Translating the BuddyBoss Theme

Introduction
Translating the BuddyBoss Theme allows you to customize text, labels, and notices displayed throughout your site, ensuring a localized experience for your audience. Whether you’re changing the language or simply personalizing the wording, it’s crucial to use language translation files instead of editing the theme’s code. This prevents your changes from being overwritten during theme updates.

This guide explains how to translate the BuddyBoss Theme using the Loco Translate plugin, the recommended method for translating text in all WordPress themes and plugins.

Why Not Edit the Theme Code?

Directly editing text in the theme’s code is not recommended because all changes will be lost when the theme is updated. Using language translation files keeps your customizations safe and is the best practice for translating WordPress themes, including BuddyBoss.

Automatic Translation Using Loco Translate

Loco Translate is a powerful WordPress plugin that allows you to easily translate all text strings found in the BuddyBoss Theme. It provides a user-friendly interface for managing language files directly from your WordPress Dashboard.

Setting Up Loco Translate

Step 1: Install and Activate Loco Translate

1. Go to Dashboard > Plugins > Add New.
2. Search for Loco Translate or download it from WordPress.org.
3. Click Install Now and then Activate once installed.

Alternatively, you can manually upload the plugin:

• Extract the downloaded loco-translate.zip file.
• Upload the extracted folder to /wp-content/plugins/ on your server.
• Go to Dashboard > Plugins and click Activate next to Loco Translate.

Translating the BuddyBoss Theme

Step 1: Select BuddyBoss Theme for Translation

1. Navigate to Dashboard > Loco Translate > Themes.
2. Locate and click on BuddyBoss Theme.

Step 2: Create or Select a Language

1. Click New Language.
2. Select your desired language from the dropdown list. This should match the language set under Dashboard > Settings > General > Site Language.
3. Select the Location:
   • Choose System for better compatibility and to prevent the translations from being overwritten during updates.
4. Click Start Translating.

Step 3: Translate Text Strings

1. Browse through the list of text strings used in the BuddyBoss Theme.
2. Click on the text string you want to translate.
3. Enter your translation in the Translation field below the text string.
4. Click Save once you’ve entered the translation.
5. Repeat the process for other text strings as needed.

Syncing Translations After Theme Updates

When the BuddyBoss Theme is updated, new text strings may be added. To ensure your translations are up-to-date:

1. Go to Dashboard > Loco Translate > Themes > BuddyBoss Theme.
2. Click Sync to update the list of translatable strings.
3. Translate any new strings as needed.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: I am unable to re-translate my theme. Why is my translation file missing?
A: This can happen if Loco Translate loses its configuration. To fix it:

• Go to Loco Translate > Themes > BuddyBoss Theme.
• Click on the Setup tab.
• Click the Reset Config button.
• Your translation file should now be visible again.

Q: Why isn’t my translation showing on the live site?
A: Ensure the site language is set correctly under Dashboard > Settings > General > Site Language.

• Clear any caching plugins or server cache.
• Confirm that the translated text string is being called from the theme using the correct function (_e() or __() in WordPress).

Q: Will my translations be lost when I update the BuddyBoss Theme?
A: No, as long as you save the translations in the System location or the Custom location. This keeps the translation files safe from being overwritten during theme updates.

Related Resources

• Translating BuddyBoss Platform
• Getting Started with Loco Translate
• How to Safely Customize Text in WordPress Themes