PrestaShop is a well-known open-source e-commerce platform which has released PrestaShop version 1.7.6, which includes a new Prestashop translation system meant to enhance online stores’ multilingual capabilities. This new system offers improved accuracy, efficacy, and user-friendliness, and addresses the drawbacks of previous translation techniques. In this blog post, we will provide a thorough technical explanation of PrestaShop’s new translation system, highlighting its features, architecture, and benefits.
Context and Purpose:-
The ability to offer information in many languages is essential for addressing a varied customer base as e-commerce continues to grow globally and conventional translation systems frequently suffer from errors, inefficiencies, and human labor.
Classic vs. New Prestashop Translation System
Classic Translation System: –
The classic translation system in PrestaShop was primarily file-based and less flexible:
- File-Based Translations: Translations were stored in PHP files, which could be cumbersome to manage.
- Limited Context Awareness: The classic system lacked robust context handling, leading to potential translation inconsistencies.
- Manual Updates: Translating and updating content required significant manual effort, especially for larger stores.
New Translation System: –
The new Prestashop translation system offers several improvements:
- Symfony Translation Component: Utilizes Symfony’s robust framework for handling translations efficiently.
- XLIFF Translation Files: Employs the XLIFF (XML Localization Interchange File Format) standard, making translations easier to manage and more consistent.
- Database Storage: Centralizes translation data, improving management and performance.
- Contextual Awareness: Ensures that translations are accurate within their specific usage context.
Demonstrating the New Prestashop Translation System with a Demo Module
Let’s walk through creating a demo module to showcase the new translation system for Prestashop. We’ll call this module ‘kbdemotranslation’.
Step 1: Setting Up the Module Structure
First, create the basic structure of your PrestaShop module. Your directory structure should look like this:
Step 2: Setting Up the Module’s Main File
Create the main module file kbdemotranslation.php:
Therefore, in this main module file, we define the module class, its metadata, and the basic installation and uninstallation methods. The getContent() method is where we assign the translated strings to Smarty variables and render the configuration template.
Here, ‘Modules.Kbdemotranslation.Kbdemotranslation’ is the translation domain of the text.
Step 3: Creating the Template File
Create custom template file named ‘configure.tpl’ in the views/templates/admin directory of the module:
This template file displays the translated strings assigned in the getContent method. The ‘nofilter’ modifier is used to ensure that HTML tags in the translations are rendered correctly.
Step 4: Adding Translations via the PrestaShop Back Office
With the module structure and files in place, the next step is to add translations via the PrestaShop back office. Here’s how you can do it:
- Access the Translation Interface: Go to your PrestaShop back office, and navigate to “International” > “Translations.”
- Select the Module to Translate: Under “Modify translations,” choose “Installed modules translations” from the dropdown menu, select your language, and choose the ‘kbdemotranslation’ module.
- Add Translations: You will see a list of translatable strings. Add translations for the strings “Demo Translation Module,” “A module to demonstrate the new translation system in PrestaShop,” “Hello World,” and “Your order will be delivered soon.”
Further, after adding translations, these translations will be stored in the database and automatically applied when the module is used.
Translation Domain:
The translation domain used by PrestaShop is below-
Modules.Nameofthemodule.Specificpart
- Here ‘Modules’ refer to the name of the modules directory. This part will always be the same.
- ‘Nameofthemodule’ refers to the name of the module for which you want to add the translations. There are some rules to define this part-
The first letter will always be in Upper Case, and all other alphabets will be in lower case. And (A-z, 0-9) characters are allowed in this part. - ‘Specificpart’ is for the developers to define to what section the translation belongs. And in this part, underscores, dots, and dashes are allowed.
Conclusion
Moreover, the new Prestashop translation system represents a significant advancement in managing multilingual content for e-commerce stores. By addressing the challenges of traditional translation methods and introducing innovative features, PrestaShop provides merchants and developers with a powerful tool to enhance their global reach. Hence, the system’s technical robustness ensures improved efficiency, accuracy, and scalability, making it an essential component for any business looking to expand its international presence.
You can also explore a wide range of Prestashop, Opencart, WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento 2 ready-to-use eCommerce extensions.
In case you have queries/suggestions, you can reach out to our technical support portal at our email address support@knowband.com.
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