Problem:
If you're experiencing issues with losing translations when editing posts in different translation editors on your WPML-powered site, this might be due to using a mix of the WordPress native editor, WPML Classic Translation Editor (CTE), and WPML Advanced Translation Editor (ATE). This problem typically occurs with older posts originally created in a different language and translated using CTE, but now being edited in ATE.
Solution:
We recommend the following steps to resolve this issue after a full site backup:
1) Upgrade to the WPML 4.8 series for improvements and new features.
2) Run the following SQL query in your database using the Adminer plugin or PHPMyAdmin:
UPDATE wp_icl_translate_job SET editor = 'wpml' WHERE editor LIKE 'wp'
This query will help maintain the use of CTE for older translations while enabling ATE for new ones.
3) Disable the *Use also for old translations created with the classic editor* option in WPML >> Settings >> Translation Editor.
4) Update the translations of your posts.
Additionally, it is possible to synchronize taxonomies across translations. You can add new category terms in the original language and translate them into secondary languages without losing existing translations.
While not mandatory, you might also consider following the WPML Troubleshooting steps as outlined here: WPML Troubleshooting.
If this solution does not apply to your case, or if it seems outdated, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have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 do not hesitate to open a new support ticket at WPML Support Forum.
