[Resolved] ALT text translations not applying on frontend + layout issues
This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem: The client was experiencing issues with WPML on their website using Bricks Builder. Specifically, translated ALT text attributes were not displaying correctly, showing the original Polish ALT text instead of the translated versions. Additionally, there were problems with the Bricks Builder translation workflow on the homepage, requiring multiple resends for translation before the layout displayed correctly.
Solution: For the translated ALT text issue, we recommended the following steps: 1. Check the WordPress memory limit in WPML → Support and increase it if necessary by adding
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
in the wp-config.php file. 2. Ensure that the WPML Media Translation add-on is active and that the ALT texts for images are translated in WPML → Media Translation. 3. Re-translate specific ALT text strings by deleting the existing translations in WPML → String Translation, re-registering the string by visiting the page, and then re-translating the string.
For the Bricks Builder translation workflow issue: 1. Confirm that both Bricks Builder and all WPML plugins are updated to the latest versions. 2. Use specific WPML Troubleshooting tools in WPML → Support → Troubleshooting to synchronize content and language information. 3. After troubleshooting, re-save and resend the homepage for translation in Bricks Builder to check if the layout displays correctly.
Workaround:
Open the ...\wp-content\themes\bricks\includes\elements\image.php file
If these steps do not resolve the issues or if the solution becomes outdated, we recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have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 problems persist, please open a new support ticket at WPML support forum.
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Background of the issue:
I'm experiencing two persistent issues with WPML on my website (bws-windows.com). I have tried several troubleshooting steps, including clearing all caches, using WPML troubleshooting options, and ensuring translations are complete and approved.
Symptoms:
Issue 1: Translated ALT text attributes are not displaying correctly on some pages, showing the original Polish ALT text instead of the translated versions. Issue 2: Bricks Builder translation workflow problems on the homepage, requiring multiple resends for translation before the layout displays correctly.
Questions:
Why are translated ALT texts not displaying correctly on some pages?
Why do I need to resend the page for translation multiple times in Bricks Builder to get the correct layout?
Thanks for your reply. I've checked your Website hidden link and I'd like to see some examples. Could you please highlight the issue using screenshots or share a short video recording of the issue?
Hi,
I've attached several screenshots showing both issues:
ALT text issue:
Screenshots showing incorrect ALT text on the frontend (Polish instead of English/German)
Screenshots from ATE showing the correct, approved translations exist
Source code screenshots showing the original Polish ALT text is being rendered instead of the translated version
Bricks Builder homepage layout issue:
Screenshots showing what happens after updating the translation following a single letter change on the original homepage:
Empty page rendered by WordPress (blank frontend)
After several re-translation updates: Page rendered by Bricks but with incorrect layout, despite the translation being approved
This Bricks issue requires me to update the translation 3-5 times before the layout finally displays correctly.
Regards
Update:
After running the following troubleshooting steps:
Clear the Cache in WPML
Remove ghost entries from the translation tables
Fix element_type collation
Fix WPML table collation
Set language information
Cleanup and optimize string tables
Clear invalid strings
Synchronize local jobs with ATE
Assign translation status to duplicated content
I noticed that ALT text changed to the translated version on some pages. I then tried manually re-updating the translations on pages where ALT text still wasn't displaying correctly (90% of the pages) on the frontend. This worked, but I had to manually update translations on over 100 pages in all languages.
How can I prevent this issue from happening in the future?
Is there a way to bulk re-sync translations instead of manually updating 100+ pages?
The problem with the homepage layout sometimes also with other sites like (hidden link) and bricks templates (blank page or incorrect Bricks layout after updating the original page) still persists.
Regards
Hi,
However, after just a few hours, the ALT texts have reverted back to the original language instead of the translated versions. Additionally, I have WPML Media installed and active, but in the Troubleshooting section it shows as inactive.
Regards
Update:
I've encountered another problem with Bricks Builder templates. My blog template layout wouldn't display correctly in translated versions, despite updating the translation a few times. Unlike the homepage, which eventually shows the correct layout after updating the translation a few times, the blog template never displays properly regardless of how many times I update it.
The only solution that worked was to create separate templates for each language and then connect them manually. However, this issue persists after each change to the original template.
Regards
New threads created by Kor and linked to this one are listed below:
Thanks for your reply. I will require temporary access (WP-Admin and FTP) to a test site where the problem has been replicated, if possible. This will enable me to provide better assistance and determine if any configurations need to be modified.
Please note that it is important to have a backup for security purposes and to prevent any potential data loss. You can use the UpdraftPlus plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/updraftplus/) to fulfill your backup requirements.
Your upcoming reply will be treated with confidentiality and will only be visible to you and me.
✙ To resolve the issue, I may need your consent to deactivate and reactivate plugins and the theme, as well as make configuration changes on the site if necessary. This emphasizes the significance of having a backup.
Hi,
On the homepage the ALT texts are now correct, but on other pages — for example: hidden link — the Polish ALT text is displayed on the English version of the page. Most of the time, after manually updating the translation, the correct version of the ALT text appears. I think the ALT texts could be reset after synchronizing the media with the WPML Media plugin (after a change there). The WPML Media plugin is installed and active, but in the Troubleshooting section it is shown as inactive and not installed.
Regards
Thanks for your reply. I can see the issue on this page: hidden link
You mentioned manually updating the translation. Could you clarify whether you edited the English page directly, or if you made those adjustments in the Advanced Translation Editor when correcting the Alt text?
Thanks for your reply. I've tested it by clicking the pencil icon and re-saving them in the ATE, without making any changes to the translation. But the issue is still there. The ALT texts are still not translated hidden link .Are you getting the same result?
Hi,
Last time, after making a small change in the WPML Media plugin, synchronizing the media files, cleaning up, and synchronizing the translations in the troubleshooting section, the correct ALT texts started appearing again after re-saving the translations. However, after some time the translations reverted back to the original (Polish) language.
Now I’m getting the same results as you. After doing the same steps as two days ago, the German version hidden link shows the correct ALT texts, but it’s not working on English one: hidden link or on any other page. On my live website, the ALT texts on the translated homepage: hidden link had also been showing correctly yesterday, but they reverted back to the Polish ones again on their own, without any changes being made.
Thanks for your reply. I regret any inconvenience caused, but to proceed with troubleshooting, I kindly ask for a snapshot of the site. Alternatively, with your permission, I can create one myself. For this purpose, I typically recommend using the free plugin "Duplicator." If you're already familiar with Duplicator (https://wordpress.org/plugins/duplicator/), please skip the following steps and simply send me the archive file you downloaded.
To guide you further, please adhere to these instructions:
1. View the Duplicator instructions video: hidden link
3. If the archive file exceeds 400MB, please use Duplicator's file filters to exclude cache, wp-uploads directory, media, and archive files.
Once you have the archive file ready, kindly share the link with us. You can utilize platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, or similar for file sharing, as the snapshot file might be large.
Please note that your next reply will be private, visible only to you and me. You can paste the file link there. Rest assured that once the issue is resolved, I will delete the local site.
