Guide to Directus localization with Localazy

Headless, versatile, and scalable. What’s not to love about Directus? This open-source CMS is a hit in many areas but only offers basic localization features. Here’s how you can supercharge it with Localazy in a few simple steps.

Flexible content management systems are loved by users worldwide — whether they're developers, marketers, founders, or product managers. That's one of the biggest draws of Directus, a versatile, open-source headless CMS that provides both software engineers and non-technical users with an easy-to-use platform for managing digital content. Directus also offers another key advantage: the ability to work with any SQL-based database, giving you complete control over your data while remaining highly flexible for diverse use cases.

With a no-code interface for content creators and full API-driven capabilities for developers, Directus empowers teams to build dynamic websites, apps, and digital experiences faster. ???? Its modular architecture, custom extensibility, and the ability to integrate with existing tools make it an excellent choice for businesses of any size looking for a personalized, scalable CMS solution where they can also localize their content. The question is: how can you do it effectively, even if you don't have technical knowledge?

?? Localization limitations on Directus

Directus allows you to define fields as translatable, enabling basic localization. However, managing translations directly within Directus can be challenging because:

• ?? You lack access to essential QA tools like translation memories, machine translation, glossaries, and contextual information, making it harder to ensure accurate and consistent translations.
• ?? When the source language is updated, manually keeping translations in sync becomes time-consuming and error-prone. This process can lead to inconsistencies, especially in large projects.
• ?? Collaboration tends to be inefficient, as it doesn't offer a dedicated platform for translators and reviewers to communicate.

The Localazy Directus plugin addresses these issues by offering a streamlined solution with advanced tools and features, ensuring easier translation management, quality, and collaboration.

?? Getting started with Directus localization

1. Prepare your content in Directus

The first step to start localizing your content in Directus is to create a project. If you're new to Directus, you can follow the official setup guide to get your project up and running. Once that is ready, you'll have to prepare your content for localization.

2. Create a Localazy project

Next, create a Localazy account. Head over to the Localazy website and sign up for an account if you don't already have one. Once logged in, you'll need to create a new project where all your translations will be managed. This project will serve as the hub for importing content from Directus, translating it, and exporting it back seamlessly. With your Localazy project set up, you'll be ready to integrate it with Directus for streamlined localization.

3. Install the Localazy plugin

The next step is to install the Localazy plugin for Directus. To do this, simply visit the Directus Marketplace and search for "Localazy" in the search bar.

Once you've found the Localazy plugin, click the "Install Extension" button to add it to your Directus project. Once the installation is complete, refresh the page to apply the changes.

Lastly, go to Settings and, in the Modules section, enable the Localazy plugin by clicking on the checkbox and saving the changes.

4. Connect with your Localazy project

Once the Localazy plugin is installed, navigate to the newly added Localazy section within Directus and head to the Project Setup page. Here, you'll need to connect to your Localazy project. Click on the "Login to Localazy" button and sign in, then select the project you've designated for translating your Directus content.

Next, complete the setup by filling in the Languages Collection, Language Code, and Source language fields if they are not prefilled automatically. This will link your Directus content to the appropriate translation settings in Localazy.

5. Export your content to Localazy

Before exporting your content to Localazy, ensure that your collections are properly set up for localization. Each collection you want to translate must include a Translations field type, typically named Translations. Within this field, create individual fields for each piece of content you wish to translate. This setup allows Localazy to identify and manage the translatable elements effectively. Once your collections are prepared, you can proceed to export your content to Localazy for translation.

??♂? You can automate this process by installing an additional Directus extension: Localazy Automation

In the Import & Export section in the Localazy plugin, select which collections and fields should be uploaded to Localazy. Then, click on "Export to Localazy" to upload your data.

6. Translate within our UI

Once your content is exported, you can start translating it. We will use Localazy's powerful machine translation features to quickly generate translations, which is ideal for speeding up the localization process.

Navigate to the Localazy project where your Directus content has been imported. Here, you'll find the content that needs translation. Use Localazy's machine translation tools to automatically generate translations for your target languages. This feature leverages advanced algorithms to provide initial translations, which you can then review and refine for accuracy.

?? Click here for the full list of MT engines available at Localazy, including DeepL and OpenAI

Machine translations can significantly accelerate your workflow, but it's always a good idea to review the translations to ensure they meet your quality standards and context-specific requirements. Once satisfied, you can finalize and export the translations back to Directus.

7. Import the translations back to Directus

To import your translations back into Directus, navigate to your project and click on the "Import to Directus" button. This action will transfer your translated content from Localazy into your Directus collections.

In the overview screen, you'll be able to see which languages have been successfully imported and which collections have been updated with the new translations. This allows you to verify that all your content has been correctly synchronized and is ready for use in your Directus project.

Navigate to one of the updated collections in Directus to review your content in the newly imported languages. Check that the translations are correctly applied and make any necessary adjustments to ensure accuracy and consistency. This review step is crucial to confirm that everything looks and reads as intended across different languages.

?? FAQs

Why can't I see my collections/fields in the sync overview?

If your collections or fields are not appearing in the synchronization overview, double-check that you've followed Directus's official guide on preparing content for localization. Ensure that each collection includes a translations field type and that the fields you want to translate are correctly set up. Proper configuration is essential for Localazy to recognize and sync your content effectively.

Can I automate the export process?

Yes, you can automate the export process by installing the Localazy Automation extension. After installation, check the Deletion options in the Additional Setup section of the Localazy plugin to ensure that the "Automated Upload to Localazy" and "Automated Deprecation of Localazy Source Keys" options are enabled. This setup will allow automatic content updates, reducing the need for manual intervention.

??Conclusion

We hope this guide has highlighted the efficiency and ease of use of the Localazy plugin for Directus. As demonstrated, your content can reach global audiences with minimal hassle in just a few steps.

If you have any questions about this tutorial, the Localazy plugin, or localization in general, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or leave a comment below.

Author: Daniel Charvat