How to translate the plugin in a different language?
When we develop a plugin, we write everything in English by default. What should you do if you are using other languages on your site? You will need to translate the plugins to your language. Luckily, translation is a common thing in WordPress and our plugin is fully translation-ready. Let’s dive in!
Some background
Our plugin consists of 2 main parts:
- The backend: this refers to everything living inside the WordPress admin. More specifically, they are the setting pages of our plugin.
- The frontend: this refers to everything your site visitors see. It contains 2 types of text:
- The text you define through all field settings, such as field labels, descriptions, etc …
- Content that is pre-defined by our plugin, like “Choose an option” in dropdown lists or “Drag files here or browse” in the file upload field.
Both parts can be translated.
Translating texts
Translating texts like field labels or field descriptions
If your site is created in 1 language, it’s very easy to translate texts like field labels or descriptions. Simply enter the settings in the language you need them to be.
For example, if you have a Dutch website, you can simply create fields in Dutch:
If you run a multilingual site and you are using a plugin like WPML, we have a document explaining how to translate fields through WPML.
Translating predefined text like “Choose an option” or “Drag files here or browse”
We have already translated some of these texts in the following languages: Dutch, Danish, German, French, Spanish, Polish. If you want to translate these texts into your own language, please follow our easy guide on how to translate a plugin into your own language.
Translating the WordPress admin settings pages
If you want to translate everything related to the WordPress admin ( also refered to as “the backend”), it will be a lot of work because these pages contain a lot of text. Only people with access to your WordPress admin will see these pages so ask yourself if it is really worth the effort to translate them. We think it is not worth the effort because a lot of plugins only have English setting pages and site administrators are used to seeing settings in English anyway. Of course, the decision is up to you!
If you want to translate these texts into your own language, please follow our easy guide on how to translate a plugin into your own language.
Translation FAQs
Can I translate the tooltip error or “required” messages the browser shows?
No, these error tooltips are not a functionality provided by our plugin; instead, they are a feature of the browser. For example, the browser will automatically show an error tooltip if a field is required but was not filled out.
Luckily, these tooltips are automatically translated into the language setting of the browser. This means your site visitors will see these messages in the language they prefer.
Can I translate “Choose an option”?
Yes! If you want to translate “Choose an option” into your own language, please follow our easy guide on how to translate a plugin into your own language.
Can I translate “Drag files here or browse”?
Yes! If you want to translate “Drag files here or browse” into your own language, please follow our easy guide on how to translate a plugin into your own language.