Translating Content

This guide explains how to translate content items into other languages on a multilingual Varbase site.

Prerequisites

• Multilingual support must be enabled on your site (via the varbase_i18n_base recipe).

• At least one additional language must be added and enabled.

• The content type must be configured to allow translations.

Steps to Translate Content

1. Navigate to the content item.

   • Find the content you want to translate via the content listing at Content (/admin/content), or navigate to the content page directly.

2. Open the Translate tab.

   • Click the Translate tab on the content item. This tab appears alongside View, Edit, and other tabs.

   • You will see a table listing all enabled languages, showing the translation status for each:

     • Original language: The language in which the content was originally created.

     • Not translated: No translation exists for this language.

     • Translated: A translation exists. You can edit it from here.

3. Add a translation.

   • Click Add next to the language you want to translate the content into.

   • You will see the content editing form pre-populated with the original content.

   • Translate the content fields:

     • Title: Enter the translated title.

     • Body / Content fields: Replace the original text with the translated text.

     • Media fields: You can keep the same media or replace it with language-specific media.

     • URL alias: Set a language-specific URL alias if needed.

     • Meta tags: Provide translated meta tags for SEO.

   • Set the appropriate moderation state for the translation (Draft or Published).

4. Save the translation.

   • Click Save to create the translation.

   • The translation is now linked to the original content item.

Editing an Existing Translation

1. Navigate to the content item and click the Translate tab.

2. Click Edit next to the language translation you want to update.

3. Make your changes and click Save.

Translation and Content Moderation

Each translation has its own moderation state. This means you can:

• Publish the original content while keeping a translation in Draft.

• Archive a translation independently of the original.

• Manage the translation workflow separately for each language.

Tips for Translating Content

• Translate all fields. Ensure that all visible text fields are translated, including the title, body, summary, and any custom fields.

• Update translations when the original changes. When the original content is updated, review and update all existing translations to keep them in sync.

• Use consistent terminology. Maintain a translation glossary for your site to ensure consistent use of key terms across all translations.

• Set language-specific URL aliases. Provide URL aliases in each language for better SEO and user experience (e.g., /en/about-us and /ar/about-us).

• Test the language switcher. After adding a translation, verify that the language switcher correctly links between the original and translated versions.