How to Get eXo Platform in Your Language
As of today, eXo Platform has users from all continents of the world. And as a software solution, its very nature today is about better ways for teams, employees and communities to work together, share, communicate and collaborate on a daily basis.
Often, it is a solution that executives within organizations will leverage with aims such as improving their worker engagement and sense of belonging to their organization.
It is for reasons like these that it’s important to us that the platform’s interface is available in the end-user’s native language and, when it’s not, that it’s open for easily adding new languages.
Thanks to interest from different corners of the globe in using this platform, and thanks also to our community spirit in which we make translations possible to contribute and improve by anyone, the platform has already been translated to 19 languages so far and that number is steadily rising.
So if you are new to eXo Platform and you are not sure yet how to check if it is available in your local language and, if it isn’t, how to make it so, then this blog post is for you. Read on…
Checking if the platform is available in your language
There are a couple of easy ways to do this.
- First you can simply drop us a line and ask. 🙂 One of our sales reps will be happy to answer you and point you in the right direction should you decide to submit a new translation or understand how we work, e.g. how we roll out new translations, or whether you can pay for a professional translation to your local language as part of an eXo Platform subscription arrangement if you’re not interested in a DIY translation effort.
- Another way you can check is by registering to our online community site, the eXo Tribe, and checking there for yourself. Once you’re logged in there, just click on your name from the top toolbar and then select “Change Language”.
You will then see the full list of languages available. Our community site itself is running on the latest bleeding edge release of eXo Platform, this way you will be sure that you’re seeing the most up-to-date list of available languages.
Submitting a new translation
We use the Crowdin Platform for managing eXo Platform translations. Crowdin is a localization management platform that helps companies like eXo manage the translation of their software. Simply go to our Crowdin translations portal and sign up: http://translate.exoplatform.org
By default, everything that you see there on the main page is based on the latest stable minor release of eXo Platform (although you’ll notice that you can switch to a view of a previous version if that is your target). When you scroll down there, you will be able to see a list of translations in progress. So you can check to see if your language is on that list or not. For example, as of the time I’m writing this, here is what I’m seeing:
If your language is not listed there, go to the list of managers displayed to the right side and contact a manager asking them to add your language to the list, or email your request to translate@exoplatform.com
Assuming you can see your language on this list, simply click on it. This will take you to page where you can see all of the modules within eXo Platform which can be translated along with their translation progress. You can either click on one of them and start translating it, or click the “Translate All” button.
This will take you to the translation page where you can start translating the software with all of its modules. In this page you can:
- Select the string you would like to translate.
- Write its translation.
- Save it, then move to another string.
Using in-context translation
Another way you can translate the platform is using in-context translation. This uses an instance of eXo Platform integrated with Crowdin so that you can directly translate text that you see on the interface of eXo Platform.
To do this, go to our live translation instance at http://translate.exoplatform.org/, select your target language and log in with your Crowdin credentials.
Once you’re in, hover over any text element on the eXo Platform interface and click on the little translation box that shows up. You can then proceed to writing your translation for that given element.
Proofreading translations
Once a translation is completed, it needs to first be proofread and approved by someone with proofreader privileges on our translation portal. If you would like to become a proofreader, or you have made the translation yourself, feel confident in it and would like to have proofreader permissions, you make this request to us at translate@exoplatform.com.
Proofreaders can review the validated translations on our translation review server: http://translations-review.exoplatform.org
Rolling out new translations
So how would a translation become available in the actual product so that you can start using it?
When a translation reaches at least 95% completion and is proofread, we will merge it in the next release of eXo Platform. So there is nothing further you need to do at this point.
If you have further questions about this or are interested in being notified about translation announcements and submission deadlines for new releases, I invite you to join the Translations space in our community site.
Brahim Jaouane
I am a Digital Marketing specialist specialized in SEO at eXo Platform. Passionate about new technologies and Digital Marketing. With 10 years' experience, I support companies in their digital communication strategies and implement the tools necessary for their success. My approach combines the use of different traffic acquisition levers and an optimization of the user experience to convert visitors into customers. After various digital experiences in communication agencies as well as in B2B company, I have a wide range of skills and I am able to manage the digital marketing strategy of small and medium-sized companies.