HOME / BLOG

WPLMS – secure translation files from updates / using Poedit

25. June 2015

Development / WordPress / WPLMS

.SHARE

WPLMS is a Learning Management System for WordPress. Translation files in WPLMS are located in

/wp-content/themes/wplms/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/vibe-course-module/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/vibe-customtypes/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/vibe-shortcodes/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/wplms-assignments/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/wplms-dashboard/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/wplms-events/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/wplms-front-end/languages/

These language files will be overwritten with new files on every update, destroying any custom translation changes.

THE THEME

Move your theme into a child theme and translate your theme there (/wp-content/themes/your-child-theme/languages/).

Make sure that language files are loaded from your child theme. Add the following action to your functions.php and use “vibe” as the domain, not the actual theme name.


add_action( 'after_setup_theme', 'my_child_theme_setup' );

function my_child_theme_setup() {
 load_child_theme_textdomain( 'vibe', get_stylesheet_directory() . "/languages" );
}

add_action( 'after_setup_theme', 'my_child_theme_setup' );

function my_child_theme_setup() {

load_child_theme_textdomain( 'vibe', get_stylesheet_directory() . "/languages" );

}

THE PLUGINS

Use the global language folder for the WPLMS plugin translations. The WPLMS plugin loader checks, if a global language file actually exists :)


 if ( file_exists( $mofile_global ) ) {
        load_textdomain( 'vibe', $mofile_global );
    } else {
        load_textdomain( 'vibe', $mofile_local );
    }

if ( file_exists( $mofile_global ) ) {

load_textdomain( 'vibe', $mofile_global );

} else {

load_textdomain( 'vibe', $mofile_local );

}

/wp-content/languages/plugins/vibe-de_DE.mo
/wp-content/languages/plugins/vibe-customtypes-de_DE.mo
/wp-content/languages/plugins/wplms-assignments-de_DE.mo
/wp-content/languages/plugins/wplms-dashboard-de_DE.mo
/wp-content/languages/plugins/wplms-events-de_DE.mo
/wp-content/languages/plugins/wplms-front-end-de_DE.mo
+++

POEDIT

I suggest using Poedit, as it allows you to do the translation on the Desktop. It also offers options to update your file with an updated WPLMS language file, allowing you to add new translation strings if needed :)

PREPARE

A. Create the structure for the update and download new PO files from WPLMS

/wp-content/themes/wplms/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/vibe-course-module/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/vibe-customtypes/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/vibe-shortcodes/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/wplms-assignments/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/wplms-dashboard/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/wplms-events/languages/
/wp-content/plugins/wplms-front-end/languages/

B. The target structure / your current language files

/wp-content/themes/your-child-theme/languages/de_DE.mo /.po
/wp-content/languages/plugins/vibe-de_DE.mo /.po
/wp-content/languages/plugins/vibe-customtypes-de_DE.mo /.po
/wp-content/languages/plugins/wplms-assignments-de_DE.mo /.po
/wp-content/languages/plugins/wplms-dashboard-de_DE.mo /.po
/wp-content/languages/plugins/wplms-events-de_DE.mo /.po
/wp-content/languages/plugins/wplms-front-end-de_DE.mo /.po
+++

C. Open your current .PO file from target structure

portalZINE NMN | Development meets Creativity | portalzine nmn development meets creativity uncategorized 5

D. Update with new and matching .PO file from A. (Catalog -> Update from POT file)

This will check for new or obsolete strings and update your language file.

portalZINE NMN | Development meets Creativity | portalzine nmn development meets creativity uncategorized 7

portalZINE NMN | Development meets Creativity | portalzine nmn development meets creativity uncategorized 8

E. New strings added

portalZINE NMN | Development meets Creativity | portalzine nmn development meets creativity uncategorized 9

F. Obsolete strings removed

portalZINE NMN | Development meets Creativity | portalzine nmn development meets creativity uncategorized 10

G. Save and upload updated .PO + .MO files from target structure to server.

Again, make sure to use the global language folder and the child theme languages folder !

Panic time after updates is over :)

Enjoy coding ….

Let’s Talk!

Looking for a reliable partner to bring your project to the next level? Whether it’s development, design, security, or ongoing support—I’d love to chat and see how I can help.

Get in touch,
and let’s create something amazing together!

Setting Up a Raspberry Pi as a Web Client Kiosk for TV Display

Development / Digital Kiosk / Digital Signage / Hardware

Overview The best approach is to create a minimal kiosk setup that: Hardware Requirements Setup Guide 1. Start with a Minimal OS Installation Rather than using the full Raspbian Desktop version, start with Raspbian Lite for a minimal footprint. This reduces overhead and security concerns by eliminating unnecessary software. Download Raspberry Pi OS Lite from […]

Day 31: Directus – Open-Source Headless CMS and Backend-As-A-Service Platform – 7 Days of Docker

Content Managment / Deployment / Development / Directus / Docker / No-Code

Directus is a powerful headless CMS that provides a flexible data platform with a beautiful admin app for managing content. In this guide, we’ll walk through the process of setting up Directus on your own server using Docker and Docker Compose. Introduction Directus wraps any SQL database with a real-time GraphQL+REST API and an intuitive […]

The Ultimate Guide to Open Source No-Code Platforms in 2025

No-Code / AI / Development

<sarcasm start> Hey there, future app builder! Remember when creating websites and apps required a computer science degree and endless nights of debugging? Those days are history! Are they ? :) Welcome to the golden age of NoCode platforms, where anyone with a brilliant idea can bring it to life without writing a single line […]

Alexander

I am a full-stack developer. My expertise include:

Server, Network and Hosting Environments
Data Modeling / Import / Export
Business Logic
API Layer / Action layer / MVC
User Interfaces
User Experience
Understand what the customer and the business needs

I have a deep passion for programming, design, and server architecture—each of these fuels my creativity, and I wouldn’t feel complete without them.

With a broad range of interests, I’m always exploring new technologies and expanding my knowledge wherever needed. The tech world evolves rapidly, and I love staying ahead by embracing the latest innovations.

Beyond technology, I value peace and surround myself with like-minded individuals.

I firmly believe in the principle: Help others, and help will find its way back to you when you need it.