WPML 4.4.2 – Nicer String Translation, Automatic Translation and WordPress 5.5 Compatibility

Today, we released WPML 4.4.2. This release includes important String Translation improvements, plus an automatic translation experience that’s easier to use, and more.

Here is the list of major updates in WPML 4.4.2:

• Improvements to String Translation
• Automatic translation user experience updates
• Improved handling of sites that change URLs
• Addition of plugin recommendations
• WordPress 5.5 compatibility
• Compatibility with Toolset

String Translation Updates

The String Translation screen is now simpler and faster to use. You can now see the status of your translations in all your languages at a glance.

We greatly reduced the number of clicks required to translate strings. Simply click the + icon to translate a string. Use the Tab key on your keyboard to save your translations and move between languages.

BEFORE

NOW

[caption id="attachment_6734221" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Multiple clicks to translate strings[/caption]

BEFORE

[caption id="attachment_6734251" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Translate your strings with only one click[/caption]

NOW

Searchable Admin Texts Translation Screen

Finding strings that don’t appear in the main String Translation screen is easier than ever:

1. Search for the string you need using the new text search box.

1. Click to add it to the String Translation screen or generate a code snippet for your language configuration file.

Once the string is added to the String Translation screen, you can translate it as normal.

Integration With the Advanced Translation Editor

String Translation is now fully integrated into the Advanced Translation Editor. This means you can use automatic translation, and the glossary, spell checker, and translation memory to help translate your strings.

Automatic Translation User Experience Updates

In addition to these String Translation updates, we also made some updates to the automatic translation navigation and content within the Translation Management module. Our focus for these changes was:

• To more clearly communicate the number of words you have left for the month.
• To make it easier to change your payment limit, change your payment method, and view your past invoices and word usage reports.
• To make it easier to understand how to connect sites under the same automatic translation account.

You can see these changes by going to WPML → Translation Management and clicking the Translation Tools tab. See our documentation about automatic translation for more information.

Improved Handling of Sites That Change URLs

If your site’s URL changes as a result of either copying or moving your site, it has implications for some features of the Advanced Translation Editor. From 4.4.0 onward, WPML will detect this change automatically and walk you through next steps.

Plugin Recommendations

To get the most out of your plugins, you sometimes need a “glue” plugin from WPML. This is the case with the following plugins:

• WooCommerce
• Gravity Forms
• Contact Form 7
• Ninja Forms
• WP Forms
• BuddyPress
• Advanced Custom Fields
• WP All Import
• MailChimp
• Yoast SEO

WPML 4.4.0 can now detect when you have one of these plugins installed and will proactively suggest installing the glue plugin. It will also be added to the setup wizard. This will ensure you don’t miss a key component of making your site fully multilingual.

WordPress 5.5 Compatibility

WordPress 5.5 introduces a breaking change from previous versions. This change removes some JavaScript code that themes and plugins relied on and replaces it with a new version which is not backward compatible. WPML 4.4 includes all the adjustments necessary for complete compatibility with WordPress 5.5.

Compatibility With Toolset

Besides WPML, we are also the authors of Toolset plugins. Toolset is a suite of plugins that helps build dynamic WordPress sites, without coding. It makes it easy to create custom functionality, without needing a developer.

Together with WPML 4.4 we released Toolset Blocks 1.3. This joint release allows you to translate Toolset sites easily and to build advanced multilingual directory sites.

For example, if you’re thinking of building something like Craigslist in multiple languages, you can now do this with WPML 4.4 and Toolset Blocks 1.3. Your multilingual directory site can allow members to submit content, can have a custom search and show related items. And, it will be fully multilingual.

Toolset Blocks 1.3 also adds full support for building custom WooCommerce stores. A set of 11 new dynamic blocks for WooCommerce will let you design product templates, archives and searches. No need to edit PHP files or touch the WooCommerce templates system. The whole design is fully visual and gives you pixel perfect control over the output.

How to Install This Version

As with other major releases, we are deploying WPML 4.4.2 gradually. If your sites haven’t received this update yet, give it some time and you’ll see the update in a few days. 

To skip the queue and get this update right away go to Plugins → Add New, click the Commercial tab, and then use the Check for updates button.

Of course, you can also download WPML 4.4.2 manually by going to your WPML Account’s Downloads page.

How Did We Do?

Try out WPML 4.4.2 and let us know what you think in the comments below!