Configure Languages and Translations

Language settings let administrators add supported languages, enable automatic field translation, and export and import custom field translation files in SmartSimple. Users select a language on the login page or switch languages while logged in. For field definitions and syntax, see Language and Translation Fields and Syntax Reference. 

Who: Global administrators, system administrators, and all users

When to Use Language Settings

Use language settings when:

• SmartSimple needs to support users in multiple languages.
• A user needs to change language before or after logging in.
• Content arrives in languages other than English and needs to be accessible to users who do not understand the source language.
• Plain text field content needs rapid working translations.
• Access to the field translation feature needs to be controlled by user role.
• Custom field captions, tooltips, and selection options need to go to a translator, and the completed translation file needs to be imported.

↑ Back to top

Add Languages to Your System

Global administrators configure which languages are available to users. 

To add languages to your system:

1. Click the System Administration gear in the upper navigation bar, select Global Settings from the drop-down menu, and then click the System tab.
2. Locate the System Configuration section, click the Supported Configuration Languages field, select the applicable languages, and then click Save.
   • English (U.S.) is always included by default.

↑ Back to top

Access Language Library

The Language Library is where you can manage custom translations for system messages and terminology.

To access the Language Library:

1. Click the System Administration gear in the upper navigation bar, select Global Settings from the drop-down menu, and then click the System tab.
2. Locate the System Configuration section, click the Language Library.
3. Click the New Language Library [+] button. 
   • Click the edit [pencil] icon to edit an existing Language Library. 
4. Add the applicable information and then click Save. See the Language Library Fields section of the Language and Translation Fields and Syntax Reference article. 

↑ Back to top

Select a Language on the Login Page

To select a language on the login page:

1. On the login page, locate the language selector in the top-right corner of the page and select the preferred language from the drop-down menu.

The page reloads and the URL updates with a language ID, for example, &lang=23. Once logged in, the entire interface displays in the selected language.

↑ Back to top

Switch Languages While Logged In

Users can switch languages while logged in from the User Menu or from Personal Settings.

Switch Languages from the User Menu

To switch languages from the User Menu:

1. Click the User Menu in the upper navigation bar, and then select Language from the drop-down menu.
2. Click the preferred language.

↑ Back to top

Switch Languages from Personal Settings

To switch languages from Personal Settings:

1. Click the User Menu in the upper navigation bar, and then select Personal Settings from the drop-down menu.
2. Click the Regional tab.
3. Click the Language field, select the preferred language from the drop-down menu, and then click Save.

↑ Back to top

Enable Field Translation

Field translation setup has three parts: enable SmartSimple's automatic field translation feature globally, configure role permissions, and enable translation for individual custom fields. Only global administrators can enable field translation globally and configure role permissions.

Enable the Translation Service

To enable the field translation service:

1. Click the System Administration gear in the upper navigation bar, select Global Settings from the drop-down menu, and then click the System tab.
2. Locate the System Options section, toggle Enable Field Translation Service on, and then click Save.

↑ Back to top

Configure Role Permissions for Translation

To configure role permissions for translation:

1. Click the System Administration gear in the upper navigation bar, select Global Settings from the drop-down menu, and then click the Security tab.
2. Locate the Business Security section and click System Feature Permissions.
3. Click the Features tab.
4. Click the Enable Field Translation field, select the applicable roles, and then click Save.

↑ Back to top

Enable Translation for a Specific Field

To enable translation for a specific field:

1. Navigate to the applicable custom field page, as described in Access the Configuration Page for Custom Fields in the Configure Custom Fields article.
2. Click the Custom Field Translation Settings button in the Action Bar.
3. Complete the applicable field, and then click Save. See the Translatable Custom Field Settings section of the Language and Translation Fields and Syntax Reference article.

↑ Back to top

Export and Import Translation Files

System administrators export custom field translation files to send to a translator, and then import the completed translations into SmartSimple. 

These requirements and limitations apply to translation files:

• Exported files may contain HTML formatting tags or SSlogic syntax. Translators must preserve all tags and syntax in the translated file, because altered tags can break field display and logic after import.
• For Select One – Combo Box fields, translators must also maintain the store-value=display-value syntax in the translation file.
• Some field types, such as Custom Field Type: Special – Advanced Data Table, may require manual updates, which can be more reliable than importing a translation file.

Export a Translation File

To export a translation file:

1. Click the Menu icon in the upper navigation bar, and then select the relevant UTA/module from the Applications drop-down menu.
2. Click the Configuration Settings gear.
3. Click the Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 tab.
   • Administrators can also export Organization, User, Association, and Transaction custom fields. Click the System Administration gear in the upper navigation bar, select Global Settings from the drop-down menu, and then click the Organizations, Users, Associations, or Transactions tab.
4. Locate the General Settings section and click Custom Fields.
5. Check the box next to the applicable custom fields.
   • Check the box in the header to select all of the custom fields.
6. Click the Create Translation Files button in the Action Bar.
7. Select the export file format from the drop-down menu, and then click Download.
   • MS Excel is the recommended format.

Save the exported translation file and send it to the preferred translator.

↑ Back to top

Import a Translation File

To import a translation file:

1. Click the Menu icon in the upper navigation bar, and then select the relevant UTA/module from the Applications drop-down menu.
2. Click the Configuration Settings gear.
3. Click the Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 tab.
   • Administrators can also import Organization, User, Association, and Transaction custom fields. Click the System Administration gear in the upper navigation bar, select Global Settings from the drop-down menu, and then click the Organizations, Users, Associations, or Transactions tab.
4. Locate the General Settings section and click Custom Fields.
5. Click the Import button in the Action Bar.
6. Click Text Import.
7. Click the text box and paste the translated data.
8. Click the Column Delimiter field and select the applicable option.
9. Click the Language field and select the target language for the import.
10. Check Values enclosed by double quotes, if applicable.
11. Check First row contains field names, if applicable.
12. Click Next.
13. Under Mapping, select the applicable options from the drop-down menu to map the columns to the columns in the import, and then click Next.
14. Review the imported data, and then click Next.

The system confirms whether each field imported successfully or failed.

↑ Back to top

Enable Translation Audit Mode (SmartSimple Only)

Translation Audit Mode is used to detect strings that contain both text and variables. See the Text Strings Containing a Variable section of the Language and Translation Fields and Syntax Reference article.

To enable Translation Audit Mode:

1. Click the User Menu in the upper navigation bar, and then select Personal Settings from the drop-down menu. 
2. Click the Display tab.
3. Toggle Enable Translation Audit Mode on and then click Save. 

Text eligible for translation via the Language Library is enclosed in square brackets and asterisks, for example [*text*]. Some text is also enclosed in @ symbols, for example @text@.

↑ Back to top