Translating the Catalog Definition

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You translate the catalog definition the first time the catalog is translated into a given language, or when the catalog definition has been changed.

If the catalog definition has already been translated into multiple languages, and you are now adding another language, when you export the catalog to an XML file, the output will contain all languages, not only the base language.

Serialize the translation of the catalog definition into multiple languages

To translate the catalog definition

Serialize the translation of the catalog definition into multiple languages

When you translate the catalog definition into multiple languages, you must translate it into one language at a time, then import the catalog file, and then export it again to translate it into a second language.

For example, if you export an English catalog file, translate it into French, and then import it, you now have two languages. When you export the catalog file again, French and English appear. Translate only English into the third language, for example, Japanese, and then import it. When you export again, you will have three languages.

The following figure shows the process for translating the catalog definition into multiple languages.

A figure that shows a seralized translation process.

To translate the catalog definition

  1. Verify that the product and category properties you want to translate are multilingual property definitions. Your site developer can convert properties to multilingual properties programmatically.

    For more information about creating multilingual properties, see Creating a Multilingual Catalog.

  2. Export the XML catalog file in the language you want to translate from.

  3. In the <CatalogSchema> section of the XML output file, add language tags for the catalog display name, and for each Value, DisplayName, and PropertyValue. The translators will translate the “duplicated” information.

    For example, the following <DisplayName> tag specifies the US English (en-US) display name for the ProductColor property definition:

    <Property name="ProductColor" dataType="string" IsFreeTextSearchable="0"
    IncludeInSpecSearch="0" MinValue="1" MaxValue="100" DisplayOnSite="1"
    AssignAll="0" ExportToDW="1" DisplayInProductsList="0" Multilingual="1"
    IsRequired="0" id="CatalogProperty8">
    <DisplayName Value="Color" Language="en-US" />

    To prepare the file for translation to French, you would add a language tag for fr-FR to specify a French display name for this property, as shown in the following example:

    <Property name="ProductColor" dataType="string" IsFreeTextSearchable="0"
    IncludeInSpecSearch="0" MinValue="1" MaxValue="100" DisplayOnSite="1"
    AssignAll="0" ExportToDW="1" DisplayInProductsList="0" Multilingual="1"
    IsRequired="0" id="CatalogProperty8">
    <DisplayName Value="Color" Language="en-US" />
    <DisplayName Value="Color" Language="fr-FR" />

  4. After you have added the necessary language tags, send the XML catalog file to the translator.

  5. In the <CatalogSchema> section of the XML output file, where Language=<target>, the translators should translate the corresponding Value, displayName, and PropertyValue.

    The following is an example of a ProductColor property definition after it has been translated into French:

    <Property name="ProductColor" dataType="string" IsFreeTextSearchable="0"
    IncludeInSpecSearch="0" MinValue="1" MaxValue="100" DisplayOnSite="1"
    AssignAll="0" ExportToDW="1" DisplayInProductsList="0" Multilingual="1"
    IsRequired="0" id="CatalogProperty8">
    <DisplayName Value="Color" Language="en-US" />
    <DisplayName Value="Couleur" Language="fr-FR" />

  6. Before importing the XML catalog file, validate the contents. On the Import XML Catalog dialog box, select Validate XML file (do not import).

  7. After the XML catalog file has been validated with no errors, import the file to add the translated catalog definition to the catalog database.

    On the Import XML Catalog dialog box, do not select Delete existing data in this catalog. If you do, the existing catalog data in the catalog database will be deleted, and only data in the target language will be stored.

After performing these steps, a translator can translate the catalog content. For more information, see Translating the Catalog Content.

See Also

Translating a Catalog with Business Desk

Creating a Multilingual Catalog

Adding a Language to a Catalog

Importing an XML Catalog File

Exporting a Catalog

Exporting a CSV Catalog File to Excel

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