Translating articles in real time by using machine translation

 

You can translate articles by using machine translation to make content available in multiple languages. When you create an article, its default language is based on the language selected in the portal interface. You can use machine translation to instantly view the article in another language or to create a version of the article in another language. 

Machine translation options

You can machine-translate knowledge articles in real time in the following ways:

• Instantly translate an article: Translate an article instantly for on-screen viewing in over 100 languages. This translation is temporary and cannot be saved as a language version or shared with other users.
• Create a version of an article in another language: Translate an article into any of the languages activated in the portal. The entire article content is automatically translated into the selected language. You can save, edit, and manage the translation as a separate language version of the article. This translation is accessible for other users. 

Before you begin

Make sure that the following requirement is met for machine translating articles:

• An administrator must activate the required interface languages for the portal. For more information about how to add portal languages, see the Configuring portal settings - Settings (ComAround) help article.

  Warning

  Important

  Learn how to access this help article in Accessing product documentation provided by help articles.

  Only languages activated in the portal are available for creating language versions of an article and appear in the language drop-down list. For information about the supported portal languages, see FAQ.

• You must have a knowledge role that allows creating and editing articles; for example, a Knowledge Contributor or Knowledge Coach role. For more information about user roles, see Product overview.

To translate an article instantly

This translation option uses Google Cloud Translation APIs, which currently support over 100 languages. Language support is maintained by Google Cloud Translation and might expand over time. For more information about the supported languages, see Language support.

Any knowledge worker, including the Reader, can instantly translate an article by using the Auto translate option. No special knowledge role is required for this action. This translation is temporary and is cleared when you refresh the page or select a different language from the list.

To instantly translate an article, complete the following steps:

1. Log in to BMC Helix Knowledge Management by ComAround.
2. Open the article you want to translate.
3. From the Auto translate list, select a language in which you want to view the article. 

The article is immediately displayed in the selected language. The following image shows the article being instantly translated into French:

To create a version of an article in another language

1. Log in to BMC Helix Knowledge Management by ComAround.
2. Open the article you want to translate and click Edit Article.
   You can also create a new article and translate its content before saving it for the first time.
3. Review the language tabs at the top of the article to see any existing language versions.
   
4.  To display the list of available language into which the article can be translated, click the plus (+) icon.
   
5. Select a language from the drop-down list.
   The content is automatically translated in the selected language that it appears as a separate article version. 
   
6. If required, modify the translated content. 
7. Select the appropriate article state for the new language version.

   Each language version can have a different knowledge state.
   

8. If you require multiple translations of the same article, repeat steps 4 - 7 for each language. 

9. To switch between the language versions of an article, click the required language tab or select a language from the language list displayed at the top.

10. Click Save.

The translated article is saved as a new language version. All language versions of an article share the same article ID. The following image shows the article being translated into Swedish and saved as a separate language version: