Free Translate Widget For Your Blog
Web 2.0 is all about interaction about people without boundaries. Unfortunately not everyone speaks English and I think giving an option to people to read your pages in their native language is a definite fit for any web 2.0 blog. Should you add an option to have your pages automatically translated or not is up to you but here is what I have found:
- After just 2 weeks my logs show that an option to translate my pages have been used over 300 times. Not much you might think but I look at it as I managed to reach a market that I would have never got a word to before.
Obviously results will vary depending on the theme and general topic of your site but since its free – why not provide an extra service to your visitors? There is a downfall to this [tag-tec]plugin[/tag-tec]. Google automated [tag-tec]translation[/tag-tec] is way too far from perfect. As a bi-lingual person I have personally tested translation of my pages and while I wasn’t too impressed – I was able to get the idea of what it was about 
.
Now if you decide to actually integrate into your [tag-tec]WordPress[/tag-tec] blog this widget I have to give credit to its original creator at http://www.googletranslategadget.blogspot.com/. All I have done is simply provide an option to have all the flag images hosted on your blog (in theme folder) and used some php code for automated detection and display of the widget. All details on integration included into README.txt file.
Please use comments on this post with any support questions.
IMPORTANT: I have found that in some themes people have problems to get the widget to display. Code for the widget inclusion HAS TO BE placed before Widgets loop begins. Here is an example of what it might look like:
<?php if ( function_exists(‘dynamic_sidebar’) && dynamic_sidebar(2) ) : else : ?>
Please place translate.php inclusion BEFORE that loop begins on your theme.
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About The Blog Author
Alex Sysoef is an IT Consultant, Internet Marketer and ProBlogger who shares his passion and knowledge of WordPress, SEO, Social Media and traffic strategies on his blog WordPress Howto Spotter. Connect on Twitter or Facebook
Hi Alex,
I can’t get it to work either. I have tried putting the line of code in a text widget. Then I went into the sidebar file and put it above the search box. Still nothing. Checked, flags folder and translate.php both at root level.
Any ideas? The theme is brand new, from JP Schoeffel.
Lyn’s last blog post..bloglog
Lyn,
Please provide me with location on where I can see it, perhaps I can help you figure it out. Also, if you like to – use Contact page and email me your blog admin access (change a pass to temp). I might be able to help you solve the issue.
Alex
Guys, I have placed a solution to possible problem in the post. Please make sure that you check it.
Alex, Thank you very much for your help. Firstly, you have solved the problem for me – by doing it, not just by telling me how – and secondly, (much more important for the future, and my learning curve) I have learned a bit more about php as used in wordpress. Brilliant.
What wonderful service.
Lyn
UK
Lyn’s last blog post..bloglog
Hi,
I am unable to download the plugin from divshare. Is it possible for you to send the files to my plugin? Thanks!
They must have had a temporary glitch. Try again at different time.
It wasn’t a glitch. For some reasons, the file is not available to free users in China and Southeast Asia.
“Sorry, this file is unavailable in your region.
This file is not available to free users in China and Southeast Asia. To download it, you must sign up for a DivShare account. “
Hmm, interesting, well here is the file:
http://www.howtospoter.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/translate.zip
Enjoy,
Alex
Thanks for the help Alex. Works great! Are these all the languages Google support? I am thinking of adding more to the list.
thks, very nice!
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Thanks for the widget! I have made some modifications which I hope you wouldn’t mind. This is what I did for my Cloudbook blog:
1) Added title text for each language (so you will know which language it is when you hover your mouse pointer over the flag)
2) Corrected Google-Translate link for Taiwan flag (Taiwan uses traditional Chinese and not simplified Chinese)
3) Added Simplified Chinese, Dutch and Greek
4) Reordered the flags in alphabetical order
Great stuff Alex. Just found your blog again after I started making my normal rounds. When might we expect a course update for Web 2.0 Profits?
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Zen,
Its already here
http://www.howtospoter.com/featured/create-a-blog-with-simplicity-using-expert-wordpress
Alex
english is suffice for me! hahah
There are two problems in your method:
1. Sidebar Widget Not working – First check whether you are using PHP widget plugin for Wordpres or not. If you are, then instead of code provided in Readme.txt, use the code shown at http://paste.bradleygill.com/index.php?paste_id=2817
THe above fix should help in installing code in Sidebar widgets too. I have tested it.
2. Once you translate to one language….to view in other language you will have to hit back and come to main page and then select a new language since once inside a language….the links to other languages appears broken. – No fix found till now.
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Navjot,
Nothing is perfect but it works. Plus how many people will attempt to read same site in more that one language? And Why? Besides checking the bugs in the script….
Isn’t it better to have translated pages indexed in your database, as it will speed up the process of loading pages and remove the stress of being dependent of some translation service?
Plus, saved translations can be altered and have their errors fixed, as well as customized for different content (for different language speaking visitors).
Gigi, when it works properly – yes. I have tried couple plugins that supposedly do it well and didn’t like the results. Could be due to the unique set of plugins my blog has but either way this solution curently works best for me
Very useful widget and the other manual install one with the flags is the best one i am using it on my blog any one is welcome to see. thanks Alex for such great and free resource and Translating a page this way is far better than using any plugin.
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hey!
xxoxo
I made on photoshop glitter myspace pictures.
take a look at them:
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Thanks a lot for your website