Using PointFire Translator Add-In

What does it do?

PointFire Translator Add-in can translate pages, documents, and list items to all available languages of your site. It can translate both classic and modern pages, including Communication and modernTeam sites. It uses PointFire Translator Server which an administrator has added and configured in your site.  It can translate modern pages of all types, classic pages, documents such aMicrosoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and if it has been set up for it, PDF and Visio.  It can also translate lists and text metadata.

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Administrator Setup

The PointFire Translator add-in is added to a site via the organization's app catalog. To get a trial, go to https://pointfire.com/try/.

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Site Configuration

After the add-in has been added to the site, go to the “Site contents” page and then, select "PointFire Translator Add-in" which is the default app page.

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SharePoint Site contents with the PointFire Translator Add-in highlighted.

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Click on “this page” link to navigate to your site’s language setting. You may add new languages that you want or delete the ones that you don’t need.

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PointFire Translator Add-in configuration page with the settings control highlighted.

The PointFire Translator configuration settings should not be changed except for advanced configuration scenarios using PointFire Translator Server.

Follow the step-by-step instructions below on how to use the PointFire Translator Add-in with or without PointFire Translator Server:

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Translating Pages

Translation without Multilingual Page Publishing feature

This scenario is typically for sites that use PointFire 365

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1.    Open the page that you want to translate and click Translation from the ribbon menu.

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SharePoint Site Pages library with a page selected and the PointFire Translator command highlighted.

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2.    The Translation panel will appear on the right. You will be asked to create a copy of the page for each language you choose. Click Create for all languages if you want to translate the page into all available languages, or click Create under the language that your page will be translated into.

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SharePoint Translation pane with the option to create translated pages highlighted.

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3.    After creating the copies, you willsee that folders are created for each language in the “Site Pages”.

SharePoint Site Pages library showing the source page and translation folders.

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4.    You can select either the original page in the root folder, or the copy of the original page in one of the language-specific folders. If you choose the original page, it will translate all of the language-specific copies of the page that have been created. If you select a copy in one of the language-specific folders, it will translate only that copy. Select a page and then, click PointFire Translator.

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SharePoint Site Pages library with the source page selected for translation.

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5.    The translation will start automatically. While the translation is ongoing, the progress message below will appear.

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PointFire Translator shows that page translation is in progress.

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6.    The success message will appear once the translation is complete. Click Go back to site to see the translated pages inside the corresponding folders.

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PointFire Translator Add-in reports successful page translation.

Re-translating pages or documents that have been updated

PointFire Translator will not translate a translation, only originals. It will not re-translate an item that has already been translated, unless the original has been modified more recently than the translation. If the original of a page or document has been changed, whether the change is to the content or to the metadata, then you can follow the same steps as for the initial translation. The new translation will be a draft and will overwrite the previous translation. Once re-translated, the new translation should be checked and then, published.

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Translating Documents

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1.    Select the document that you want to translate and then, click PointFire Translator from the ribbon menu or fromthe 3 vertical dots beside the document page name.

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Two SharePoint documents selected with PointFire Translator highlighted in the command bar.

Note: Multiple translation is not supported. You can only select one document at a time.

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2.    If you are using the add-in for the first time, you may be asked to make the library multilingual before translations can proceed. This adds a language column to the library. To enable multilingual, click Make Library Multilingual Now!.

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PointFire Translator prompts the user to make the library multilingual.

3.    The source language and targetlanguages options will appear. The source language is often pre-selected.

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PointFire Translator source-language dropdown for a selected document.

4.    Select the target languages from the drop-down menu, or click Select All if you want to translate the documentinto all available languages.

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PointFire Translator target-language checkboxes for a selected document.

5.    After selecting the languages,click Start Translation. The progress message below will appear:

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PointFire Translator shows server translation in progress and notes that Word proofing language determines the source language.

6.    The success message will appearonce the translation is complete. Click Go back to site to see all the successful translations.

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PointFire Translator Add-in shows the document translation log and completion status.

7.    Check the translated document in the same library.

SharePoint document library with the translated document highlighted.

Note: All translations are stored in draft form ifminor versions are enabled. You should review, make any changes if needed, andpublish the document so that everyone with access can view it.

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Translating list items

1.    Select the list item that you want to translate and then, click PointFire Translator from the ribbon menu or from the3 vertical dots beside the list name.

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SharePoint list with an item selected and PointFire Translator highlighted.

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Note: You can select multiple items for translation.

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2.    If you are using the add-in for the first time, you may be asked to make the list multilingual before translations can proceed. This adds a language column to the list. To enable multilingual, click Make List Multilingual Now!.

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PointFire Translator prompts the user to make the list multilingual.

3.    The option to select the sourcelanguage and target languages will appear. The source language is oftenpre-selected. Select the target languages from the drop-down menu, or clickSelect all to translate the list into all available languages.

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PointFire Translator target-language selection and Start Translation button for a list item.

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4.    After selecting the languages, click Start Translation. The progress message below will appear:

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PointFire Translator shows that list-item translation has started.

5.    The success message will appear once the translation is complete. Click Go back to site to see all the successful translations.

PointFire Translator Add-in reports successful list-item translation.

6.    Check the translated list item in the same list.

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SharePoint list with a translated item highlighted.

Note: All translations are stored in draft form if minor versions are enabled. You should review, make any changes if needed, and publish the list item so that everyone with access can view it.

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Common Issues

·    The document or list that you selected has already been translated.  PointFire Translator will re-translate only if the original is more recent than the translation.

PointFire Translator reports that the item cannot be translated because translations may already exist or be pending.

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·    Some of the translations are unsuccessful.  Click on the red message for additional details.  It will tell you more about which items were translated and which were not.

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PointFire Translator reports that translation completed but some translations were unsuccessful.

·    The document, list or page has already been translated

PointFire Translator Add-in reports that translations already exist and that the document failed to translate.

·    The site is usingMultilingual Page Publishing, and the selected page has no Multilingual Page Publishing copies to translate.

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PointFire Translator reports that the page cannot be translated.

While the Multilingual Page Publishing feature is activated, you will see the error message below if:

·         PointFire 365 (a different product that is compatible with PointFire Translator) is installed on the site.

PointFire Translator warns about enabling both native multilingual page publishing and PointFire 365 on the same page.

Whether the site is using PointFire Translator Server or not, the error message below will appear if:

   ·    No document or item is selected.

PointFire Translator prompts the user to select at least one item or document to translate.

For additional support, create a ticket.

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