Translating Event Espresso into your language will allow for an easier registration experience for your native speakers (e.g. attendees/registrants) which can lead to more registrations for your events.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to translate Event Espresso into your language. First, we’ll ensure that your WordPress site is set to your preferred language. Then we’ll help you select a tool for translation, show you how to use that tool, and finally how to upload your language files to your site to enable them. Note that for this walk-through, we’ll use French as the example language and these steps will allow you to use Event Espresso with any language.
Multiple languages at the same time is not supported so Event Espresso cannot be used with WPML or Qtranslate.
Before we get started, lets look at a few terms that will be used throughout this guide:
WP dashboard – this is the WP-admin for your WordPress site.
Your language – this is your local language that you are wanting to translate Event Espresso into.
POedit – a software program for editing PO files and creating MO files.
GlotPress – holds different translation projects for Event Espresso.
PO file – a file that holds translation strings that are translated via tools like POedit or GlotPress.
MO file – a file that holds translations strings and is used by your WordPress site.
SFTP/FTP client – a software program (e.g. FileZilla, Cyberduck) that lets you transfer files to and from your WordPress site.
Select your Language
Login to your WordPress dashboard (WP-admin) and go to Settings –> General. Next scroll down and locate the Site Language option which appears towards the end of the page. Now change it to your language. For example, if you wanted your site to appear in French, then select that language from the dropdown menu. Then save changes by clicking on the Save Changes button.
Note that the language that is selected here will be the language that you will setup Event Espresso to use. You cannot use one language for your site and then a different language for Event Espresso. For example, if your WordPress site is set to French, then Event Espresso will also use the French language.
Choose a Translation Tool
Two tools that are commonly used for translating Event Espresso are POedit and GlotPress.
POedit is a software program that is installed locally on your computer. It is available for multiple platforms including Windows and Mac.
GlotPress holds translation projects which includes our different language files for Event Espresso. It can be used from any computer that has an internet connection and can even import language files that have been edited by POedit.
Show me how to translate with POedit | Show me how to translate with GlotPress
How to use POedit to Translate Event Espresso
Click on the following link and then on the next page click on the button to download POedit to your computer: https://poedit.net/download
Then browse to the file on your computer and install it. Now we’ll need to get a source file called a PO file from GlotPress. Go to this link: https://translate.eventespresso.com/projects
Next, click on your version of Event Espresso. For example, if you are using Event Espresso 3, then click on Event Espresso 3. If you are using Event Espresso 4, then click on Event Espresso 4.
On the next page, you’ll see a list of available languages. Locate your language and click on it. For example, if you were wanting to translate Event Espresso into French, then click on the name of that language (e.g. French (France)).
On the next page, you’ll see a list of translation strings. Scroll towards the end of the page and look in the bottom left corner. You’ll see a legend along with some export options. We’ll now use the export option to get the latest copy of the PO file for your language.
Be sure that the first dropdown menu is set to all current and that the second dropdown menu is set to Portable Object Message Catalog (.po) and then click on the Export link. Here is a screenshot of those settings:
A PO file will be downloaded to your computer (e.g. event-espresso-4-fr_FR.po). Locate the file on your computer and then move it to a safe location such as your documents folder. Then double-click on it and if prompted open with POedit.
You’ll now be viewing the PO file in POedit. The left side of the screen contains the source text and the right side is the translation. Before starting translations, please check out our translation tips and recommendations.
After viewing the recommendations and tips above, you can begin translating. To do so, click on a translation string and then you’ll see a section for source text which shows the existing text and then a blank area for the translation. Enter a translation and then click on a different translation string. You can repeat this step to translate the available translation strings. Be sure to Save after you are finished.
You have been completing translations via the PO file so the next step is to create an MO file for use on your site. Go ahead and save changes to your current file in POedit. Then go to the File menu for POedit –> Compile to MO. Then save the MO file to the same location as your PO file. Then continue to the next section for setting up your language files.
How to use GlotPress to Translate Event Espresso
1) Using GlotPress will require an account on our Glotpress site. If you do not have account account, then please register for one here: https://translate.eventespresso.com/wp-login.php?action=register
2) Once you have registered for an account, complete the Translator Application form at the bottom of this page to apply to become a translator.
3) Next (once we’ve approved your application), go to our GlotPress page here: https://translate.eventespresso.com/projects
Then click on your version of Event Espresso. For example, if you are using Event Espresso 3, then click on Event Espresso 3. If you are using Event Espresso 4, then click on Event Espresso 4.
On the next page, you’ll see a list of available languages. Look in the top right area of the screen and click on the Log in link. On the next page, enter your credentials GlotPress and then click on the Login button. Afterwards, you’ll be taken back to the screen that shows a list of available languages.
Locate your language and click on it. For example, if you were wanting to translate Event Espresso into French, then click on the name of that language (e.g. French (France)). You’ll now be viewing translations strings that are available for translation. The left side of the screen contains the source text and the right side is the translation. Before starting translations, please check out our translation tips and recommendations.
After viewing the recommendations and tips above, you can begin translating. To do so, double-click on the text that says Double-click to add and then in the text area enter a translation. Once you are finished, click on Suggest new translation. You can repeat this step to translate the available translation strings. This process will set these translations to pending until a member of our team or a validator (an Event Espresso member that is fluent in a specific language) approves the translations. GlotPress is checked a few times each week. You can also notify us by creating a support post in our support channel and we will approve your translations.
The next step is to get a copy of the latest PO and MO files for use on your site and we can use the export option from GlotPress to get these files. Go to the page that shows the available translation strings for your language. Then scroll towards the end of the page and look in the bottom left corner. You’ll see a legend along with some export options.
Be sure that the first dropdown menu is set to all current and that the second dropdown menu is set to Portable Object Message Catalog (.po) and then click on the Export link. Here is a screenshot of those settings:
We’ll now complete similar steps to get an MO file. Be sure that the first dropdown menu is set to all current and that the second dropdown menu is set to Machine Object Message Catalog (.mo) and then click on the Export link. Here is a screenshot of those settings:
A MO file will be downloaded to your computer (e.g. event-espresso-4-fr.mo). Now locate both the PO and MO files that were downloaded to your computer and continue to the next section for setting up your language files.
Tips and Recommendations for Translations
Here are some tips and recommendations for working on translations.
The name Event Espresso is the brand name for our product and should not be translated. Similarly, brand names for other web services should not be translated. Examples are Stripe, AuthorizeNet, PayPal, Vanco, iDeal Mollie, and Sage Pay.
Shortcodes such as [ESPRESSO_PROMOTIONS] or [ESPRESSO_MY_EVENTS] should not be translated. If the text of the specific shortcodes are translated, then they will not work as expected.
Function names such as EEH_Line_Item::get_pre_tax_subtotal() or EEH_Line_Item::create_event_subtotal() should not be translated since these refer to functions that are in the core plugin or an add-on for Event Espresso.
Variables in the source text such as %s or %1$s should be included in the translated text. If you leave them out, then your translated text may not appear correctly.
HTML tags in the source text such as <strong> and <em> should be included in the translated text. If you leave them out, then your translated text will lose that formatting. Also be sure to include the opening and closing HTML tags (e.g. <em>hello</em>).
Start to translate with POedit | Start to translate with GlotPress
Setup your Language Files
You should now have the latest PO and MO file for your language, either from POedit or GlotPress. The next step is to upload the files to your WordPress website.
Upload your PO and MO Files
The next step would be to upload your files so Event Espresso can start using them and an SFTP or FTP client will be needed. FileZilla and Cyberduck are free options that are available for multiple platforms. Your web host will be able to provide you with the credentials for logging in via SFTP or FTP.
1) Login to your WordPress root with your preferred SFTP/FTP client.
2) Browse to this location:
/wp-content/uploads/espresso/
3) Now create a folder called languages. If a languages folder is already there then browse into that folder. You should now be viewing the following location in your SFTP/FTP client:
/wp-content/uploads/espresso/languages
4) Now upload your PO file and MO file from your computer to the folder above using your SFTP/FTP client
Event Espresso will begin using the MO translation file right away and you should see various areas of Event Espresso change in the WordPress dashboard (WP-admin) and on your event pages on the front-end of your website. Are certain areas such as the registration form not appearing as translated? Please continue to the next section below.
Continuing Translations
Your translation files (i.e. PO and MO files) will hold the majority of your translations. However, there are a few areas of Event Espresso that are not translated via those files.
For Event Espresso 3, the question groups for the registration forms, questions for the registration forms, and registration messages can be translated by browsing to those screens in your WordPress dashboard:
Event Espresso –> Questions
Event Espresso –> Question Groups
Event Espresso –> Email Manager (or edit message individually via event editor)
For Event Espresso 4, the registration form question groups, registration form questions, and message types (e.g. email notifications) can be translated by browsing to those screens in your WordPress dashboard:
Event Espresso –> Registration Form –> Question Groups
Event Espresso –> Registration Form –> Questions
Event Espresso –> Messages
Keeping Translations Up-to-date
When new software is released such as a major version of Event Espresso 4, then new translation strings may be introduced. Prior to releasing the new software, we will update GlotPress which holds language files for Event Espresso. You can get the latest files by following these steps:
- Go to our GlotPress project and get the latest PO and MO for your project (see section: Translate with GlotPress)
- Rename the files so they have the correct file names (see section: Setup your Language Files)
- Rename your existing language files on your site by adding an extra letter or number to the end of the filename. This step will deactivate the files and is a safer option than overwriting or deleting them.
- Upload the newest PO and MO files that you recently downloaded and renamed.
Event Espresso will then start using the new language files that are in place.
Troubleshooting
Did you follow this guide and things still aren’t working? Don’t worry, we’ll help you get back on track.
First, double-check that you are using a current version of Event Espresso.
Next, ensure that your site language matches the language that you are trying to use with Event Espresso. For example, if your site language (a setting in your WP dashboard) is set to French, then Event Espresso must use the translation files (i.e. PO and MO file) for French. Event Espresso is not compatible with multi-language tools like WPML or qTranslate.
If things still are not working, then double-check the upload location and the filenames. The upload location for your PO and MO files should be:
/wp-content/uploads/espresso/languages
You can double-check the exact names that your PO and MO file should be in the section for setting up your language files.
If you are still not successful with getting your translations working, then please create a support post in our support forums so we can help you. Be sure to let us know any troubleshooting steps that you have already tried.
Additional Resources
Translation teams on WordPress.org
How to Internationalize your Plugin
Help Translate Event Espresso
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