Background of the issue:
Hi
I know that WPML automatically loads 'PO' files stored in
/wp-content/languages/ and
/wp-content/languages/plugins
Please check server path attachment
We use Woocommerce and related plugins, but the existing 'PO' files are not loaded.
These files worked perfectly before using WPML, and I deactivated Loco Translate.
Over the years, some files were updated with Loco Translate, but I am unsure if 'MO' files were always regenerated.
I do not want to import 'PO' files into String Translation because 'PO' files are much faster.
Symptoms:
WPML does not load Woocommerce 'PO' files.
Questions:
Why are the existing 'PO' files not loaded by WPML?
Is there a way to ensure 'MO' files are regenerated correctly?
How can I use 'PO' files without importing them into String Translation?
WPML will save custom language files in /wp-content/languages/wpml.
This files will include your translations from WPML String Translation and enhance the site performance.
WPML will not alter the .po-file found in other folders. It will only read those files once you scan the theme or plugins for new strings at WPML > Theme & Plugin Localization. The translations are then saved on the database on custom WPML tables.
Could you please send me a screenshot from WPML > Languages > Edit languages?
Can I copy and past in wpml folder the files po/mo that I using in the past with Loco Translate?
/wp-content/languages/wpml
> This files will include your translations from WPML String Translation and enhance the site performance.
Please could you elaborate better?
> WPML will not alter the .po-file found in other folders. It will only read those files once you scan the theme or plugins for new strings at WPML > Theme & Plugin Localization. The translations are then saved on the database on custom WPML tables.
Please could you elaborate better?
WPML read the file I copy in wpml folder only if I use String Translation?
Could I do not use String Translation and only po/mo files?
We have a large project and a 4,8GB of DB and after enabling WPML the site is quite slow only enabling 1 lang (that for now is hidden because the article are not yet trasnlated).
For better performance WP Media and Stickly links plugins are not activated because I do not need them...
If String Translation is not reading the default .po-file then it could be related to your language settings or maybe a different issue.
Please go to WPML > Languages and click "Edit languages". Now send me a screenshot of the languages table to validate your language setup.
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The folder /wp-content/languages/wpml will only include mo-files and JSON files.
This folder is not involved in reading default translations from .po-file that are coming with WordPress, Theme or Plugins. It will only save translations that you created on WPML > String Translation.
I can not suggest to replace those files, unless the .mo-file that you are replacing are matching the .po-files.
What you could do if you think it would be requiered to recreate those files:
- Delete the content of /wp-content/languages/wpml
- Go to WPML > Support > Troubleshooting
- In the bottom section click "Show custom MO Files Pre Generation dialog box"
- Run the dialog
For better performarce confirm that WP Media and Stickly links plugins are not mandatory? What other action could I do to have a more light WPML installation?
I need a light and fast WPML installation because we are small and but sometimes more editors will works at the same time on the site.
To load the default translations based on the .po-files that come with WordPress, theme and plugins you will need to scan the theme and plugin for new strings at WPML > Theme and Plugin Localization.
This will register the strings on WPML > String Translation and you should by default see available translations coming from the .pot-files that are shipped with the theme or plugins. (instead of a plus symbol you should see a pencil if a translation is saved)
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Basically you will only need two plugins to run WPML:
- WPML Multilingual CMS
- WPML String Translation
Optional:
- WPML Media Translation (basically needed to upload alternative media files for second languages)
- WPML Sticky Links (make sure that WPML will always use the post ID as permalink and avoid preking links if slugs are changed)
- WPML CMS Navigation (for breadcrubs or dropdown menus)
Compatiblity addons:
Depending on which plugins you are using, you need to install a addon.
For example to translate WooCommerce with WPML, you need to install "WooCommerce Multilingual & Multi-Currency" or to translate Secure Custom Fields or Advanced Custom Fields PRO, you need to install "Advanced Custom Fields Multilingual", and so on.
Do you have checked also my PO files?
It's important understand if they are fine.
> To load the default translations based on the .po-files that come with WordPress, theme and plugins you will need to scan the theme and plugin
> This will register the strings on String Translation
So the po files in /wp-content/languages need are not auto loaded but I need scan the theme and plugin, confirm?
And what is the difference between scan the theme and plugin and use String Translation import PO feature? This is important to understand for me.
Another 3 questions:
1) What is the real benefit to have WPML CMS Navigation activated? I could link the menu IT to the menu EN? This is important for me but I do not want sync the 2 menu because they are different. So do I need this plugin?
> to translate WooCommerce with WPML, you need to install "WooCommerce Multilingual & Multi-Currency"
2) I do not need Multi-Currency so what is the real benefit? What do you mean with "translate WooCommerce". With "WPML Multilingual CMS" I just could translate the products.
3) How to translate cart and checkout? Do I need to scan WooCommerce OR use "WooCommerce Multilingual & Multi-Currency"
The strings need to exist in WPML > String Translation so that WPML can display the translations.
Scanning the theme and plugin for strings should register the strings and also load thier translations, if available.
Importing po-files to String Translation has kind of the same effect. You can use this option to import for example po-files that you have created or edited or to import files that come from a different site.
WCML is mandatory to translate WooCommerce with WPML. It will further make sure that prices and stock remains equal between original products and their translations. The Cart and Checkout will be translatable with WPML > String Translation if you use WooCommerce Shortcodes.
In case you use Blocks in Checkout and Cart then the default translations from WooCommmerce are used. Until now we are not able to overwrite such Blocks with String Translation.
Confirm that when I scan theme and plugin, strings and their translation are imported loading all po files in /wp-content/languages? I ask these because in /languages folder I have more that 8 po files.
How could I scan theme and plugin?
How can I do this without crashing the site?
First, please go to Dashboard > Updates > Translation and load the latest translations for your site. This will download all the default language files needed for your site in all active languages.
If this will still not solve the issue, scan themes and plugins go to WPML > Theme and Plugin Localization and scan the theme or plugin(s) for new strings.
Take note, that in case you udpate to WordPress 6.7 you might run into an issue with WooCommerce strings. This is a known issues and will be solved by the WooCommerce Team.
