SharePoint connector
SharePoint is a collaborative platform used by enterprises to create intranet pages and manage collections of documents. SharePoint is typically integrated with Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Windows.
Enterprises that create content for their intranet often need their pages translated into multiple languages for use across the organization. The memoQ-SharePoint connector can be used by enterprises to translate their SharePoint content using either their own memoQ TMS or to work with an LSP (language service provider) to have it translated. The connector can also be used by LSPs to translate their customers’ SharePoint pages.
Users select the pages they want to be translated and send them to memoQ TMS. The translation status is then tracked in the connector. The automated workflow in memoQ TMS simplifies and enhances the creation and management of projects with automatic file import, pre-translation, assignment, and delivery back to the SharePoint connector. With newly added automation, the translated content is published in SharePoint automatically.
How it works
The connector takes advantage of the multilingual framework of SharePoint. The framework has one default language per site which is also the default source language. The connector creates target language folders for every page to be translated and generates a copy of the source page there. This page (the so-called language copy) is later automatically overwritten by the translation. When the SharePoint user changes the language of the original page, SharePoint seamlessly switches to the newly chosen language copy. Sending the copies for translation is managed in the connector application. The connector lists available pages and the available languages of the pages. It also includes information on the status of the translation for tracking purposes, and it shows the available languages and the existing copies.
What can be automated
Automation can be achieved in the connector and in memoQ on several levels:
- A memoQ project can be created automatically if workflow automation is set up in the memoQ CMS Dashboard. As soon as new content is sent to memoQ TMS from the connector, a pre-defined memoQ project template is used to create the project.
- Automated actions in the memoQ project can be configured to perform certain predefined tasks in the project, based on selected project events.
- The translated page can automatically be delivered to SharePoint as a draft.
- If Premium PowerAutomate is available in the customer’s Microsoft subscription, it is possible to set up PowerAutomate Flows to send content to memoQ via the connector, e.g., by selecting an item in the context menu of SharePoint. The information about the translation job will also be displayed in the user interface of the connector.
What is currently possible
The connector currently supports sending SharePoint pages/posts for translation as .aspx files. Support for additional file types such as assets or documents stored on SharePoint will be added in a future release.
Additional notes
SharePoint sites have a generic source language defined when the site is created. A newly created page is identified by SharePoint as being in that generic language of the site, regardless of the actual language in which it is written. For example, a SharePoint site may have English as its default language. Even if a new page is created in French, SharePoint will identify it as English. This can be confusing, and it forces customers to create original content in the default site language. But customers sometimes prefer to create original content in a language different than the default, and then translate back into the default site source language. The connector aids this workflow by automatically organizing the pages in the appropriate language folders. It creates a language copy to house the original non-default language content and overwrites the default site language page with the relevant back translation into the generic site language.