Activating automatic translations

Automatic translation is an additional multi-language feature that you can activate. It enables users to translate foreign-language timeline posts, blog articles, wiki articles, and comments into their preferred language on both the browser and mobile app versions of the platform.

If you only use Haiilo's Social Intranet module, the additional multi-language features need to be acquired and added to your platform before they can be activated. Please contact your Account Manager for assistance.

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Step 1: Acquire an API key

You need an API key from either DeepL or Microsoft Translator to enable automatic translations. To obtain the API key, you will need to purchase a package or a license from either provider.

Option: DeepL

View supported languages

Option: Microsoft Translator

View supported languages

How it works

With DeepL, you pay a base fee and a fee per translated character. However, you don't pay for each translation performed on the same Haiilo post, but for the one-time translation of the post into the respective target language.

Example

If person A translates an English post into German, a price is paid per translated character. The German translation is saved locally, so if person B also translates the same post into German later on, they are presented with the saved response from person A's translation request. The translation from English to German is performed once and paid for with the translation for person A. If person B translates into Spanish, this would be a different target language, so a new translation would be paid for with a one-time price per translated character.

Steps to set up

  1. Purchase a package: The DeepL website provides information on how to purchase a DeepL API package. The DeepL API Free Plan cannot be used.
  2. Obtain API key: After you have purchased a package and set up your account, you can find the API key in the account settings.
  3. Create a glossary (Optional): You can create a glossary on DeepL containing organization-specific terminology. This ensures your automatic translations on Haiilo follow your organization's guidelines. Your glossary is managed on your DeepL account.

How it works

Microsoft Translator is part of the Microsoft Cognitive Services. Up to 2 million characters are free monthly, and you can choose between various packages.

Steps to set up

  1. Obtain a Microsoft 365 license with access to Microsoft Translator.
  2. Create a Translator resource: You need to create a Microsoft Translator resource in Microsoft Entra ID. You can find out how that works in the Microsoft Translator documentation.
  3. Create an API key: You can create the API key from Resource Management > Keys and Endpoints. Ensure you save the location, as your API key only functions for the configured location.

Step 2: Activate automatic translation on Haiilo

  1. Go to Administration > System settings > General settings.
  2. Check Enable automatic translations.
  3. Select your translation provider and enter the API key.
  4. The next step depends on your selected translation provider:
    • Microsoft Translator: Add the location for your MS Translator app from Entra ID. Can be left empty for global.
    • DeepL: Optionally select a glossary from your DeepL account to guide the translations.
  5. Select Save.

Automatic translation is now enabled, and your platform's users will be able to translate new content and comments. Learn more in Translating content and comments.

Any changes you make to your glossary won't affect previously saved local translations. To ensure your glossary is used for all translations, clear your stored translations. See more below.

Clear stored DeepL translations

As mentioned (see Example under Option: DeepL), Haiilo sends each translation request only once and saves the translation response locally for future requests. This means that any changes you apply to your glossary won't take effect in previously locally saved translations that users translated before you changed your glossary.

To remedy this, you can delete your stored DeepL translations at any time in Administration > System settings > General settings by selecting Delete stored translations. This ensures that any updates to your glossary or related changes take effect immediately, especially when previously translated content is requested again.

We recommend clearing your stored translations any time you make changes to your glossary on DeepL.

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