Translations in Absorb LMS allow you to customize how predefined system text is displayed in the Learner Experience. This includes static interface text such as buttons, tiles, menus, and other system-defined labels.
System Admins, or Admins with the Manage Translations permission, can manage Translations for languages supported by Absorb LMS. You can review the list of supported Languages here. Your LMS must also be configured for the supported Language you want to use.
How Translations Work in Absorb LMS
Before you add or edit a Translation, it is important to understand how Translations work in Absorb LMS. Translations are based on predefined system relationships and do not dynamically detect matching text across the LMS.
What a Translation Key Does
A Key is a system-defined identifier that maps to a specific static field in the LMS interface. When you add or edit a Translation, you are updating the Value associated with that existing Key.
The LMS does not search for matching words or phrases and then apply a Translation automatically. Instead, each Key is hard-coded to a specific interface element by Absorb development teams.
What Can and Cannot be Translated
Translations apply only to static system text. Static text is wording in the LMS interface that does not change unless it is updated through a Translation.
- Buttons
- Tiles
- Menus
- System-defined labels and messages
Translations do not apply to dynamic content. Dynamic content includes text entered or managed as data in the LMS rather than text controlled by a system Key.
- Course names
- Course descriptions or content
- Custom Fields
- User-entered form content
You cannot create a new system Key in Absorb LMS. You can only add a Translation for an existing Key that already maps to a specific static field in the system.
View Translations
The following steps explain how to open the Translations Report in your Absorb LMS Portal. From the Admin Experience, complete these steps:
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In the left-hand menu, click the Setup icon.
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Click Translations. The Translations Report page opens.
The Translations Report uses the standard report layout. Here, you can review the available translations for buttons, tiles, and other static wording in the Learner Experience.
Filter the Translations Report
You can filter and sort the Translations Report to locate specific translation entries.
- ID: The unique identifier generated by Absorb to distinguish one Translation entry from another in the LMS.
- Key: The system-defined identifier for a specific static field in the LMS. The Key is used for Admin reference and is not shown in the Learner Experience. Each Key has a corresponding Value.
- Language: The language assigned to a given Translation. You can filter report entries by Language to locate a specific Translation. Only supported Languages are available.
- Value: The text displayed to Learners in the configured Portal language. For example, the Translation for About in French has the Value À propos. When the Language is set to French, that predefined interface element displays the translated Value.
The following image shows an example of the filtering options available in the report.
Add New Translations
You can add a new translation from the Translations Report. In Absorb LMS, adding a Translation means selecting an existing system Key and defining the translated Value for a supported Language. It does not create a new system Key.
From the Admin Experience, complete these steps:
- Navigate to the Translations Report.
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Click Add Translation. The Translation workspace opens.
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Enter or locate the existing Key, select the Language, and enter the Value that you want displayed in the Learner Experience.
- Click Save.
After you save the Translation, you return to the Translations Report, where the new Translation entry appears in alphabetical order. If you click Cancel, the translation is not saved and you return to the Translations Report.
Why You May Not Find Text to Translate
If you cannot find a word or phrase in the Translation workflow, that does not necessarily mean it is missing from the report. In many cases, the text is not eligible for Translation through this feature.
- The text may be dynamic content rather than static system text.
- A system Key may not exist for that interface element.
When either of these conditions applies, the text cannot be translated through the Translations feature.
Edit Translations
You can edit existing Translations through the Translations Report. Editing a Translation updates only the Value tied to that specific system Key.
From the Admin Experience, complete these steps:
- Navigate to the Translations Report.
- Select the Translation you want to edit.
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Click Edit in the Action Menu. The Edit Translation page opens.
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Enter the new Value for that Key.
- Click Save.
After you edit the Value, you return to the Translations Report, where you can take additional actions on that Translation entry.
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Reset Translation: Removes previously saved changes to the Value and restores the default configuration. You are prompted to confirm this action.
- Any custom changes previously saved for that Value are permanently removed and cannot be recovered.
- Deselect: Clears the current selection.
The following image shows the available actions for a selected Translation.
It is not possible to delete a Translation.
Comments
Please explain which fields correspond to the current words in the text that you want to replace and what field contains the text for the replacement words.
How do you identify what the Key is for the attribute field "Vendor" in located in "Course Settings" within an online course on the admin side? Looking to rename the field for backend reporting visibility from "Vendor", and unable to.
When adding a new translation, how do we know where it goes and where it is applied?I would think that there would be an option to add it to a location on the LMS.
How do you delete a translation? I do not want the description to show below the title in this example. Thank you.
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