FacetWP – Multilingual support

Understanding FacetWP Multilingual Support

When it comes to building multilingual websites with FacetWP, effective integration with translation plugins like WPML and Polylang is essential for ensuring a seamless user experience. This article explores the intricacies of implementing FacetWP Multilingual support and how to overcome potential challenges.

Development

Integrating FacetWP with WPML and Polylang

To enable multilingual support in FacetWP, users must install the Multilingual add-on compatible with either WPML or Polylang. This is a crucial first step in ensuring that translations are accurately integrated throughout your site. The process is relatively straightforward: simply download the add-on, activate it, and check its compatibility with your translation plugin of choice.

Working with WPML

For users leveraging WPML, the integration allows for both standard translations and dynamic strings, thanks to the WPML String Translation plugin. Publishers can manage site translations effectively, using sub-domain (fr.mysite.com) and sub-directory (mysite.com/fr/) permalinks. However, it is important to note that URL strings using parameters like ?lang=fr are not supported.

To optimize WPML for use with FacetWP, you need to set up the Post Types and Taxonomies Translations correctly. This involves navigating to WPML settings and ensuring that for all post types and taxonomies utilized in facet queries, the preference is set to “only show translated items.” This guarantees that only translated content is displayed, preventing mixed language results which could confuse users.

Additionally, whenever new content is added, ensure that it has an appropriate translation. Using the Translation Management feature within WPML, you can either manually assign translations or utilize the bulk edit feature to create duplicates for content that has yet to be translated.

An important point to remember is that FacetWP relies on its understanding of the language associated with each post for accurate indexing. Consequently, a single post must be assigned a specific language; thus, users need to duplicate posts in their original language if translations are not available.

Custom Fields and Translations

If you are employing custom fields (especially from Advanced Custom Fields – ACF) in your facets, it’s vital to ensure these fields are set to be translatable and are translated accordingly for every post in each language. This attention to detail helps maintain consistency and usability across the multilingual site.

Troubleshooting WPML Integration Issues

Sometimes, users may encounter issues where posts, terms, or other critical data do not appear as intended. In these cases, the primary step is checking the memory limit of the WordPress installation. WPML recommends a minimum memory of 128M, with 256M being optimal.

To review your memory configuration, navigate to WPML Support in your WordPress dashboard. Here, you can see the currently set memory limit, which should not exceed what is available on your server. Troubleshooting options are also available in the WPML Support section to clear WPML’s cache and database, but a backup is essential before proceeding with these actions.

Configuring Polylang

For those using Polylang, the add-on supports standard translations fully. Ensure you activate the setup wizard upon initial use—this wizard assigns language settings to your existing content. Skipping this step can lead to existing content lacking defined languages, resulting in visibility issues within facet queries.

A critical warning for Polylang users relates to the shared slug feature. While this feature allows multiple translations to share the same slug, it currently does not function correctly with FacetWP, causing facets to yield unexpected results. Using unique slugs for each translation is the recommended approach to prevent these issues.

Integrating with SearchWP

For advanced search functionalities on multilingual sites using SearchWP combined with WPML or Polylang, it is crucial to install the suitable SearchWP integration extension. These extensions guarantee that search results align with the current language, avoiding inconsistencies between facet displays and actual post listings.

Translating UI Strings and Facet Labels

Translating user interface strings and facet labels is another essential aspect of multilingual support. Generally, text strings in the UI can be seamlessly translated using WordPress functions like __() and _e(). However, for dynamic, in-database strings, the facetwp_i18n filter hook is invaluable. This hook allows translations for facet labels, which are distinct from facet names, appearing in different contexts across the site.

When it comes to translating facet choices, it is typically best to translate entries within the main data sources. For example, if a facet uses taxonomy terms, those terms should be translated as needed. For ACF fields, utilizing the ACF Multilingual plugin can facilitate translations. Alternatively, you might manually translate facet choices using hooks like facetwp_facet_display_value or facetwp_facet_render_args.

Resolving Indexing and Filtering Issues

Compatibility issues may arise with WPML or Polylang present without the Multilingual add-on, leading to empty index tables or inconsistencies in displayed posts. To resolve such situations, installing the add-on and re-indexing your content is key.

In cases where filtering posts presents challenges—such as encountering empty facets—users might need to adjust how FacetWP interprets language parameters. By implementing specific code snippets in the theme’s functions.php, it is possible to customize how language parameters are handled, ensuring consistent behavior across all templates and pages.

Further Custom Code Adjustments

For more specific needs, users might find employing custom PHP code necessary. For instance, if posts consistently display in the incorrect language within listings and facets, a straightforward adjustment can be made through a custom filter in the functions.php file to ensure consistency with the front-end language.

Additionally, when utilizing WPML in conjunction with the Post Types Order plugin, users should be aware of known issues regarding cron indexing. These can lead to incomplete language indexing. At present, disabling the “Auto Sort” option within the Post Types Order settings offers a temporary solution while awaiting further updates.

Wrapping Things Up

Multilingual websites can undoubtedly elevate user experience by catering to a more diverse audience. By harnessing the power of FacetWP’s multilingual support through WPML and Polylang, users can create a seamless browsing experience. However, successful implementation hinges on understanding how these tools work in tandem and being mindful of common pitfalls such as memory limits, proper translations of custom fields, and careful handling of indexing issues.

In the ever-evolving world of web development, ensuring your website can reach and resonate with a global audience is an invaluable asset. With the right setup and attention to detail, the FacetWP Multilingual support can significantly enhance your site’s functionality and user satisfaction.