XLF translated files error message
Hi team, I am trying to upload xlf-files, translated by ChatGPT. I have made about 20 attempts with all kinds of different configurations (with html and without, with lessons and without, with a different file name and with an identical file name, before and after having the file checked with an xml checker), but I keep getting the same error message: Check formatting or re-export translation. I get this error message when ChatGPT translates only a single sentence in the file. I even get this error message when ChatGPT gives me back the exact same xlf file, without any changes, just saved again. The only time I don't get this error message, is when I upload the identical file that I downloaded. Obviously, I am following the instructions, so I've made a duplicate of the course, downloaded the xlf file from there, and am uploading in the same location. Clearly, I am missing some sort of information here that's crucial to this process. Please assist as this is getting highly frustrating. Thanks, ChantalLanguages missing for Label Translations
Hello, I am new to Articulate/Rise, learning my way through. I need to translate courses into various languages. I have been using the XLIF and Smartcat successfully. I went to select the respective language for the label translations, and the first two were successful. When I went to do this on a third course, the languages available were cut down to 4. I lost all of the extra languages and dialects to choose from. Now it just says 'coming soon' for the extra languages. Is there a reason for this? Anyone else experiencing this? Thanks! JimUpdates to existing course in many languages, translations via Word import
Hi all, do you have any suggestions for the best approach in this situation? We have an existing course with several languages within the course, and people choose their language via branching within the course. (best approach given our LMS system) Every year the content of this course gets reviewed and updates are made. The source language is English and the updates are done in this source language by a native speaker. This review is not done directly in Articulate (reviewer no access), so the file gets exported to Word and the changes are done in that file, so the updated version can be imported again. When corrections are needed to text size, extra text boxes etc., those are taken care of manually after translation. So far so good, to update just the English version, the process is fine. Now the question is: these changes (language and lay out) need to be implemented in the other languages too. What would be the most efficient, least manual approach? To take into account: we take care of the translations internally. People who translate have no access to Articulate and do not use special translation software or XLIFF files. They look at the changes in the English text to know what needs to be changed in the local language. At this moment, to do so, we provide a translation export of the original version with the required updates marked with track changes in the translation column. Thanks a lot for sharing your experience and knowledge on this topic!How to Create One Storyline 360 Course with Multiple Languages
One of the most powerful benefits of e-learning is the ability to reach learners wherever they are—anywhere in the world. But that perk also presents an additional question: How do you create and manage e-learning content when your audience speaks different languages? Many organizations tackle this challenge by building multiple courses—one for each language they support. While that approach works, it often increases production time and costs. And it can lead to frustrating reporting headaches if you’re tracking completions. Instead, why not streamline development by creating one course for everyone? Thanks to the power of layers, variables, states, and triggers, you can quickly fulfill this linguistic feat of e-learning awesomeness all within a single Storyline 360 course! Not only that, Storyline 360 offers multiple ways to make this work. So let’s take a closer look at three of the most popular methods you can try. The Branching Method Many folks use the branching method to create different scenes in their projects, one for each language. When the course begins, learners choose from one of several language options. That choice then prompts a “jump to scene” trigger that directs them to the appropriate scene. Watch this short video to see how this method works. Pros: Branching is probably the simplest way to provide learners with language-specific content. This method also allows you to use layers and states to create a more interactive experience. Storyline 360 can now track multiple quizzes, so you can create an assessment for each language branch. No matter which one a learner takes, the course will send its completion data and results to your LMS. Cons: This approach may significantly increase your project’s file size if your course has a lot of audio, video, or animations. Branching is also useful for creating interactive stories, scenarios, and content. But using it for both content choices and supporting multiple languages can make development complex. In those situations, the two techniques below are often a better fit. The Layers Method When branching isn’t the best option, you can instead add layers on your course slides—one for each language you support. Similar to the previous process, learners select their preferred language at the start. But instead of branching to a different scene, this approach uses true/false variables and a few simple timeline triggers to show the appropriate layer throughout the course. Watch this short video to see how this method works. Pros: All your content is streamlined across one set of slides. You can use custom states to keep things from feeling too static. Cons: Typically, layers are used to add interactivity to your course. But this gets complicated when you also have multiple layers on each slide for different languages. Because of that, this method works best when you can create the course interactivity you need without additional layers. The States and Triggers Method The states and triggers technique is similar to the previous one, but it uses object states instead of layers to display content in each language. It begins much like the others—with learners choosing their preferred language on the title slide. Thanks to true/false variables and triggers, each slide in the course then automatically shows the correct object states. This one’s a bit easier to see than to explain, so here’s a video demonstrating how it works. Pros: Much like the layers approach, with states all your content is streamlined across one set of slides. This technique leaves your layers free, making it easier to create interactive content. Once you’ve built an object with all the correct states and triggers, it’s quick and easy to copy and paste and carry over the triggers. Cons: Adding translated text to object states can be a bit tedious. Changing object states means using more triggers as well—more than the other two methods. This approach tends to get in the way of using object states for other interactivity functions, such as adding a hover effect to your translated buttons. Additional Considerations Regardless of which method you choose, here are a few more things to keep in mind when creating a single Storyline 360 course with multiple languages: Course Player Labels: You can only choose one language for the course player text labels (the menu, the resources tab, the navigation buttons, etc.), which can be a challenge if some of your learners don’t understand that language. In those cases, try these workarounds: Create a navigation primer in your course for each language. Check out this article to see some examples and learn more. Skip the built-in course player menu altogether. Instead, build a custom menu on your slides with navigation buttons for each language your course supports. Check out this free download for some custom menu design inspiration. If you’re comfortable working with Javascript, this forum thread offers codes you can use to change the course player button labels on a slide-by-slide basis. Text Expansion: Content in one language may take up more or less layout space when translated to another. For instance, German copy can take up as much as 35% more space than the same information in English. So when planning your layout, base it around the lengthiest language to ensure each translation will fit. Production Schedule: Even with the help of these time-saving approaches, a multi-language course will always take more effort to create than a monolingual one. So make sure your timeline takes the additional steps into account. For example, consider the time it takes to get translations, hire voice talent for each language, and have fluent speakers review your translated storyboards and scripts. When Separate Files Are More Efficient: The methods in this article work best if you plan to include up to three languages in a single course. If you need to support more than three languages, separate project files may be the more efficient option. Summary Thanks to the flexibility of Storyline 360, you’ve got several options for creating content in multiple languages—each with its own strengths and drawbacks. So before you start building your course, consider which one is the best fit for you and your learners’ needs. Want to learn more about translating and localizing content? Browse through these articles for even more tips: Planning Your Localized E-Learning Projects Top 10 Writing Tips for E-Learning Localization The Hidden Project within Your Project: Translating Your E-Learning Materials Storyline 360: Translating Courses 4 Tips for Optimizing the Translation of Your Storyline 360 Courses Rise 360: Translate Your Course What’s your preferred method for working with multiple languages? Any tips or tricks you’d like to share with others? Leave them in a comment below. Want to try something you learned here but don’t have Articulate 360? Start a free 30-day trial, and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any questions, please share them in the comments.Choosing a Translation Partner for Your E-Learning Project
Creating an effective course in multiple languages involves much more than simply translating the text—it requires localizing or adapting the content so that it resonates with learners in other countries. However, translating the text is part of the process. And the people you choose to help you do that will impact not only the overall quality of the localized course, but also the budget and time required to complete the project. When hiring translators, you can either: Work with an agency that will manage the translation of your course in all languages. Find a freelancer for every target language and work with them directly. In this article we’ll outline the pros and cons of each option to help you make the right decision for your project. Translation Agencies The nice thing about working with agencies is that they make the whole process super-easy. In addition to translating your course text into multiple languages and managing that whole process with the individual translators, they often offer additional services such as: Working with voice-over pros to re-record any voice-over narration included in your course. Re-importing the translated text and audio into your e-learning authoring app and making any necessary adjustments. If you take them up on these additional services, all that’s left for you to do is review the localized courses. Sounds pretty nice, right? The downside is that the price is often significantly higher and the translation quality tends to be a bit lower. There are a few reasons that the quality often suffers when you work with agencies, namely: Many agencies use machine translation to cut costs. Human translators often (but not always!) review these translations, but because they’re not paid very much to do these reviews, they don’t always do a very thorough job. Agencies often subcontract the translation work out to freelancers, so there’s no guarantee the same person will take your project from start to finish. When multiple translators work on the same project, it’s hard to ensure the writing style remains consistent. Since you’re not in direct contact with the translators, they often lack the context—and opportunity to ask questions—they need to provide truly great translations. Because the fee you pay the agency covers both translation and project management, the translators only see a fraction of it. And often they earn far less when they work with agencies than when they work with clients directly. For this reason, they’re more likely to speed through agency translations, often resulting in lower-quality work. Freelance Translators One major advantage of working with freelance translators is that the quality tends to be higher. There are a few reasons for that: Because you’re in direct contact with them, they can ask for additional context information when necessary, which improves the overall translation quality. They often earn more money when working with clients directly, so they’re more likely to spend time trying to get the translations just right. They need to provide a good service in order to maintain a good reputation and ensure repeat business. In addition, even though freelancers make more money when working with clients directly, you often pay LESS. That’s because they don’t have as many overhead costs to cover as an agency does. However, there are also some disadvantages to working with freelancers. For one, it takes more time to find, hire, and manage freelancers than it does to work with an agency. And because they usually don’t offer project management, voice-over, or in-app translation, it can mean a lot more work for you and your team. The more language versions you’re creating, the more time and effort these things will require. For this reason, if you’re working with a large number of languages it might make more sense to go through an agency. The Bottom Line When choosing a translation partner there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right choice for you depends on a variety of factors, including the number of languages, the budget, your workload, and the quality bar you’ve set. Here’s a pros and cons table that recaps the information covered in this article for easy referencing: Pros Cons Translation Agencies Usually less time consuming to manage. Might include additional services like voice-over and work in e-learning apps. Quality is often lower. Cost is often higher. Freelance Translators Quality is often higher. Cost is often lower. Can be time consuming to manage. Looking for more information on localizing e-learning courses? Check out these resources: 3 Classic E-Learning Localization Mistakes & How to Avoid Them Top 10 Writing Tips for E-Learning Localization Designing Your E-Learning Course Graphics With Localization in Mind QA Test Your Localized E-Learning Courses in 4 Easy Steps Follow us on Twitter and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any questions, please share them in the comments.3 Key Partnerships for E-Learning Localization Success
If your learners are spread out across the globe, you’ll likely need to offer training content in multiple languages to ensure everyone fully understands it. But unless you speak all the other languages yourself—which is pretty unlikely—you’ll need to partner with people you trust to deliver high-quality localized courses. In this article we’ll take a look at 3 key roles and how they contribute to your project, and then point you to resources that’ll help you select the right people to fill them. 1. Translators It’s easy to understand why translators are an important part of ensuring high-quality localized courses. After all, if they don’t do a good job translating your content, your key messages could be misconstrued or even lost, making it impossible for your learners to achieve the desired learning outcomes. Not only that, but it’s hard to grab and keep learner attention if the translation is stiff, dry, or awkward. When it comes to hiring translators, you can either: Work with an agency that will manage the translation of your course in all languages. Find a freelancer for every target language and work with them directly. So how do you know which option is right for your project? Good question! There are a lot of factors to consider, including the number of languages you’re translating your course into, the budget, your workload, and the quality bar you’ve set. Here are some pros and cons to help you make the call: Pros Cons Translation Agencies Usually less time consuming to manage. Might include additional services like voice-over and work in e-learning apps. Quality is often lower. Cost is often higher. Freelance Translators Quality is often higher. Cost is often lower. Can be time consuming to manage. For more detailed explanations about the above pros and cons, check out this article: Choosing a Translation Parter for Your E-Learning Project. 2. Voice-Over Professionals If you’ve ever created a course with professional narration, you likely know how hard it can be to find the right voice actor. Selecting someone with the right tone of voice, intonation, accent, and tempo is crucial because it can literally make your learners want to tune in—or out. And this is true no matter what language the course is in! But how do you choose a voice-over professional in a language you don’t speak? Typically you have two options: Go through a translation or voice-over agency that works with voice-over professionals across the globe. Work with freelance voice-over professionals in all the target languages directly. Not sure which option makes the most sense for your situation? Here’s a handy pros and cons list: Pros Cons Translation or Voice-Over Agency Less work on your end since they manage the whole process for all the languages, from selection to recording. Could be more expensive since you’re paying for their project management services on top of the voice-over fees. Freelancer Voice-Over Professionals Might be cheaper since you don’t have to pay for project management services. Likely more time consuming because you have to manage each voice actor individually. No matter which option you go with, it’s best to enlist someone you trust—like a coworker—who speaks the target language to help you in the selection process. The person you choose should be proficient enough in the language to recognize regional differences in accent and speech patterns. Otherwise you could end up choosing a Parisian voice-over professional for your French-Canadian audience, which might not go over too well with your learners. 3. Quality Assurance (QA) Testers Testing your localized courses is an extremely important—but often overlooked—part of creating courses in multiple languages. Translators are human. They make mistakes. And since they’re likely not experts on your course topic, it’s also possible for them to misunderstand—and therefore mistranslate—certain things. E-learning developers also sometimes introduce errors or bugs when they’re importing the translation into the authoring app. That’s why having QA testers with an eagle eye is key. This could be people on the project team, other coworkers, or, in some cases, professional QA testers. I recommend finding a person for each language version who is: A first-language speaker of the target language or someone with a high level of fluency, so they can pick up on things like register (i.e., the level of formality), tone, style, and nuances. A good writer and speller in the target language, so they can catch spelling mistakes, typos, and grammar errors. Just because someone speaks a language doesn’t mean they’re an ideal QA tester. Fluent in the source language (the language your master course was designed in), so they can compare the localized course to the master course. From or has lived in the target region for an extended period of time, so they understand the ins and outs of the culture. Detail-oriented, so they’ll catch any mistakes. Committed to your project, so they’ll make time to review your course when you need them to. To learn how to QA test your localized courses, check out this article: QA Test Your Localized E-Learning Courses in 4 Easy Steps. The Bottom Line Finding translators, voice-over professionals, and QA testers you can trust is crucial if you want to ensure your localized course is top-notch. But building this team doesn’t have to be stressful or hard. The tips and resources in this article will help you find the people you need to get the result you want. And if you’re looking for more localization best practices, head over to these articles: Planning Your Localized E-Learning Projects Top 10 Writing Tips for E-Learning Localization Designing Your E-Learning Course Graphics With Localization in Mind QA Test Your Localized E-Learning Courses in 4 Easy Steps Follow us on Twitter and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any questions, please share them in the comments.All About E-Learning Localization
General Articles Planning Your Localized E-Learning Projects 3 Key Partnerships for E-Learning Localization Success Choosing a Translation Partner for Your E-Learning Project Top 10 Writing Tips for E-Learning Localization Designing Your E-Learning Course Graphics with Localization in Mind QA Test Your Localized E-Learning Courses in 4 Easy Steps Storyline 360 Articles Storyline 360: Translating Courses How to Create One Storyline 360 Course with Multiple Languages 4 Tips for Optimizing the Translation of Your Storyline 360 Courses Rise 360 Articles Rise 360: Translate Your Content4 Tips for Optimizing the Translation of Your Storyline 360 Courses
Storyline 360 allows you to quickly export all the text in your project for translation and then reimport it, automatically replacing all the original text with the translations. What a timesaver! But unfortunately, no matter how powerful Storyline 360’s translation feature, the nuances of translating one language to another mean you might still need to make some manual adjustments. For example, if you’re translating English to French, the translated text will likely be 20 to 25 percent longer than the original text, so you might need to change the font or textbox size, or even move some of the onscreen objects to make room for the French text. There’s also no way to automatically replace audio files and synchronize them with animations, since the duration of each localized audio file is different. The time involved in that manual process varies depending on how many animations you’ve included in your project. As an instructional designer, I’ve developed many courses that have been translated into multiple languages. After a bit of trial and error, I came up with the following techniques to optimize the localization process. 1. Allow for Extra Space Adjusting the font or textbox size on every single slide can be a huge pain. The more white space you leave around textboxes, the less likely you are to have to adjust each font or textbox size, because even if the translated text is longer, there might still be room for it on the screen. The same goes for any shapes or buttons with text inside them. If you don’t leave extra space on either side of the text, you’ll probably have to widen the button or shape so the text doesn’t overflow or appear smaller than you'd like. Give yourself a break and leave some extra space to begin with! 2. Use Slide Masters Another way to limit the amount of manual tweaking you have to do is by putting text that appears on multiple slides—for example, the course or chapter title—on a slide master. That way, if you need to adjust the font or textbox size, you only have to do it once and it’ll be applied automatically to all the relevant slides. 3. Keep Animations to a Minimum Animations can be a great way to increase learner engagement on slides with a lot of voiceover audio. By giving them something to look at while they’re listening, you’re more likely to catch—and keep—their attention. This is true for localized courses as well; however, it’s important to keep in mind that resynchronizing the animations with the new audio files is a huge time suck when you’re translating courses. The more animations you need to synchronize with voiceover narration, the more time you’ll spend localizing your courses. It’s especially difficult if you don’t speak the target language—which is often the case! I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent listening to Dutch voiceover audio and trying to figure out when the animations should appear. What a headache! But that doesn’t mean you should get rid of all of your animations—just that you should weigh the impact of those animations against the time it’ll take you to localize them. Are all of those animations really adding value? Or could you do without some of them? 4. Break Script Up by Animation or Layer For the animations you decide to keep, split up your script by animation or layer. That way you will know exactly when the animations should appear or which part of the audio should go on which layer. So instead of grouping the entire script for a given slide together, add dividers to your script like in the example below: Before After Slide 1 There are four main rules within HIPAA that govern protected health information. Let’s take a brief look at the purpose of each of these rules. The privacy rule outlines the safeguards that must be in place to ensure that protected health information remains private. The security rule sets standards for how to maintain the security of protected health information by implementing a set of technical, physical, and administrative safeguards. The breach notification rule details the processes that entities that fall under HIPAA must follow when a data breach occurs. The omnibus rule is an addition to HIPAA enacted in 2013 that required business associates to become HIPAA compliant. Slide 1 - Beginning There are four main rules within HIPAA that govern protected health information. Let’s take a brief look at the purpose of each of these rules. Slide 1 - Animation 1 The privacy rule outlines the safeguards that must be in place to ensure that protected health information remains private. Slide 1 - Animation 2 The security rule sets standards for how to maintain security of protected health information by implementing a set of technical, physical, and administrative safeguards. Slide 1 - Animation 3 The breach notification rule details the processes that entities that fall under HIPAA must follow when a data breach occurs. Slide 1 - Animation 4 The omnibus rule is an addition to HIPAA enacted in 2013 that required business associates to become HIPAA compliant. Then, ask the voiceover professionals to name the audio files accordingly. That way all you’ll have to do is place the audio files one after the other and move the animations on the timeline to line up with the beginning of each audio file. Easy-peasy! More Resources If you’re looking for more tips that’ll make the localization process easier, look no further! We’ve got you covered: Planning Your Localized E-Learning Projects Designing Your E-Learning Course Graphics with Localization in Mind Top 10 Writing Tips for E-Learning Localization QA Testing Your Localized E-Learning Courses Want to try out Storyline 360’s translation feature for yourself, but don’t have Articulate 360 products? Start a free 30-day trial of Articulate 360. And subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest e-learning inspiration and insights directly in your inbox. You can also find us on LinkedIn and X (Formerly Twitter).
