Multilingual Metadata Structures

The metadata structure is always specific to the document vault and the vault can have a multilingual metadata structure. For example, the following elements of the metadata structure can be translated:

Names of classes and class groups.
Names of object types.
Names and values of value lists (for instance meeting types).
Names of property definitions.
Names of user groups and named access control lists.
Names of workflows and their states.
Names of views.

Note: Names of documents and other objects cannot be translated.

The default setting for value lists is that the contents of the value list are not translated. If you want to translate the contents of the value list, meaning the actual values, activate The contents of this value list can be translated option in the Advanced tab of the value list's properties.

Translating the Metadata Structure

Using the Languages and Translations dialog, you can export the translatable content of the metadata structure and translate the exported structure in Excel, Word, or a professional translation program, such as SDL Trados or SDL Passolo.

To translate the metadata structure of the vault, follow the steps provided below.

Steps

First, you need to open the Languages and Translations dialog.

Open M-Files Admin.
In the left-side tree view, expand the desired connection to M-Files Server.
Select the desired vault.
Open the Action menu and select Languages and Translations.
The Languages and Translations dialog for the selected vault is displayed.

Next, add your language to the list and export the list of terms to an XML or XLIFF file.

Click the Add... button.
The Language dialog is opened.
In the Name field, enter the language name.
Optional: In the Code field, enter a code of your choice for the language.
This can be, for instance, an ISO 639-1 code.
Click OK to close the Language dialog.
Select the newly added language from the list.
Click the Export... button.
The Export Strings dialog is opened.
Define the settings for your language export.
For more information, see Adding and Exporting Languages.
Define the location for your export file and click Save.
The export file is saved as an XML or XLIFF file to the location you specified.

Once the export has completed, you can start working on the actual translation.

Open the exported file in the software of your choice and add the translations.
For instructions on completing the process with Microsoft Excel, see Translating in Excel.

The final step is to import the completed translation back to M-Files.

Return to M-Files Admin and repeat the steps from 2 to 4 to open the Languages and Translations dialog.
Click the Import... button.
Select the target language and click Open.
Select whether you want to import all strings or just the ones that have been marked as translated.
For more information, see Importing Translations.
Click OK.
Once the import is complete, click Close to close the Languages and Translations dialog.

Results

Translations for the newly added language have been imported to M-Files and you can select the vault language in M-Files Desktop.