Navigation Is Not Translated On SharePoint Online

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Introduction

In today's globalized world, having a multilingual website is crucial for businesses and organizations to reach a broader audience. SharePoint Online, a popular collaboration platform, offers a range of features to support multilingual sites. However, one common issue that users face is the translation of navigation menus. In this article, we will explore the challenges of translating navigation in SharePoint Online and provide a step-by-step guide to overcome this limitation.

Understanding SharePoint Online Navigation

SharePoint Online offers two types of navigation: Classic and Modern. The Classic navigation is a traditional hierarchical menu, while the Modern navigation is a more flexible and customizable menu. In this article, we will focus on the Modern navigation, which is the default navigation experience in SharePoint Online.

The Challenge of Translating Navigation

Translating navigation in SharePoint Online can be a complex task. When you enable languages in SharePoint, you can translate site content, but the navigation menu remains in the default language. This can lead to a poor user experience for visitors who prefer to view the site in their native language.

Prerequisites for Translating Navigation

Before we dive into the solution, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

  • Enable languages in SharePoint: Go to Site settings > Language settings and select the languages you want to support.
  • Create language-specific sites: Create separate sites for each language, e.g., EN, DE, PL.
  • Configure navigation: Ensure that the navigation menu is set up correctly in each language-specific site.

Solution: Using Managed Navigation

To translate navigation in SharePoint Online, you can use Managed Navigation. Managed Navigation is a feature that allows you to create a custom navigation menu using a term store. Here's how to set it up:

Step 1: Create a Term Store

  1. Go to Site settings > Term store management.
  2. Create a new term store or use an existing one.
  3. Create a new term group for navigation.

Step 2: Create Navigation Terms

  1. Go to Term store management > Term groups > Navigation.
  2. Create new terms for each navigation item, e.g., About Us, Home, Services.
  3. Assign each term to the corresponding language-specific site.

Step 3: Configure Managed Navigation

  1. Go to Site settings > Navigation.
  2. Select Managed Navigation as the navigation type.
  3. Configure the navigation settings, including the term store and term group.

Benefits of Using Managed Navigation

Using Managed Navigation offers several benefits, including:

  • Improved user experience: Visitors can view the site in their native language, with a translated navigation menu.
  • Increased accessibility: Managed Navigation makes it easier for users with disabilities to navigate the site.
  • Better search engine optimization (SEO): A translated navigation menu can improve your site's SEO, as search engines can crawl and index the site more effectively.

Conclusion

Translating navigation in SharePoint Online can be a complex task, but using Managed Navigation makes it easier. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a custom navigation menu that supports multiple languages. This will improve the user experience, increase accessibility, and enhance your site's SEO. Remember to enable languages in SharePoint, create language-specific sites, and configure navigation correctly before implementing Managed Navigation.

Additional Tips and Considerations

  • Use a consistent navigation structure: Ensure that the navigation structure is consistent across all language-specific sites.
  • Test and validate: Test the navigation menu in each language-specific site to ensure that it is translated correctly.
  • Consider using a third-party solution: If you have a large number of language-specific sites, consider using a third-party solution to manage navigation and translation.

Q: What is the difference between Classic and Modern navigation in SharePoint Online?

A: Classic navigation is a traditional hierarchical menu, while Modern navigation is a more flexible and customizable menu. Modern navigation is the default navigation experience in SharePoint Online.

Q: Why is my navigation menu not translating in SharePoint Online?

A: This is a common issue in SharePoint Online. When you enable languages in SharePoint, you can translate site content, but the navigation menu remains in the default language. To translate navigation, you need to use Managed Navigation.

Q: What is Managed Navigation in SharePoint Online?

A: Managed Navigation is a feature that allows you to create a custom navigation menu using a term store. It enables you to translate navigation menus and create a seamless user experience for visitors to your SharePoint Online site.

Q: How do I set up Managed Navigation in SharePoint Online?

A: To set up Managed Navigation, follow these steps:

  1. Create a term store.
  2. Create navigation terms for each navigation item.
  3. Assign each term to the corresponding language-specific site.
  4. Configure Managed Navigation in the site settings.

Q: Can I use Managed Navigation with Classic navigation?

A: No, Managed Navigation is only compatible with Modern navigation. If you are using Classic navigation, you will need to switch to Modern navigation to use Managed Navigation.

Q: How do I translate navigation menus in SharePoint Online?

A: To translate navigation menus, follow these steps:

  1. Create a term store.
  2. Create navigation terms for each navigation item.
  3. Assign each term to the corresponding language-specific site.
  4. Configure Managed Navigation in the site settings.

Q: Can I use a third-party solution to manage navigation and translation in SharePoint Online?

A: Yes, there are several third-party solutions available that can help you manage navigation and translation in SharePoint Online. These solutions can simplify the process of translating navigation menus and provide additional features and functionality.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with Managed Navigation in SharePoint Online?

A: To troubleshoot issues with Managed Navigation, follow these steps:

  1. Check the term store and navigation terms for errors.
  2. Verify that the navigation terms are assigned to the correct language-specific site.
  3. Check the site settings for Managed Navigation configuration errors.
  4. Contact Microsoft support for further assistance.

Q: Can I use Managed Navigation with SharePoint Online's multilingual features?

A: Yes, Managed Navigation is fully compatible with SharePoint Online's multilingual features. You can use Managed Navigation to translate navigation menus and create a seamless user experience for visitors to your SharePoint Online site, regardless of the language they speak.

Q: How do I update my navigation menu after making changes to Managed Navigation?

A: To update your navigation menu after making changes to Managed Navigation, follow these steps:

  1. Save the changes to the term store and navigation terms.
  2. Reconfigure Managed Navigation in the site settings.
  3. Verify that the navigation menu is updated correctly.

Q: Can I use Managed Navigation with SharePoint Online's search functionality?

A: Yes, Managed Navigation is fully compatible with SharePoint Online's search functionality. You can use Managed Navigation to translate navigation menus and create a seamless user experience for visitors to your SharePoint Online site, while also taking advantage of SharePoint Online's powerful search features.