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

Problem:
The client is experiencing issues with WPML AI skipping content during automatic translation, particularly with content embedded in shortcodes from a theme that uses WPBakery. The client is concerned about whether they are still charged for untranslated content and how to ensure all content is translated without manually defining shortcode attributes.

Solution:
We recommend adding a WPML language configuration for the shortcodes that are being skipped. This will allow WPML to recognize and translate the content. You are not charged for content that WPML skips. To configure WPML to recognize your shortcodes, follow these steps:
1. Identify the shortcodes that WPML is skipping.
2. Add a language configuration for these shortcodes. You can find guidance on how to do this in our documentation: Register Page Builder Content for Translation and Overriding Language Configuration Files.
3. If your theme's authors have not created a language configuration file, consider contacting them to request one, or use the WPML Multilingual Tools to automatically register the shortcodes as described here: Multilingual Tools.
4. Perform a scan of your theme and plugins through WPML -> Theme and plugins localization -> Scan the theme (and the parent theme if applicable).

If this solution does not resolve your issue or seems outdated, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have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. 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 1 voice.

Last updated by Carlos Rojas 2 weeks, 4 days ago.

Assisted by: Carlos Rojas.

Author Posts
April 4, 2025 at 8:06 am #16895650

Giulio

I am using WPML for automatic translation on my site, I want to understand why WPML sometimes skips content during automatic translation with WPML AI:

An example here:

[vc_column][basel_title tag="h5" size="small" title="Scelgo Bla bla perché..."][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/6"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="2/3" basel_text_align="center"][basel_list size="medium" list_type="without" list="%5B%7B%22list-content%22%3A%22%3Cem%3E%5C%22Sto%20cercando%20un%20profumo%20da%20regalarmi%2C%20che%20sia%20dolce%2C%20inebriante%20e%20sensuale%5C%22%3C%2Fem%3E%22%7D%2C%7B%22list-content%22%3A%22%3Cem%3E%5C%22Sono%20una%20donna%20golosa%2C%20grandissima%20amante%20di%20tutto%20ci%C3%B2%20che%20sa%20di%20Vaniglia%5C%22%3C%2Fem%3E%22%7D%2C%7B%22list-content%22%3A%22%3Cem%3E%5C%22Ho%20sempre%20desiderato%20un%20profumo%20avvolgente%20che%20mi%20facesse%20sentire%20pi%C3%B9%20Donna%5C%22%3C%2Fem%3E%22%7D%2C%7B%22list-content%22%3A%22%3Cem%3E%5C%22Mi%20piacciono%20le%20fragranze%20intense%20e%20persistenti%2C%20che%20non%20passano%20inosservate%5C%22%3C%2Fem%3E%22%7D%5D"]

I’d like to point out that we eventually managed to translate everything using ChatGPT, so I don’t understand why it wasn’t possible to do the same with WPML AI.

Are we still charged for content that WPML skips during automatic translation?
Why does WPML skip certain content during automatic translation?

April 7, 2025 at 9:04 am #16903009

Bigul
WPML Supporter since 01/2013

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Europe/Vienna (GMT+02:00)

Hello,

Welcome to the WPML support forum. Before passing this thread to my colleague, I would like to share some suggestions and possible solutions for the issues you mentioned.

Sorry for the late response because of the holidays and the high support load. It is not normal here. Thank you for your kind understanding.

To help you faster, I've enabled debug information for this support ticket. Please see this link for how to get this information from your site and give it to us: http://wpml.org/faq/provide-debug-information-faster-support/

The following shortcode looks like a custom Module for Visual Composer. In this case, we have to add a WPML language configuration for it, then only WPML will read it, and it will appear for translation. So, it will not be charged.

[basel_title tag="h5" size="small" title="Scelgo Bla bla perché..."]

Please check the following docs for more details and let us know your feedback.

https://wpml.org/documentation/support/language-configuration-files/register-page-builder-content-for-translation/

https://wpml.org/documentation/support/language-configuration-files/overriding-language-configuration-files/

--
Thanks!

Bigul

April 10, 2025 at 9:16 am #16917451

Giulio

Good morning Bigul, and thank you.

We’ll try the solution you suggested—we’re just taking things step by step at the moment, as WPML is causing quite a few issues for us and we’re handling them one at a time.

Please leave the ticket open.

April 10, 2025 at 9:26 am #16917509

Carlos Rojas
WPML Supporter since 03/2017

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+02:00)

Hello,
My name is Carlos and I will continue with this ticket

Please let me know if you still need help with this issue.
Best regards,
Carlos

April 10, 2025 at 4:23 pm #16919807

Giulio

Let me see if I’ve understood correctly: by translating with WPML AI, WPML will only send the actual text for translation—not the shortcodes themselves, right?

Now, since our site is built with WPBakery, and we’re also using a theme that relies on shortcodes, we’re worried that using WPML AI for translations might require us to manually define a ton of shortcode attributes in wpml-config.xml, following the method suggested by Bigul.

Is there a recommended approach for handling this? Or do we basically need to go page by page and note down every shortcode attribute manually? That could be a massive task—almost enough to make us reconsider using WPML AI and go back to the old way: creating the page in the new language, importing the content from the original, and translating it using ChatGPT, then copy-pasting.

Any suggestions on how to proceed?

April 11, 2025 at 10:05 am #16921969

Carlos Rojas
WPML Supporter since 03/2017

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+02:00)

Hi there,

Yes, WPML sends the content for translation. And yes, if the theme authors didn't create the language configuration file to register the shortcodes on the theme, then the best approach will be to contact them and ask them if they can generate it (maybe they already have it and it is not shipped with the theme folder).

However, not all is bad news, following the guide shared by my colleague Bigul you will find a link to this other guide: https://wpml.org/documentation/support/multilingual-tools/ that describes the steps to follow to automatically register the shortcodes on the site.

Important: The first step must be to go to WPML -> Theme and plugins localization -> Scan the theme (and the parent theme if it applies).

Let me know if you need further assistance from our side.