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WPML Basics

Understand how WooTUI integrates with WordPress Multilingual Plugin (WPML) for WooCommerce translations.

What is WPML?​

WPML is a WordPress plugin that manages multilingual content, including WooCommerce products. It:

  • Links translated products together (translation groups)
  • Manages language switchers on your site
  • Handles URLs for each language (/es/product-name)
  • Syncs product inventory across languages

Required: You need WPML + WooCommerce Multilingual installed to use WooTUI effectively.

How WooTUI Fits In​

Traditional WPML workflow (slow):

  1. Manually translate each product in WordPress admin
  2. Or hire translators
  3. Or use WPML's built-in translation service ($$$)

WooTUI workflow (fast):

  1. Export products from WooCommerce
  2. Translate with WooTUI (AI, minutes, cheap)
  3. Import back to WooCommerce
  4. WPML automatically links translations

Key WPML Concepts​

Translation Groups​

Products in different languages are linked by a translation group ID.

Example:

Product A (English) - Group: woocommerce_product_123
Product A (Spanish) - Group: woocommerce_product_123
Product A (French)  - Group: woocommerce_product_123

All three products share the same group, so WPML knows they're translations of each other.

WooTUI preserves these groups automatically.

Language Codes​

ISO 639-1 language codes identify each language:

  • en - English
  • es - Spanish
  • fr - French
  • de - German

These codes appear in CSV columns and URLs.

Source Language​

The original language your products are written in (usually English).

In CSV: Products with empty Meta: _wpml_import_language_code are source products.

WPML CSV Columns​

WooTUI requires these columns in your CSV:

Meta: _wpml_import_source_language_code​

The language code of the original product.

Example: en (English)

Meta: _wpml_import_language_code​

The language code of the translated product.

Values:

  • Empty = source product
  • es = Spanish translation
  • fr = French translation

Meta: _wpml_import_translation_group​

Unique ID linking source and translations together.

Format: woocommerce_product_[ID]

Example: woocommerce_product_789

What WooTUI Does Automatically​

When you translate products, WooTUI:

  1. Reads WPML columns from source CSV
  2. Translates product content (names, descriptions, etc.)
  3. Sets language code for translated products (e.g., es)
  4. Preserves translation group IDs
  5. Generates attribute label mappings (_wpml_import_wc_local_attribute_labels)
  6. Outputs WPML-ready CSV for import

You don't need to manually edit WPML columns—WooTUI handles it!

Common Questions​

Do I need WPML installed to use WooTUI?​

Technically no - WooTUI works with any CSV. But to import the translated products back to WordPress, you need WPML.

Can I use WooTUI with other multilingual plugins?​

Not directly. WooTUI is designed for WPML's CSV format. Other plugins (Polylang, TranslatePress) have different structures.

What if I don't have WPML yet?​

  1. Install WPML + WooCommerce Multilingual
  2. Configure your languages in WPML settings
  3. Export products (WPML columns will be included)
  4. Use WooTUI to translate

Does WooTUI support WPML String Translation?​

No. WooTUI translates product data (names, descriptions). For UI strings (buttons, labels), use WPML String Translation directly.

Next Steps​