Localization Framework integration with Catalog Builder
Summarize
Summary of Localization Framework integration with Catalog Builder
The Localization Framework integration with Catalog Builder enables ServiceNow customers to manage and translate catalog items efficiently within the Catalog Builder interface. It supports both manual and machine-assisted translation methods, helping you deliver localized service catalog content to users in multiple languages.
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Key Features
- Translation Status Tab: Found in the Catalog Items tab on the Catalog Builder dashboard, this tab displays the translation status for catalog items and provides options to translate items on the fly.
- Required Plugins:
- Localization Framework Installer plugin for Service Catalog – activates Localization Framework features in Catalog Builder.
- Dynamic Translation plugin – enables real-time machine translation.
- Translation Modes: Two modes are supported, controlled by the
glide.sc.catalogbuilder.localization.enablerequesttranslationmodesystem property:- Request Translation Mode (property set to True): Allows users to request translations for new or existing catalog items. When a translation is requested, a localization task is created and tracked until completion. The translation status updates dynamically to reflect progress (e.g., Translations requested, Translated, Partially translated).
- Self-Translation (Ad Hoc) Mode (property set to False, default): Enables users to edit translations directly through a side-by-side comparison interface showing source and target languages, facilitating manual adjustments.
Translation States
Translation status for each language can be one of the following, helping you monitor translation progress and completeness:
- Not Available: No Localization Framework Insights record exists for the item/language.
- Not Translated: No translations exist for that catalog item and language.
- Translations Requested: An active localization task exists for the language in request translation mode.
- Partially Translated: Some fields are translated, but not all.
- Translated: All catalog item fields are translated in the target language.
Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers
- Streamlines management of multilingual catalog items directly within Catalog Builder.
- Supports both automated and manual translation workflows to fit your organization’s processes.
- Provides clear visibility into translation progress and status per language, reducing uncertainty and improving localization management.
- Enables on-the-fly translations to accelerate deployment of localized catalog content.
The Translation Status tab in the Catalog items tab on the Catalog Builder dashboard enables you to view the translation status of catalog items, and translate catalog items on the fly using manual or machine translation methods.
Ensure that the following plugins are installed before you start using Localization Framework in Catalog Builder:
- Localization Framework Installer plugin for Service Catalog: The plugin enables the Localization Framework capabilities in Service Catalog and Catalog Builder.
- Dynamic Translation plugin: Enables on-the-fly machine translation capabilities.
Translate catalog items information using one of the following modes:
- Request Translation mode
- Self-translation (ad hoc) mode
Request translation mode for new catalog items
Set the glide.sc.catalog_builder.localization.enable_request_translation_mode property to True, to enable the Request translations mode.
When you create a new item, the Request translations step appears in the wizard steps region. Click Browse to view and select the languages you want to translate the catalog item information to.
For more information, see Request translations for Service Catalog items.
Request translation mode for existing items
Set the glide.sc.catalog_builder.localization.enable_request_translation_mode property to True, to enable the Request translations mode is enabled.
On the Catalog Items tab, click the existing item that you want translated, then click the Translation status tab on the right pane (next to the Item details tab). You would see the list of languages configured in the system along with the state of that language for the catalog item and a Request translations link to request for a translation.
Click the Request translations link below the language you want the translations for. A dialog appears prompting you to confirm the translation request. When you confirm the translation request on the Translation status tab, a localization task gets generated and its corresponding Localization item record ("LRITMXXXXXXX") shows up in place of the Request translations link. The state for that specific language changes to Translations requested.
When the localization task completes in Localization Framework, the Request translations link comes back which you can use to request for translations again. The state changes to Translated, Partially translated, or Not translated on the Translation status tab, depending on whether the translations occur for all fields, some fields, or no fields in the table.
For more information, see Request translations for Service Catalog items.
Self-translation (ad hoc) mode
Set the glide.sc.catalog_builder.localization.enable_request_translation_mode property to False to enable self-translation mode. The default value for this property is False.
In the Catalog Items tab, click the existing item you want translated, then click the Translation status tab on the right pane (next to the Item Details tab). The list of languages configured in the system is displayed, along with the state of that language for the catalog item and an Edit translations link to edit the translation.
Click the Edit translations link to open another tab that contains two comparison UI regions: The left region is the source language, and the right region is the target or translated language. You can compare the language translation side by side in the page, and make changes if required.
For more information, see Request ad hoc translation for Service Catalog items.
Translation States
| State | Mode | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Not available | Request translation and Self-translation | If the Localization Framework Insights record is not available, the translation state displayed by the system is Not Available, and the state appears near the language name. |
| Not translated | Request translation and Self-translation | If there are no translations in the system for that specific catalog item for that language, the state Not Translated appears near the language name. |
| Translations requested | Request translation | If there is an active LRTIM associated with a language for the item, the state Translations requested appears near the language name. |
| Partially translated | Request translation and Self-translation | If there are partial translations in the system for that specific catalog item for that language, the state Partially Translated appears near the language name. |
| Translated | Request translation and Self-translation | If all translations for that specific catalog item for that language exist in the system, the state Translated appears near the language name. |