Title: Localization files in /languages folder
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# Localization files in /languages folder

 *  Resolved [VaultDweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/)
 * (@vaultdweller)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/)
 * Could you please add localization files to /language folder inside your plugin?
   
   Creation of language folder is a nice style of WP app architecture. This way 
   localization files will be automatically used upon switching to different locale.
 * [http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/subscribe2/](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/subscribe2/)

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 19 total)

1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/page/2/?output_format=md)
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 *  [Matt Robinson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mattyrob/)
 * (@mattyrob)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688539)
 * [@vaultdweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/),
 * Subscribe2 supports placing the language files in the root of the plugin folder,
   in a languages sub-folder and hopefully, once WordPress allows, in the core languages
   folder.
 * If you are suggesting I add localisation files to the release archive, well I’d
   love to do that but I get the translation files donated to me sporadically and
   some of the version I have are very old indeed. Furthermore, I don’t feel it’s
   right to push a code release that simply contains a new translation file when
   the core code remains identical.
 * Access to all the i18n files that have been submitted to me are available here:
   
   [http://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/subscribe2/i18n](http://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/subscribe2/i18n)
 *  Thread Starter [VaultDweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/)
 * (@vaultdweller)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688542)
 * > I get the translation files donated to me sporadically and some of the version
   I have are very old indeed.
    That is not a big problem compared to the fact, 
   that users currently are not getting ANY translations! Incomplete translation
   motivates users to update them! That is the way most plugins I use are working!
 * > I don’t feel it’s right to push a code release that simply contains a new translation
   file when the core code remains identical.
    You don’t need to do that. Push new
   localization updates with new version of software.
 * > Access to all the i18n files that have been submitted to me are available here
   
   I was lucky to find this link as I wanted to start translation from zero!
 * You should definitely include all translations to release!
    Besides, moving to
   GIThub will also be good for development of the project!
 *  Thread Starter [VaultDweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/)
 * (@vaultdweller)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688543)
 * > I don’t feel it’s right to push a code release that simply contains a new translation
   file when the core code remains identical.
    Besides, you can update release with
   lang. files without making a new version of it!
 *  [Matt Robinson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mattyrob/)
 * (@mattyrob)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688552)
 * [@vaultdweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/),
 * If I add a new translation file to the current release without bumping the version
   number how are users going to know there is a new translation file in the updated
   download archive?
 *  Thread Starter [VaultDweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/)
 * (@vaultdweller)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688554)
 * Old users will know about it only on new release.
    New users will know straight
   away!
 * Not the bet practice, but as translation is not function related it can be sometimes
   used.
 * But if your releases are frequent enough then you don’t need to use this approach.
   Translation will be included with new version…
 * If someone needs latest translation he will install it from your Github.
 *  [Matt Robinson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mattyrob/)
 * (@mattyrob)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688557)
 * [@vaultdweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/),
 * Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t see how your proposal will help end users
   or me.
 * I should include all translations with the code? Even one I know to be broken?
   That’s just going to result in more support requests saying the translations 
   don’t work.
 * I am trying to preserve strings as far as possible between versions but sometimes
   even point releases contains changed or new strings so adding translations to
   new code releases is probably going to leave some strings untranslated.
 * Clearly you know about *.mo files and the principles of i18n but most people 
   want to install the code, turn it on and have it work without doing anything 
   further.
 *  Thread Starter [VaultDweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/)
 * (@vaultdweller)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688572)
 * > I should include all translations with the code?
    Yes! > Even one I know to
   be broken? What does it mean “broken”? If it results in functional problem, then
   no. If some string are not translated then it is not a big deal. Users might 
   translate it later. > so adding translations to new code releases is probably
   going to leave some strings untranslated. No a big deal. Users who need translation
   will translate! > Clearly you know about *.mo files and the principles of i18n
   but most people want to install the code, turn it on and have it work without
   doing anything further. That is what software needed for! See examples how users
   contribute translation when they need it: [https://github.com/easydigitaldownloads/Easy-Digital-Downloads/commits/master/languages](https://github.com/easydigitaldownloads/Easy-Digital-Downloads/commits/master/languages)
   [https://github.com/kregwallace/speakup-email-petitions/commits/master/languages](https://github.com/kregwallace/speakup-email-petitions/commits/master/languages)
 * And many more! That is the way it is working right now!
 * > That’s just going to result in more support requests saying the translations
   don’t work.
    Answer to these request such a way: “I would be glad to include 
   updated translation if you will send me on!”. Do the programming stuff and leave
   translations to users!
 *  [Matt Robinson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mattyrob/)
 * (@mattyrob)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688590)
 * [@vaultdweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/),
 * Okay, I can understand your arguments but how is GitHub different from Trac and
   Subsverison now? I get people submitting translation files now:
    [http://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/query?component=subscribe2](http://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/query?component=subscribe2)
 * What are the benefits (and disadvantages) of moving to git from subversion? Why
   should I do this before the WordPress core and plugin repositories do the same?(
   I’m asking in all seriousness here)
 *  Thread Starter [VaultDweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/)
 * (@vaultdweller)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688597)
 * > What are the benefits (and disadvantages) of moving to git from subversion?
   
   I gave you links to Github just to show examples of localization process.
 * Advantage of GitHub over other code hosters is it social attraction for users.
   GitHub UI is very user friendly.
    I don’t want to start holy war. Just in my 
   opinion GitHub is mainstream currently… I personally don’t know even how to contribute
   to SVN based projects. Somehow it is inconvenient as it lacks UI simplicity…
 *  [Matt Robinson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mattyrob/)
 * (@mattyrob)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688599)
 * [@vaultdweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/),
 * I guess you use the tools you are used to. I’ve always used subversion as that
   is what WordPress used when I started looking after the Subscribe2 code 6 or 
   7 years ago.
 * I saw the GitHub links but as I don’t use GitHub and am not failiar with it it
   didn’t mean much to me. So, can people just commit changes to the code? Is that
   how it becomes ‘social’? If that can commit changes for languages how do I retain
   control over the core code?
 *  Thread Starter [VaultDweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/)
 * (@vaultdweller)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688611)
 * Well, I was not insisting on using Github.
    I just gave you examples, where users
   were shown contributing Lang files.
 * My key point was not to move your development to GitHub, but to ask you to include
   Lang files in the /languages folders so that users can start using translation
   right after installation.
 * If the Lang file is incomplete then it will motivate users to contribute translations.
   
   Right now it is not clear for users where and how to add translation!
 *  [Matt Robinson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mattyrob/)
 * (@mattyrob)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688623)
 * [@vaultdweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/),
 * I’ll have a think about what you have suggested. I clearly need to make it easier
   to find the translation files and direct people to the POT file and the Trac 
   site.
 *  [eyephone21](https://wordpress.org/support/users/eyephone21/)
 * (@eyephone21)
 * [12 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688790)
 * Wow! Lucky me i found this thread!
    I was starting translate in italian the plugin
   when i stumble upon a reference to translation, so i came here and discoered 
   that there are the updated italian translations! You should tell people in the
   plugin’s description pager that you (great) plugin support, and has, translations!!!
 * [and i agree with [@vaultdweller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vaultdweller/)!]
 *  [Matt Robinson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mattyrob/)
 * (@mattyrob)
 * [12 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688791)
 * [@eyephone21](https://wordpress.org/support/users/eyephone21/),
 * I prefer the idea of linking to the available translations from the plugin page.
 * I’ll see if I can add a link to the plugin page description on the same line 
   where it says “Settings” and “Donate!”, perhaps a link to:
    [http://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/subscribe2/i18n/](http://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/subscribe2/i18n/)
   Says “Translation Files”.
 *  [eyephone21](https://wordpress.org/support/users/eyephone21/)
 * (@eyephone21)
 * [12 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/#post-3688792)
 * Sure, it will be enough!

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 19 total)

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## Tags

 * [Localization](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/localization/)

 * 19 replies
 * 4 participants
 * Last reply from: [Matt Robinson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mattyrob/)
 * Last activity: [12 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/localization-files-in-languages-folder/page/2/#post-3688796)
 * Status: resolved