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Importing Translations

Import your WooTUI-translated CSV back into WooCommerce to activate translations.

Quick Steps​

  1. WooCommerce → Products → Import
  2. Choose translated CSV (e.g., products_translated_es.csv)
  3. Click "Continue"
  4. Map columns (usually auto-detected)
  5. Select "Update existing products" (important!)
  6. Match by ID or SKU
  7. Click "Run the importer"
  8. Wait for import to complete
  9. Clear cache and verify translations

Import Options (Step 3)​

Update Existing Products ✅​

REQUIRED - You must enable this!

This tells WooCommerce to update products instead of creating duplicates.

Match Products By​

ID (recommended) or SKU

Both work, but ID is more reliable.

Column Mapping (Step 2)​

WooCommerce should auto-map most columns. Verify:

Must Be Mapped​

  • ID → ID
  • Name → Name
  • Description → Description
  • Short Description → Short description
  • Meta: _wpml_import_* → Custom meta fields

Don't Map​

Skip these columns during import:

  • Published, Featured (would overwrite source products)
  • Images (unless you want to update them)
  • Any columns you didn't translate
Custom Meta Columns

Columns starting with Meta: should map to "Custom meta" or specific field names. WooCommerce usually detects these automatically.

After Import​

1. Verify Import Success​

Check the import summary:

Updated: 50 products
Skipped: 0
Failed: 0

If products were skipped or failed, review error messages.

2. Clear Caches​

After importing:

  • WooCommerce cache: WooCommerce → Status → Tools → Clear transients
  • WPML cache: WPML → Support → Troubleshooting → Clear cache
  • Page cache: If using WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, etc., clear cache

3. Check Translations in Admin​

  1. Go to Products → All Products
  2. Find a translated product
  3. Check language flags (should show source + translations)
  4. Click flag icon to view translated version

4. Verify on Frontend​

  1. Visit product page
  2. Switch language using language switcher
  3. Verify translated content appears
  4. Check product variations (if applicable)

Common Issues​

"Product Already Exists" Error​

Problem: Import creates duplicate products instead of updating

Solution:

  1. Make sure "Update existing products" is enabled
  2. Verify CSV has ID or SKU column matching existing products
  3. Choose "Match by ID" or "Match by SKU"
  4. Re-import

Translations Don't Show on Frontend​

Problem: Import succeeded but translations not visible

Solutions:

  1. Clear all caches (WooCommerce, WPML, site cache)
  2. Go to WPML → WooCommerce Multilingual → Troubleshooting → Sync products
  3. Check WPML → Languages to ensure target language is active
  4. Verify translated products have correct language code in WPML

Attributes Lost After Import​

Problem: Variable products become simple products

Solution:

  1. Re-export products ensuring all Attribute X Name/Value/Visible/Default columns are included
  2. Re-translate with WooTUI
  3. During import, verify attribute columns are mapped correctly
  4. Import with "Update existing products" enabled

Some Products Not Updated​

Problem: Only some products imported successfully

Cause: ID or SKU mismatch between CSV and existing products

Solution:

  1. Open translated CSV and verify IDs/SKUs match WooCommerce
  2. Check for typos in SKU column
  3. Ensure products exist in WooCommerce before importing translations

Best Practices​

1. Test with 5-10 Products First​

Before importing 500 products:

  1. Filter CSV to 5-10 products
  2. Import test batch
  3. Verify translations work correctly
  4. Then import full catalog

2. Backup Database Before Import​

Create a full site backup before large imports:

# Via plugin: UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, etc.
# Or manual: Export database via phpMyAdmin

If something goes wrong, restore and try again.

3. Import During Off-Peak Hours​

Large imports can slow your site temporarily. Import when:

  • Traffic is low
  • You're available to monitor
  • You can fix issues immediately

4. Keep Import File for Records​

Save imported CSV with date:

products_translated_es_imported_2025-01-20.csv

Helps track what was translated and when.

Next Steps​