Translate content¶
The content on your website can be translated into different languages. Each content item can have different language versions. The version visible to a visitor depends on the way your installation is set up (see SiteAccess concept).
If the Translation Management LTS Update is installed in your system, Ibexa DXP offers a side-by-side translation view that displays the source and target languages simultaneously, making it easier for you to provide, edit and review translations.
Add website languages¶
You can only add translations in languages that have been set up for your website in the Admin panel. If your user role has the right permissions, you can create a new language for the website. To do it, go to the Admin panel, open the Languages tab, and click Add language.
Every new language must have a name and a language code written in the xxx-XX format, for example, eng-US, fre-FR, or nor-NO. After adding a language, you may have to reload the application to be able to use it.
Previewing translations
You can only preview content items translated to languages that have a corresponding website configured in that language.
Caution
Depending on the way the website is set up, additional configuration may be necessary for the new translations to be displayed properly. Contact your administrator and inform them that you need to add a new language to the website. For more information, see Developer Documentation on language versions.
Add translations¶
1. In the left panel, go to Content -> Content structure. Then select a content item.
2. Go to Translations tab and click + Add.
3. In the Create a new translation modal, select the source and target languages, then click Create.
All the fields are then pre-filled with the values they have in the base translation. If you do not choose a base translation, the fields remain empty.
While working, you can save your work and continue or click Delete draft to discard your changes. When done, you can save your work and close the window, publish the translated article immediately, or pick another publication date.
Every time you add or edit a translation, a new version of the content item is created, the same way as when editing only one language.
Translation management ¶
If the translation management feature is installed and properly configured in your system, the set of features available for content translation changes:
- Application administrators can define language pairs and assign automated translation services to them.
- Content editors get a redesigned translation interface called side-by-side translation view. If at least automated translation service is configured, editors can use them to machine-translate content.
Side-by-side translation view
The side-by-side translation view displays the source and target text of the content item on one screen. This way you can add, modify or review translations in context without having to switch between tabs or windows.
Like in the standard content item editor, when multiple sections or field groups exist within the content item, anchors appear at the top of the side-by-side translation view to help you jump directly to a specific section.
Non-translatable fields are inactive in the source column, but they remain active in the translation column. This way you can, for example, replace images, with their localized counterparts.
Content type support limitations
Content types that use Page Builder or Form Builder do not support the side-by-side translation view and open in the standard single-language editor instead.
Also, product attributes are not translatable and they are inactive in the side-by-side translation view.
The back office offers several entry points where you can access the side-by-side translation view, for example:
- Translations tab — Go to Content -> Content structure, select a content item, open the Translations tab, and click + Add.
- Content tree — Click a three dot icon next to a content item in the content tree and, in the context menu, click Add translation.
- Content edit view — When you choose to edit a content item and several language versions exist, the Edit side-by-side button is active for all languages that differ from the main language of the content item.
Add new translation¶
- Either click Add translation in the content tree, or + Add in the Translations tab.
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In the Create a new translation modal, select the source and target languages.
Draft conflict
If a draft already exists for the selected target language, a warning appears in the modal to inform you about this fact. You can proceed and add a new draft, or discard the modal and edit the existing draft translation. For more information, see Edit existing translations.
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If Use automatic translation is checked, select an automated translation service (see Automated translation) from a drop-down list.
Manual translation
You may prefer to translate the content by yourself. To do it, uncheck Use automatic translation and proceed.
If no automated translation services are configured in the system, the checkbox is inactive.
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Click Open side-by-side.
The side-by-side translation view opens with the source text in one column and the target form in the other. Depending on whether you chose to use automated translations, target fields can be empty or pre-translated.
Copy content from source¶
The divider between the source and target columns contains a Copy all from source button. Click it to copy all translatable field values from the source column into the target fields in a single action.
Values of all fields are copied at the same time, and there is no option to copy individual fields.
Switch source language¶
When a content item has two or more published language versions, a dropdown field appears at the top of the source column. You can use it to change the language that is displayed as the source reference.
Distraction-free mode¶
The distraction mode helps you focus on editing the text or work with longer texts that take more space.
Click the Distraction free mode button next to any field in the target column to open a full-screen view of that field. Like in the standard mode, in the distraction-free mode, the source text is visible next to the target field for reference. However, the Copy content from source button is absent.
In distraction-free mode, AI actions, including automatic translation, are available from the editor toolbar.
Edit existing translations¶
The back office offers several entry points where you edit existing content item translations.
To edit a draft translation:
- In content tree, select a content item and open the Versions tab. Click a three dot icon next to a draft translation that you want to edit and, in the context menu, click Edit side-by-side.
- In the main menu, go to Content or visit the My dashboard page, and go to Drafts. Find a draft whose source and target languages differ and click Edit side-by-side.
This opens the existing draft in the side-by-side translation view, so you can review and refine a translation without creating a new draft.
To edit a published translation:
- In content tree, select a content item and click Edit. If more than one language version of a content item exists, a list of all available translations is displayed in the Select translation modal. Select a language and click the Edit side-by-side button.
This opens the side-by-side translation view, where you can perform a review or make your changes and either publish directly create a new draft.
Tip
The Edit side-by-side button is active only for languages other than the main language of the content item.
Automated translation¶
If your application comes with a properly configured automated translation feature, you can have your content machine-translated into multiple languages by using external translation services like Google Translate and DeepL.
To use it, in the Create a new translation modal, select the source and target languages and the Use automatic translation with... checkbox. If more than one service is configured, you can choose either of the available options.
When you click Create, all the Fields are pre-filled with the values in target language, provided by the selected translation service.
Translation comparison¶
You can compare different versions of the translations of the content item.
2. In the left panel, go to Content -> Content structure. Then select a content item.
3. Go to Versions tab and click the Version compare icon: 
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4. In the Comparing versions screen, use the switcher in the top right corner, and click the split view:
5. From the drop-downs, select two different language versions of the same content item. The screen refreshes to display the side by side view of its fields.
For more information, see Work with versions.
Edit page for different language versions of a website ¶
When you edit a page, a bar at the top of the screen lists the most recently used SiteAccesses on your website. Use this bar to switch between the different versions and work on them.
SiteAccess concept
SiteAccesses are a means to present different versions of the website to different categories of users. You could treat SiteAccesses as different "entrance points" to your website. They allow you to show different content or design to visitors, for example, to serve different language versions to visitors from different countries.
See Work with websites for more information about setting up websites.