Site name and site about translations

Overview

Simpplr supports both automatic and manual translations for site names and about text, so users across your organization see site information in their preferred language. This article explains how translations work, how to create and manage them, and what users see in each scenario.

Before you begin

Translations for sites apply to two fields only: Site name and Site About. Both fields always share the same source language.

Site translations are supported for both public and private sites.

Translation settings

Site translation behavior is controlled by a tenant-level setting that an administrator configures under Manage Application > Setup > Content Translations.

When auto-translate is on: The system automatically generates translations for the site name and About text in all enabled languages when the site is published. Authors can also create or override translations manually at any time.

When auto-translate is off: No translations are generated automatically. Authors must enter translations for each language by hand. Turning off auto-translate never affects existing manual translations -- those are always preserved.

Source language

The source language of a site is determined by the creator's profile language at the time the site is created. It can be changed during site creation or at any point when updating the site.

If you change the source language, any content already entered in the site name or About field is automatically translated into the new source language. For sites, changing the source language for the site name also updates the source language for the About field, and vice versa -- both fields always share the same source language.

What users see

The table below summarizes what a user sees based on their preferred language and the translations available.

The source language is always the fallback -- users are never shown a blank or missing site name.

Site names appear in the user's preferred language everywhere the site name is displayed in the application, including tiles, content, newsletters, and mobile.

How to create and manage site translations

On the Create site page

1. Type the site name in the name field.

2. Once at least one character is entered, a translate icon appears next to the field.

3. Select the translate icon to open the translation panel.

   • If auto-translate is on, the panel shows a preview of how the site name will appear to users of each language. You can review these before saving.

   • If auto-translate is off, manually type the site name for each language you want to support.

4. Repeat the same steps for the About field.

5. Save the site. Translations are stored and applied immediately.

On the Update site page

1. Open Site Settings and go to the site name or About field.

2. The translate icon is always visible on the update page -- no typing is required to reveal it.

3. Select the translate icon to open the translation panel.

   • To add a manual override for a language that currently has an auto-translation, type the translation directly in the panel. This becomes the active translation for that language going forward.

   • To edit an existing manual translation, update the text directly in the panel.

   • To remove a manual override and return to the auto-translated version, select the option to reset to auto-translation.

4. Save your changes. Updates take effect immediately across all surfaces where the site is displayed.

Who can manage site translations

Any user who has permission to create or update a site can also manage its translations. This includes Application Managers, Site Owners, Site Managers, Feature Owners, and users with the relevant access control group roles. No additional permissions are required.

Behavior when auto-translate is off

When auto-translate is disabled at the tenant level, the translation panel shows empty fields for each language -- there are no system-generated translations.

You must manually type the translation for each language you want to support. Each language is handled independently -- you can translate into some languages and leave others empty.

Outdated translations

If you update the site name or About text after translations have already been created, here is what happens:

Auto-translated languages: The system automatically detects the change and regenerates the translation. No action is needed.

Manually translated languages: Manual translations are never automatically updated or deleted. Instead, they are flagged as Outdated. This signals that the source text has changed and the manual translation may need to be reviewed or updated. Users continue to see the existing manual translation until you update it -- they are never shown a blank or broken experience.

When auto-translate is off: Because nothing updates automatically, every manually translated language requires a manual update after the source text changes. Until you update them, users continue seeing the previous manual translation, not the updated source text. There is no way to disable the outdated indicator for sites.

A warning appears on the site name and About fields when an outdated condition exists: "One or more manual translations may be outdated because you changed the [field name]. Review and update as needed." The translation panel also shows an outdated indicator below each affected language.

Changing the source language

When you change the source language of a site, a confirmation modal appears before the change is applied.

When auto-translate is on: The modal warns that all existing manual translations will be overridden and all auto-translations will be regenerated.

When auto-translate is off: The modal warns that existing manual translations will be marked as outdated. Because nothing updates automatically, you will need to manually update each language's translation. Until you do, users see the outdated translation. Updating manual translations after a source language change is not mandatory, but it is important to understand that users will continue to see the previous translation until you make those updates.

Language ordering in the translation panel

Inside the translation panel, your own profile language always appears first. All other enabled languages follow in alphabetical order.

Validations and warnings

Translate icon on the Create site page: The translate icon next to the site name field only appears after you type at least one character. If the field is empty, the icon is not shown. No error message is displayed -- the control is simply hidden until there is content to translate.

Outdated translation warning: When you update the site name or About text after manual translations already exist, a warning appears on the field and the affected languages are flagged as outdated in the translation panel.

Troubleshooting

The translate icon is not appearing on the Create site page.

• What happened: The translate icon next to the site name field only appears after at least one character has been entered. If the field is empty, the icon is hidden by design.

• What to do: Type the site name first, then select the translate icon to open the translation panel.

A language in the translation panel is showing an outdated indicator.

• What happened: The site name or About text was updated after a manual translation for that language was already saved. Manual translations are never automatically updated when the source text changes.

• What to do: Open the translation panel, review the outdated translation against the current source text, and update it manually. Users continue to see the previous manual translation until an updated version is saved.

Users of some languages are still seeing the old site name after it was updated.

• What happened: Those languages likely have manual translations that were not automatically updated when the source text changed. Manual translations are flagged as outdated but remain visible to users until an administrator updates them. Auto-translated languages are regenerated automatically and are not affected.

• What to do: Open the translation panel and identify any languages marked as outdated. Update each one manually and save. Users see the updated translation immediately after changes are saved.

Manual translations are marked as outdated after a source language change.

• What happened: When the source language is changed with auto-translate off, all existing manual translations are marked as outdated. Nothing updates automatically in this mode.

• What to do: Open the translation panel and manually update the translation for each affected language. Until the updates are saved, users continue to see the previous manual translation, not the updated source text.

Users are seeing the site name in the source language instead of their preferred language.

• What happened: No translation exists for the user's preferred language either because none was created, or because the translation panel was saved without any content entered for that language. The source language is always shown as a fallback when no translation is available.

• What to do: Open the translation panel and enter a translation for the affected language. If auto-translate is on, ensure no manual override is blocking the system from generating one automatically.

A manual override was reset to auto-translation, but users are still seeing the old text.

• What happened: Auto-translate may be disabled at the tenant level. When auto-translate is off, the system cannot generate translations, so resetting a manual override has no effect.

• What to do: Go to Manage application > Setup > Content translations and confirm that auto-translate is enabled. If auto-translate is off and needs to stay that way, enter a manual translation for that language instead of resetting to auto-translation.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does turning off auto-translate delete my existing manual translations?
Ans: No. Turning off auto-translate only stops the system from generating new automatic translations. All existing manual translations are preserved and continue to be shown to users.

Q: Can I override an auto-translation with my own text?
Ans: Yes. When auto-translate is on, you can open the translation panel for any language and type a manual override. Users of that language will then see your manual version instead of the auto-translated one.

Q: Can I go back to the auto-translated version after entering a manual override?
Ans: Yes. On the Update site page, open the translation panel and select the option to reset to auto-translation for that language. The manual override is removed and the system-generated translation becomes active again.

Q: What happens if I do not provide a translation for a language?
Ans: Users whose preferred language has no translation -- either auto or manual -- see the site name and About text in the source language. The source language is always the fallback, so users are never shown a blank or missing value.

Q: Can I translate into some languages and skip others?
Ans: Yes. Each language is handled independently. You can provide translations for the languages you want to support and leave the rest empty. Users of untranslated languages see the source language as a fallback.

Q: Who can create and manage site translations?
Ans: Any user who already has permission to create or update a site can manage its translations. This includes Application Managers, Site Owners, Site Managers, Feature Owners, and users with the relevant access control group roles. No additional permissions are required.

Q: Does changing the site name source language affect the About field as well?
Ans: Yes. The site name and About field always share the same source language. Changing the source language on either field automatically updates the other.

Q: What happens to existing translations when I change the source language?
Ans: When auto-translate is on, all existing manual translations are overridden and all auto-translations are regenerated in the new source language. When auto-translate is off, all existing manual translations are marked as outdated. You will need to review and update each one manually.

Q: Where does the translated site name appear?
Ans: The site name appears in the user's preferred language everywhere it is displayed in the application, including tiles, content, newsletters, and mobile.

Q: Is search supported for site translations?
Ans: Search support for site translations is not available yet.