A page is built once. Each extra language is a layer of texts laid over the same layout: the translation editor lists the words on the page, the original above and your translation below, and nothing else can be changed there. That is why a translator can work without being able to break the design.
One layout, one layer per language
- The layout, styles and structure belong to the page and are edited in the Studio. They are the same in every language.
- Each language has its own draft and its own published copy of the texts. Publishing a language does not publish the page, and changing the layout does not republish a language.
- Visitors see a language's texts only after you press Publish in the translation editor.
Where to start
- Pages list: the Languages column shows a chip per language (green when published); the Translate button on a row opens the editor.
- Studio: the overflow menu has Translate. It saves first if there are unsaved changes.
- Header, footer and mega-menu panels are pages too: open them from Global Regions and use the same menu.
What the editor shows
- Language and Draft / Published status, and a count such as "12 of 30 translated".
- Texts: the page title and search text first, then each element that has words. Filters: All, Not translated, Original changed.
- Preview: the page in that language, following your typing before you save.
- Save draft, Publish (then Unpublish and Publish again), History, and, on a site that uses review, Ask for review, Approve and Send back.
Texts that fall behind
When someone edits the original after it was translated, the translation keeps showing but is marked Original changed. You choose Still correct or write a new one. See "How do I see what changed since I translated?".
Who can do what
The Translate CMS Content permission (cms.translate) lets a person translate, save, publish and unpublish a language and ask for review. It does not allow changing the layout, deleting a language, or approving. People who can write content can do everything a translator can. Approving a review needs its own permission.
Good to know
- A text you never translate shows the original, so a half-translated page is never empty.
- A translator and an editor working at the same time do not overwrite each other: if the same translation was changed by someone else you see a banner and your edits are kept on screen.
- Search engines list a language for a page once it is translated; see "How do I choose what visitors see for a page that is not translated?".