Introduction to SharePoint On-Prem
Architecture & Setup
Site Management
Lists & Libraries
Pages & Content
Permissions & Security
Search & Navigation
Automation & Workflows
Integration & Extensibility
Development & Customization
Administration & Governance
Migration
Compliance & Records Management
Multilingual & Variations
For a large company with a global workforce, it is important to provide content in different languages. SharePoint on-premises offers a set of features, primarily Variations and the Multilingual User Interface (MUI), to support a multilingual environment.
Variations
Variations is a publishing feature designed to create and manage sites in multiple languages. It allows a company to create a central “source” site in one language, like English. Then, with a simple process, it can automatically create new “target” sites for other languages, such as French or Spanish. Variations helps manage the relationship between these sites, making it easier to keep the translated versions up to date whenever the content on the source site changes. This is the core tool for managing a large, multilingual intranet.
Multilingual User Interface (MUI)
The Multilingual User Interface (MUI) works differently. Instead of managing content, it translates the user interface itself. A user can change their personal language settings, and SharePoint will automatically display the standard site elements—like the “Site Contents” link, the “Settings” menu, and built-in list names—in that user’s chosen language. This feature is great for improving the user experience for a diverse workforce, as it makes the navigation of the site more familiar.
Translation Process
It is important to note that while Variations provides the technical framework for a multilingual site, it does not automatically translate the content. The actual translation of all articles, documents, and page content must still be performed by a person or a professional translation service. Once the content is translated, it can be published to the target sites, ensuring a complete and accurate experience for users in every language.
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