Add localized variants

Delivering the right content to the right audience is crucial for effective communication. In Showpad’s Admin App, you can simplify the management of localized assets by linking them to a primary asset in the Files library. This provides a centralized view of all localized variants, making it easy to spot gaps and ensure consistency.

Tip: While translations are in progress, you can use a global fallback as a placeholder. Once it's ready, replace the placeholder with the localized version.

Sellers’ Experiences and Pages will automatically populate with the appropriate content based on their locale, ensuring a smooth and relevant user experience.

See how it looks

Key features

• Link localized asset variants to a primary asset for a unified view
• Differentiate and manage content by locale within a single Division
• Use placeholders for content in progress, ensuring continuous availability
• Quickly identify missing localized assets at a glance
• Ensure Experiences and Pages are dynamically populated with the correct content for their locale

You need this to succeed

The quick way

1. Prepare your assets and assign the Locale property
2. Select a primary asset in the Files library
3. Set a primary asset and link localized variants
4. Link localized variants to a primary asset
5. View and manage localized variants
6. Replace a placeholder with a new variant

Do this step by step

Prepare your assets

Decide on the global primary language for your organization or Division. A good practice is to assign the Locale property to files in your library. You can already define this property when uploading new files. This enables faster linking and dynamic content filtering when you need it later.

Note: The Locale property for assets with global permissions can only be edited by an administrator and not by a Promoted Member with Content permissions.

1. Log in to the Admin App.
2. Navigate to the Libraries tab.
3. If your organization uses multiple Divisions, select the Division from the top-left dropdown menu.
4. Select All Files to open the Files library.
5. Select a file or multiple files.
6. In the asset detail panel, scroll down to the Locale property.
7. Click the pencil icon to add Languages.
8. Click the pencil icon to add Countries.
9. Click Save changes when done.

Select a primary asset in the Files library

A good primary asset in Showpad is a high-quality, universal version of content that serves as the foundation for all localized variants.

Typically in a widely used corporate language like English, it should be clear, professionally written, and free of errors, with finalized branding and formatting. It should apply broadly across regions, avoiding cultural or regional specifics, and be fully vetted by stakeholders.

Examples include product datasheets, case studies, corporate presentations, or marketing assets designed for easy localization.

Set a primary asset, and link localized variants

1. Navigate to the Libraries tab.
2. If your organization uses multiple Divisions, select the Division from the top-left dropdown menu.
3. Select All Files to open the Files library.

   Tip: Ensure the asset with the global primary language is in the Files library. If it’s missing, click Add and select Upload files to upload it.

4. Click the primary asset to open its detail panel. Then open the Localization tab.
5. Click Add localization.

   Note: Assets with global permissions, shared across all Divisions, cannot be linked as localized variants.

6. Click the star icon under Localization Type to designate the file as a primary asset. Verify or define the Locale and update the Author property if needed.

   Note: Selecting the plus icon marks the file as a localized variant to be linked to a primary asset.

7. Click Set up variants.
8. Choose how to add local variants:
   
   • Create placeholder:
     Temporarily create a placeholder file until a localized variant is available. Click Set up placeholder.
     1. Configure the Locale for the placeholder by adding the languages and countries.
     2. Asign the Authors. When adding authors, they will receive a notification email.
     3. To create additional placeholders, click Add at the bottom left.
     4. Click Create placeholder.
     5. In the Localization tab of the asset detail panel, you will now see the placeholders you created.

        Note: Placeholders are added to your Files library. They keep the same filename but end with "placeholder".

   • Link existing asset:
     Search or filter the library for the local variants. Click Select variants.
     1. Use Search or filter your library to find the localized version of your file.
     2. Select one or more localized versions.
     3. Click Insert items.
     4. For each item, verify the Locale and Author.
     5. Click Link variants.
   • Upload new assets:
     Drag and drop or browse to upload local files.  Click Upload variant.
     1. On your device, select the localized version of your file.
     2. Drag and drop to upload the file to your library.
     3. Alternatively, browse your device to upload the localized version.

        Note: You can upload one variant at a time. The variant must be the same file type as the primary asset. 

     4. Click Upload.
     5. Add the Locale and Author.
     6. Click Link variants.
     7. Repeat the same procedure if you have more localized variants of your primary file.

Link localized variants to a primary asset

1. 1. Navigate to the Libraries tab.
   2. If your organization uses multiple Divisions, select the Division from the top-left dropdown menu.
   3. Select All Files to open the Files library
   4. Click the localized variant in the Files library.
   5. Open the Localization tab in the asset detail panel.
   6. Click Add localization.
   7. Select the plus icon under Localization Type to mark it as a local variant.
   8. Verify or update the Locale and Author and click Select primary.
   9. Search and filter your library to find and select the primary asset. It has to be the same file type.
   10. Click Insert item.

View and manage localized variants

1. Navigate to the Libraries tab.
2. If your organization uses multiple Divisions, select the Division from the top-left dropdown menu.
3. Select All Files to open the Files library
4. Click a localized file to open the file detail panel.
5. Go to the Localization tab.
6. Depending on whether your file is a primary asset or a localized variant, you see these options when clicking the three dot menu:
   • Edit details to update the Locale, Author, or other file details.
   • Remove localization to unlink the localized variant.

Under Suggestions, you can review suggested assets with matching Locale properties. Click the plus icon to link the suggested asset to the primary asset, or use the X icon to remove a suggestion.

Click a localized variant to view its relationship with the primary asset and other localized variants in the Localization tab.

Replace a placeholder with a new variant

1. Navigate to the Libraries tab.
2. If your organization uses multiple Divisions, select the Division from the top-left dropdown menu.
3. Select All Files to open the Files library
4. Click a primary asset to open the file detail panel.
5. In the Localization tab, click the three dot menu next to the placeholder and select:
   • Edit details to verify and adjust the Locale and Author.
   • Upload replacement to replace the placeholder file with the same type (e.g., PDF to PDF).
   • Replace with existing file if a localized variant is available in the library.
   • Delete placeholder to remove a placeholder.

Note: Replacing a placeholder removes it from the Library and replaces it in all dynamically filtered folders or asset blocks where it was used.