Translating FlowMattic - Contributor Guide

FlowMattic is used by WordPress users around the world. To make the plugin accessible in more languages, we rely on volunteer translators who contribute translations through our dedicated translation portal.

This guide explains how to apply as a translator, get access, and start translating FlowMattic into your language.

Overview

• Translation Portal: https://translate.flowmattic.com
• Tool Used: Loco Translate (a WordPress plugin for managing translations)
• Source Language: English (US)
• How It Works: You translate strings in a web-based editor. Once your translation reaches a minimum completion percentage, it becomes available as a language pack that FlowMattic users can download automatically.

Step 1: Apply to Become a Translator

1. Visit the translator application form at https://translate.flowmattic.com.
2. Fill in the required details:
   • Your Name
   • Email Address
   • Language(s) you want to translate into (e.g., Spanish, French, German)
   • WordPress Experience (basic familiarity is enough)
3. Submit the form and wait for approval. You will receive an email with your login credentials once approved.

Note: You do not need to be a professional translator. If you are a native speaker of your language and comfortable with basic WordPress terminology, you are welcome to apply.

Step 2: Log In to the Translation Portal

Once approved:

1. Go to https://translate.flowmattic.com/wp-login.php.
2. Log in with the credentials provided in your approval email.
3. You will be redirected to the WordPress dashboard with access to the translation tools.

Step 3: Open the Translation Editor

1. In the WordPress admin sidebar, go to Loco Translate > Plugins.
2. Click on FlowMattic from the plugin list.
3. You will see a list of existing languages. There are two possibilities:
   • Your language already exists: Click on it to open the editor.
   • Your language does not exist yet: Click New Language to add it (see below).

Adding a New Language

If your language is not listed:

1. Click the New Language button.
2. In the Choose a language dropdown, select your language (e.g., “Spanish (Spain) - es_ES”).
3. For the Choose a location option, select System — this stores files in wp-content/languages/plugins/ which is the recommended location.
4. Click Start Translating.

Step 4: Translate Strings

The Loco Translate editor shows a two-column interface:

How to Translate

1. Click on a string in the list to select it.
2. The source text appears in the top box.
3. Type your translation in the Translation box below.
4. Press Enter or click the next string to move on.
5. Click Save (or press Ctrl+S / Cmd+S) periodically to save your progress.

Tips for Translating

• Placeholders: Strings may contain placeholders like %s, %d, or %1$s. These are replaced with dynamic values at runtime. Always keep them in your translation in the same order.
  • Example: "Step %d of %d" → "Paso %d de %d" (Spanish)
• HTML Tags: Some strings contain HTML like <strong> or <a>. Keep these tags intact in your translation.
  • Example: "Click <strong>Save</strong>" → "Haga clic en <strong>Guardar</strong>"
• Context: If a string seems ambiguous, look at the Reference section below the editor. It shows the PHP file and line number where the string is used, which can help you understand the context.
• Consistency: Use consistent terminology throughout. For example, if you translate “workflow” as “flujo de trabajo” in one place, use the same term everywhere.
• Do Not Translate:
  • Brand names: “FlowMattic”, “WordPress”
  • Technical identifiers: function names, API keys, URLs
  • Placeholder tokens: {workflow_name}, {{variable}}

Translation Status Icons

If you see a fuzzy string, review the source text and update your translation if needed, then uncheck the “Fuzzy” flag.

Step 5: Track Your Progress

At the top of the Loco Translate editor, you will see a progress bar showing:

• Total strings in the plugin
• Translated count and percentage
• Untranslated count
• Fuzzy (needs review) count

Your translation must reach a minimum completion percentage (typically 60%) before it is included in the published language pack. Aim for 100% to provide the best experience for users in your language.

Step 6: Build and Publish Your Translation

Once your translation has reached the minimum completion threshold:

1. Go to Language Packs in the WordPress admin sidebar.
2. You will see a list of all available translations with their completion percentages.
3. Click Build next to your language to generate the language pack.
4. The system will create a downloadable ZIP file containing your .mo and .po files.
5. The language pack becomes immediately available for FlowMattic users worldwide.

Note: Only translations that meet the minimum completion percentage can be built. If your language shows as “Below minimum,” continue translating until you reach the threshold.

How Users Get Your Translation

Once a language pack is published:

1. A FlowMattic user changes their WordPress site language (in Settings > General > Site Language) to the language you translated.
2. FlowMattic automatically checks for available translations.
3. The translation is downloaded and installed to wp-content/languages/plugins/.
4. The plugin interface appears in the translated language.

Users can also manually check for translations from the Plugins page by clicking the Check Translations link next to FlowMattic.

Updating Your Translation

FlowMattic adds new strings with each release. To keep your translation up to date:

1. Log in to the translation portal.
2. Open the FlowMattic translation for your language.
3. New untranslated strings will appear at the top of the list.
4. Translate the new strings and save.
5. Build the updated language pack from the Language Packs page.

You will be notified by email when new strings are added and your translation needs updating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need coding experience?

No. The translation interface is entirely visual. You just type translations for each string.

Can I translate into multiple languages?

Yes. You can contribute to as many languages as you are comfortable with.

What if I am not sure how to translate a string?

Skip it and come back later. You can also leave a comment or reach out to us for context.

How long does it take?

FlowMattic has a significant number of translatable strings. A full translation might take several sessions depending on the language. You can save your progress and return anytime.

What happens if I stop contributing?

Your completed translations remain available. Other translators can pick up where you left off.

Can I edit someone else’s translation?

If you have access to a language, you can improve or correct existing translations.

Need Help?

If you have questions about the translation process or encounter any issues:

• Email: [email protected]
• Translation Portal: https://translate.flowmattic.com

We appreciate every contribution, no matter how small. Thank you for helping make FlowMattic accessible to users around the world!