Introduction:
SuccessFactors 'Manage Languages' (Tier 3 Language support) is a widely used tool across environments. It is perhaps, the most efficient and effective method to customise system labels and expressions throughout the SuccessFactors suite. In addition, this functionality can be used across all locales an environment has enabled. However, at times, managing foreign languages such as Chinese, Japanese, or Arabic can make this process more complex. If done incorrectly, your custom labels can become corrupted and therefore, redundant in your instance.
In this blog, I will outline a simple, yet effective solution to get around this obstacle. It is a method I use myself after becoming stuck managing certain locales via manage languages (tier 3 language support).
The Issue:
As you can see from the below example, this is how an incorrect translation may appear. Furthermore, if you try to export the labels to correct, a standard CSV file will show random characters.
I had previously tried a convoluted process of using Open Office to first format the new custom labels and then transferring the file to a standard CSV. However, during this process, there are many occasions where this could go wrong, and the file becomes corrupted.
The Solution:
Step 1:
Gather your language tags by using the English DEBUG locale as a system admin. Below is an example from Continuous Performance Management, but tags can be retrieved from any label in the instance.
Step 2:
Once you have gathered the correct language tags, retrieve the updated custom labels in whichever locale you are working with, in this example, I will be using Japanese. We will need these to complete the import.
Step 3:
Enter the language tags in a CSV file. You can use the template which can be downloaded from “Manage Languages” via the Admin Centre. Once you have entered the correct tags, save and close the CSV file.
Step 4:
Download an XML editor, I would recommend “Notepad++”. Right-click on the previous file and “Open With” Notepad++.
Step 5:
Enter your custom labels in the assigned tier 3 language tag directly into the Notepad++ file. Keep in mind the comma-separated value format applied in a CSV file. If you need guidance, please refer to the example below.
Step 6:
Save and close the XML editor file. When you view this in your folder, it should still display as a CSV file.
Step 7:
Import the CSV file into your custom locale via “Manage Languages” in SuccessFactors. Please note, opening the CSV file may corrupt the translations, so keep this closed until the import is complete.
Step 8:
Validate your translation in SuccessFactors. The text should appear in the specific language you are translating, instead of corrupted characters.
Before:
After:
SuccessFactors 'Manage Languages' (Tier 3 Language support) is a widely used tool across environments. It is perhaps, the most efficient and effective method to customise system labels and expressions throughout the SuccessFactors suite. In addition, this functionality can be used across all locales an environment has enabled. However, at times, managing foreign languages such as Chinese, Japanese, or Arabic can make this process more complex. If done incorrectly, your custom labels can become corrupted and therefore, redundant in your instance.
In this blog, I will outline a simple, yet effective solution to get around this obstacle. It is a method I use myself after becoming stuck managing certain locales via manage languages (tier 3 language support).
The Issue:
As you can see from the below example, this is how an incorrect translation may appear. Furthermore, if you try to export the labels to correct, a standard CSV file will show random characters.
I had previously tried a convoluted process of using Open Office to first format the new custom labels and then transferring the file to a standard CSV. However, during this process, there are many occasions where this could go wrong, and the file becomes corrupted.
The Solution:
Step 1:
Gather your language tags by using the English DEBUG locale as a system admin. Below is an example from Continuous Performance Management, but tags can be retrieved from any label in the instance.
Step 2:
Once you have gathered the correct language tags, retrieve the updated custom labels in whichever locale you are working with, in this example, I will be using Japanese. We will need these to complete the import.
Step 3:
Enter the language tags in a CSV file. You can use the template which can be downloaded from “Manage Languages” via the Admin Centre. Once you have entered the correct tags, save and close the CSV file.
Step 4:
Download an XML editor, I would recommend “Notepad++”. Right-click on the previous file and “Open With” Notepad++.
Step 5:
Enter your custom labels in the assigned tier 3 language tag directly into the Notepad++ file. Keep in mind the comma-separated value format applied in a CSV file. If you need guidance, please refer to the example below.
Step 6:
Save and close the XML editor file. When you view this in your folder, it should still display as a CSV file.
Step 7:
Import the CSV file into your custom locale via “Manage Languages” in SuccessFactors. Please note, opening the CSV file may corrupt the translations, so keep this closed until the import is complete.
Step 8:
Validate your translation in SuccessFactors. The text should appear in the specific language you are translating, instead of corrupted characters.
Before:
After:
- SAP Managed Tags:
