This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem:
The client needed assistance setting up WPML for a new section of their website (***la.hr/stay/) to have language-specific homepages and consistent URL structures across different languages, similar to their main site configuration.
Solution:
We advised the client that the desired setup would require custom coding as it involves linking two separate WordPress installations, which is beyond the standard WPML support scope. We suggested setting the default language homepage to the 'Stay' page from WordPress settings and translating this homepage into other languages.
Additionally, we recommended using the 'A different domain per language' option for URL formats, but noted that this would require specifying exact domains for each language. For further details on setting up language URL options, please refer to this documentation.
If this solution does not apply to your case, or if it seems outdated, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have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. Should you need further assistance, please open a new support ticket at WPML support forum.
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Background of the issue:
I have WPML set up on visitpula.hr with three additional languages in subdirectories: Croatian, German, and Italian. I am setting up a listings platform for bookings on visitpula.hr/stay/ and want to configure WPML for this section as well.
1 I want to update and change the homepage for each language under the /stay/ path.
Example homepages
visitpula.hr/stay/ - english
visitpula.hr/hr/boravak/ - croatian
visitpula.hr/de/buchung/ - german
visitpula.hr/it/soggiorno/ - italian
2. I want the /stay/ setup to also be:
visitpula.hr/stay/ - english
visitpula.hr/hr/ - croatian
visitpula.hr/de/ - german
visitpula.hr/it/ - italian
Like the setup I have on my initial visitpula.hr
I have a child theme set up and am following the standard WPML documentation.
Symptoms:
No specific issue or error message mentioned.
Questions:
Can you tell me how to set up WPML for the /stay/ section with language-specific homepages? And how to setup WPML to also be:
visitpula.hr/stay/ - english
visitpula.hr/hr/ - croatian
visitpula.hr/de/ - german
visitpula.hr/it/ - italian
While you wait for my colleague to take over the ticket, let me try to help you with the issue quickly.
You can setup your default language homepage to be Stay page, from WordPress Settings, as you would normally do. Then your homepage will be visitpula.hr, that is how WordPress works, you can not have it visitpula.hr/stay/ even if you do not have WPML.
Then you should translate your homepage (stay) to other languages, and it will show your translated homepage for other languages for example visitpula.hr/hr/ - croatian etc.
From WPML > Languages, make sure to set Language URL > Language per directory.
Thank you for the updates. It sounds like a custom requirement.
Therefore, to ensure, visitpula.hr/stay/ is your English homepage, and the following links will be its translations in secondary languages. Am I correct? Please confirm.
visitpula.hr/hr/ - Croatian visitpula.hr/de/ - German visitpula.hr/it/ - Italian
Thank you for the updates. I have a few more questions. Becuase it will be possible only by custom work. Please confirm the following
1) hidden link is your current site; the default language is English, and the secondary languages are the following
visitpula.hr/hr/ - Croatian
visitpula.hr/de/ - German
visitpula.hr/it/ - Italian
2) hidden link is your new WordPress Installation; WPML is not installed there
3) All the secondary language pages other than the Homepage will be redirected to the English original. For example, hidden link will be redirected to hidden link if the user chooses English
1) hidden link is your current site; the default language is English, and the secondary languages are the following
visitpula.hr/hr/ - Croatian
visitpula.hr/de/ - German
visitpula.hr/it/ - Italian
YES, Exactly
=================
2) hidden link is your new WordPress Installation; WPML is not installed there
YES a new installation, WPML is installed, a second setup
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3) All the secondary language pages other than the Homepage will be redirected to the English original. For example, hidden link will be redirected to hidden link if the user chooses English
I am ok with everything on the hidden link
I would like to /stay/ to also be on
visitpula.hr/hr/ - Croatian
visitpula.hr/de/ - German
visitpula.hr/it/ - Italian
I will not have the duplicate URLs, so there should not be conflicts there. The only potential conflict could be the homepages of /stay/ installation
Thank you for the details. I have one more question. For example, now on the hidden link and the Menu Items like *Events*, *Plan your stay* etc.. is pointing to hidden link pages like the following.
hidden link
hidden link
Therefore, how you will be managing the following. Please share your thoughts.
I would like to /stay/ to also be on
visitpula.hr/hr/ - Croatian
visitpula.hr/de/ - German
visitpula.hr/it/ - Italian
Thank you for the updates. We have discussed this with our development team, and it appears that the solution would require custom coding, which falls outside the scope of our support.
Currently, there is no built-in feature to support this functionality, especially since the requirement involves a connection between two separate WordPress installations.
One possible approach could be using custom redirects from /en to /stay or implementing a custom language switcher.
Another option could be avoiding the use of /en entirely and consistently redirecting to /stay, but in that case, care must be taken to ensure nothing gets indexed or added to the sitemap.
That said, it will be achievable with the help of a WordPress Developer or contractor. Thank you for your kind understanding.
Thank you for the updates. While using the *A different domain per language* option of the Language URL format, we have to specify the exact domain as primary and secondary language domains. Therefore, it will only work like the following.
hidden link or hidden link or hidden link for English
hidden link - Croatian hidden link - German hidden link - Italian
