuilder and WPML that I need to forward to our compatibility team for resolution.
Thanks for your collaboration - I wait for your news
thanks for your work. I did as you told me and uploaded my copy of WP Bakery Pagebuilder in the test site - and then tested it.
But in your environment, everything works as it should. When I'm updating a translation, WPML keeps the categories in the translated post. It even works, when I'm adding a new category and then update my post. WPML then adds the new category - but keeps the old one as it should be.
So - what's wrong with the installation on my site?
Maybe I found something: I've never before seen the option to translate the categories in the translation window. How do I activate this? Maybe this is the problem on my site.
The category will appear for trnaslation in the Translation Editor if it is not already translated. Since you already had your categories translated, it did not appear.
The next step would be to change the configuration of your installation *temporarily* to mirror the configuration of the sandbox site. e.g. same theme, same active plugins
Then see if the problem still exists. IF it does, then, with this minimal configuration set, please make a copy of your site and send it to me as per this article: https://wpml.org/faq/provide-supporters-copy-site/
Please use the DUplicator plugin and let me know when the package is created. I will then download it and install it on my local server. If the issue is still present when I install it on a new server, then we will know the issue is server related.
If the issue persists on my local server, I can then sent the site copy to our 2nd tier support for more investigation/resolution.
Hi Yvette,
I followed your instructions step by step and can confirm that the error still appears in the minimal setup that I created this way.
The problem I have now is that I can't make a duplicate of my installation, as it is way larger than 150 MB and I don't want to purchase the Pro version for this one case. Is there another way to provide you with a copy?
Best
Werner
Hi Yvette,
I think, I've got someting for you: although Duplicator gave me an error message, it worked in the background and made the packages. You can login my site and download them. If they won't work for you, I can provide you with full backup packages from my backup system BackdraftPlus.
I have change the Website this morning back to my full setup. But at the time I made the Duplicates, the site was in the minimals setup as you told me.
Looking forward what the 2nd tier support will find out.
