The Languages feature controls how SmartSimple is displayed to users. Administrators configure which languages are available, and users select their preferred language. SmartSimple supports over 180 languages for end users. Administrator interface translations are available in English, Spanish, and Canadian French.
Who: Global administrators and all users
When to Use Languages
Use Languages when:
- Applicants, reviewers, or program managers in the organization work in different languages.
- The system interface needs to display in a specific language for a user group.
- A multilingual deployment requires translations for user-facing fields, portals, and emails.
- Content entered in text fields needs auto-translation.
Language Support for End Users
Once a global administrator has configured the available languages, users can select their preferred language on the login page or from the header after login.
Changing the language does not automatically translate the entire system. What appears in the selected language depends on what administrators have configured:
- If administrators have translated all interface elements, the entire system displays in the selected language.
- If administrators have translated only some elements, those components appear in the selected language and the rest display in English.
- If no translations exist for the selected language, all content displays in English.
Language Support for Global Administrators
The administrator interface is available in three languages: English, Español (Spanish), and Français (French, Canada). Only global administrators can configure available languages or add translations.
How Language Selection Works
Each user can select a preferred language through the User Menu. The Language ID, a numeric value identifying the language, appears in the browser's address bar. For example, &lang=23 corresponds to Danish. Users can modify the language ID in the URL to change the language.
When a user selects a language on the login page, the system redirects the user to the corresponding login page and updates the language ID in the URL. Upon login, the entire interface displays in that language.
If a user does not select a language on the login page, the drop-down menu shows Select Language or the URL ends with &lang=. In this case, the system uses the language configured in the user's Personal Settings. If Personal Settings specify no language, English is the default.
Configuration Languages for Administrators
System administrators can perform configuration tasks in a limited set of languages. This language selection affects configuration pages only and does not affect the user-facing system.
If a system administrator selects any of the supported languages, the entire system displays in that language for the administrator. If an administrator selects any other language, the system displays in English.
All user-facing elements need separate translations.
Content Translation
In addition to interface translation, SmartSimple supports content translation. If a user enters content in one language, for example, Chinese, SmartSimple can automatically translate the content into any other language and store the translated content in a separate field.
Content translation has these characteristics:
- Content translation applies to plain text fields only. It is not compatible with rich text fields.
- Translations are working translations and may not be suitable for contexts requiring professional-quality output.
- Content translation works through integration with Google Translate.
Translation Recommendations
Consider these recommendations when preparing custom field translations:
- It is recommended to configure all processes in a single language first, and then translate all custom fields into the additional languages. External user pages are more commonly enabled in multiple languages than entire systems.
- It is recommended to use a professional translation service unless the translator is a native speaker of the target language.
UK English Translations
If a user selects UK English as the language, standard fields that differ between US and UK English need UK translations. For example:
- Organization becomes Organisation.
- Postal Code/Zip becomes Postcode.
Use the Language Library to manage these translations.
Language Variables
The following variable outputs the translated type name.
New syntax {{type_lang}}
Old syntax @type_lang@
Resources
For more information about languages, see: