Are you looking for step by step tutorial with clear info about configuration multilanguage site for Joomla 3? Here it is!
If you're just starting your adventure with Joomla templates I suggest installing our free Joomla 3 template.
Follow the video instructions how to install the demo copy - quickstart package.
If you already have a website, skip this step.
Step 1 - languages installation
Go to the Extensions-> Extension Manager-> Install languages. If you don’t see a list of available languages, click Find languages button.
Select the language you want to install on you website. I choose Polish language. Then click Install.
If everything goes according to the plan, You should see a message on the screen:
Repeat this step to install other languages. I stay with Polish and already installed English lang.
Don't know how to get it? Order a custom service!
Step 2 - language configuration
Now go to the Extensions -> Language Manager and click New button.
Fill in the following fields of New Content Language:
- Title - type a name of language. It will appear on our list.
- Title Native - it’s title of native language. In my case I type Polski (PL)
- Language Tag - enter a language tag. This should be the exact prefix used for the language you want to install. How to find it? Go to Extensions-> Language Manager and look at Language tag column and find Your item- that’s it! In my case it’s: pl-PL
- URL Language Code - this language code will be appended to the site URL. It have to be an unique name among all of languages!
- Image Prefix - if you want to use state flag that represents the language as sign, select one from the drop-down list.
- Status - define for which users language will be available.
- Access - also specify it for groups of users.
- Description - it’s an optional field, you can type a description for this language.
Click Save and close. The following message should appear:
Step 3 - Language Filter plugin
Now we need to enable the plugin responsible for displaying the content depending of selected language. Go to Extensions-> Plugin Manager and find System- Language Filter. If it’s disabled (button with cross on red background) enable it by clicking in button.
Step 4 - Language switcher module
Now it's time for displaying language switcher/selector module on the site. Go to Extensions-> Module Manager and click New. Choose Language switcher from list.
Type a name of the module and choose a layout position for a module. You can hide title of module, too.
Go to Menu Assigment tab and assign a module to all pages. Click Save and close.
Step 5 - configuring main menu for each language
Now we need to create a menu that will keep info about you languages. At first let's create the menu for default language. Go to Menus-> Menu Manager-> Add New Menu.
Type Title and Menu Type, for example:
Click Save and close.
Go to Menus-> Main Menu -> Home page item.
Click Save as Copy
Fill in the fields like that:
- Title (title of home page in your default language)
- Menu location (location of created menu)
- Status (Published if you want that every viewers see it)
- Default Page -> Yes
- Language- choose Your language
Click Save and Close
If everything is in order You should see:
This is the result on the site:
Bravo! Repeat 6th step for your second language :)
I did it for Polish language, so Menu Manager looks as follows now:
This is the final result on the site:
Well done! Now You can change the language using the switcher :) and start working on preparing multi language content versions.
Don't know how to get it? Order a custom service!
TIP: Create a language overrides and content.