Localization News!
Hello, I just wanted to take a moment to share a couple of announcements that I'm super excited about! The big news is that we just launched Articulate Localization, which allows you to translate, validate, and manage your courses from within the Articulate 360 platform. đ Check out this article for more information. Along with that, I'm happy to share that we just launched a new Localization group where you can ask questions, discuss localization best practices, connect with others who work with localization, and more. Just hit the Join Group button to get started! I'm curious, have you started a trial of Articulate Localization yet? Let us know in the comments!Articulate Localization - Shrink Text on Overflow Bug
Hi all, Articulate Localization is a dream come true that my team and I have been waiting for for years. We are however running into an issue/bug in Storyline 360 with 'shrinking text on overflow' Currently we use the settings you see below. The text of each box is 'wrapped' and if there is too much text the size of the text automatically decreases. This functionality is essential, because it allows you to easily manage multiple translations because if there is too much text then the text simply slinks a little bit to still fit in the box. As a result you don't need to make ridiculously large boxes for lengthy languages like Ukrainian and Bulgarian (these versions of the training then simply have text that has smaller font). However, Articulate Storyline 360 breaks this functionality when there are multiple translations. Here is the Ukrainian Translation for example: As you can see, suddenly, scrollbars have appeared. This should not be possible but it still happened, if you Publish or Preview the Project the scrollbars are still visible. Therefore, our trial of Articulation Localization has come to a very short end because we cannot use this for our clients if the text of each text box does not shrink in other languages other than the source language. Is anyone else experiencing this bug and/or can this bug be resolved so we can use this feature as well. Secondly, when using Upgraded Project Text the option to 'Shrink text on Overflow' disappears whilst this feature is 100% necessary for running multiple translations in the same Storyline file. Japanese uses about 50% of the space Bulgarian uses, so making huge text boxes for everything just because there are languages that need a lot of room means there is also a lot of empty space on other languages. In short, it's MUCH better if Storyline simply reduces the font size of these languages so you don't need to leave insane amounts of room. We are excited about Articulate Localization, but it needs to work perfectly in Storyline 360, because we (on average) would like to have twenty languages running in one file. Best regards. Kaj DekkersIs Localization Part of Accessibility? Letâs Talk
In my opinion, localization is accessibility. We create barriers when content isn't available in our learners' languages. It's that simple. Localization helps remove those barriers so more people can fully engage, learn, and succeed. Microsoft's story, Microsoft Powers World-Class Customer Support With Localization, is an excellent example of how localizing training can unlock access for thousands of learners worldwide while saving time and effort. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you think localization is part of accessibility? What takeaways do you have from Microsoft's approach? Share your reflections in the comments!My New Go-To Companion for Multilingual Courses
If youâve ever localized an eLearning course, you already know: it can be a time-consuming process. Export the text, send it to a translator, wait, re-import, fix the formatting, double-check everything, realize something was missed, fix the mistakes, double-check again, publish to SCORM (or whatever format is needed), and done. Well⌠that works when you only need one translation. But what if you need five, ten, twenty or more translations? You find yourself stuck in a cycle of exporting and importing, while the part of you that loves designing meaningful learning experiences quietly sighs. Thatâs why I was genuinely excited to dig into Articulateâs new Localization add-on for Rise 360 and Storyline 360. This didnât feel like just another featureâit felt like a game changer for both me and my customers. So hereâs a quick breakdown of what Articulateâs Localization add-on is all about, why it matters for course creators, and just as importantly, why itâs great for our customers too. A New Add-On That Makes Localization Easier Than Ever Articulateâs Localization add-on is a powerful feature available for Rise 360 and Storyline 360 that streamlines the entire process of translating eLearning courses into multiple languages. With support for over 70 languagesâincluding right-to-left scripts like Arabic and Hebrewâit allows you to manage all versions of your course within a single project. It starts with instant AI translation, which helps you quickly generate translated drafts right inside your project. From there, you can invite reviewers to do in-context validationâthey can see the translated course as it appears to learners and edit directly within that view, ensuring both accuracy and tone feel right. You also get multi-language workflow management, which means all your translations stay together in one place. No version chaos, no tracking down lost files. And perhaps the most learner-friendly feature: both Rise 360 and Storyline 360 include a built-in language switcher, so learners can toggle between languages inside the courseâno duplicate versions or separate links needed. No more juggling files, rebuilding layouts, or managing five different course versions for five different languages. Itâs all streamlined and integrated. Articulateâs Localization Add-On Helps Me To Work Smarter, Not Harder Articulateâs Localization add-on makes a real difference in how I approach my workâand not just because it saves time (though it absolutely does). With localization that works fluently together with the same tools I already use, I can keep my momentum. Thereâs no need to switch between apps, juggle spreadsheets, or figure out where a certain translated sentence ended up. It takes away a lot of the stress and risk. I donât have to worry that formatting will break, or that content will go missing after a re-import. Everything stays clean and consistent, which means I can spend less time double-checking and more time creating. And the biggest benefit? Everythingâs in one place. I donât have to manage multiple versions of the same course in different folders or try to track which version is the most current. Itâs all there, organized, and easy to work with. In short, itâs not just more efficientâit helps me stay in the creative flow, doing the part of the job I actually enjoy. Articulateâs Localization Add-On Helps Me Serve My Customers Better This part is hugeâbecause when localization gets easier for me, the people I build for feel the benefit too. For one, it shortens timelines. Customers no longer have to wait weeks while I manually manage translated versions. With everything in one place and a more efficient workflow, I can deliver multi-language courses faster and with fewer back-and-forths. It also ensures a high-quality, consistent experience for their learners. Each language version maintains the same look, feel, and structure as the originalâsomething that really matters when youâre delivering training at scale. It helps reinforce trust in the learning content and in the brand behind it. Another big win? Customers no longer have to upload and manage multiple SCORM files for each language in their LMS. One course, one uploadâwith a built-in language switcher that gives their learners the version they need, when they need it. And for customers working across borders or managing global teams, this kind of scalability is a game changer. Whether they need two languages or twenty, they get a process thatâs streamlined and repeatableâwithout added complexity or surprise costs. In the end, itâs not just about efficiency. Itâs about helping customers deliver better learning to more people, more confidently. Final Thoughts Localization used to be something I tolerated. Now? Itâs something I can actually offer confidentlyâand even build into proposals proactively. If youâre supporting international learners or working with global customers, Articulateâs Localization add-on is worth exploring. It doesnât just make your workflow smootherâit makes your courses better, faster, and more flexible. I really appreciate the hard work the team at Articulate has put into this add-on. Itâs clear theyâve been listening to the challenges we faceâand building real solutions that make our work better. Already tried the Localization add-on? Iâd love to hear your thoughts. Drop a comment and letâs swap ideas. About me: Paul Alders LinkedIn Profile The eLearning BreweryBalancing Interactivity and Simplicity in E-Learning Design
Hi everyone, As I continue to work on different e-learning projects, one recurring challenge Iâve faced is striking the right balance between interactivity and simplicity. On one hand, learners often stay more engaged when the course includes branching scenarios, interactive quizzes, and simulations. On the other hand, too many features can sometimes overwhelm the learner, slow down performance, or distract from the actual learning objectives. This raises a few questions Iâd love to hear your thoughts on: When do you decide that interactivity is essential, and when is it better to keep things simple? How do you test whether learners are truly benefiting from interactive elements, or just enjoying the novelty? Are there any frameworks or best practices you follow to evaluate the right âdepthâ of interactivity in a course? Do you use data (completion rates, time spent, quiz scores, feedback, etc.) to adjust interactivity levels, and if so, how? Personally, Iâve found that aligning every design choice directly with the learning objectives helps avoid overcomplication. But Iâm curious to learn how others here in the Articulate community approach this balance. Looking forward to your insights!Localization Best Practices
Happy Monday! đ As a reminder, another Localization webinar is happening on the 22nd, and thereâs still time to sign up for it. This helpful article discusses some general best practices for localization. When I first started working with translations, I had no idea that switching to a different language, like German or French, could greatly impact my text layouts. Some languages take up a lot more room! That article has some great writing and graphic design tips, so I highly recommend checking it out. For working with Articulate Localization, these two articles have some additional helpful tips: Rise AI translation formatting tips Storyline AI translation formatting tips Is there a tip that youâve found helpful?
