Multiple languages feature allows you to distribute a questionnaire to people who live in different countries. Your respondents can select between the different translations that you have already created and you'll also be able to view the results altogether. This will save you time, as you can easily use this feature and send respondents one link. Here is the full list of the supported languages.
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This guide will teach you:
- Add a language
- Write your language choice screen
- Translate in the software
- Translate out of the software
- Distribute your survey
1. Add a language
Head to the Extra Options tab and choose Multiple languages.
Now click Add language.
Choose a language from the dropdown list, give a name and click Confirm.
There are two ways to add translations. You can either do it on the Pointerpro editor or do it offline in Excel.
2. Write your language choice screen
The language choice screen is the first screen of the questionnaire where the respondent can choose the language in which he/she wants to take the questionnaire.
Now create your own selection screen! Click to expand the Language choice screen section.
Write the text which you want to be shown on the screen and add any images, such as a logo by clicking Add media. To change the size, alignment, or color of your text, use the rich text editor icons.
3. Translate in the software
You'll need to click on the language that you've just added which will be shown on the top right as inactive because you have not yet added translations. Once you click it, you'll be able to add translations for each part of the questionnaire.
You'll see what percentage of the translation you've completed, so you can tell if you've missed something out. Don't worry, it's not so difficult to miss something - go slowly down the page and make sure to click on each down arrow at the beginning of the section to expand that section.
Make sure you translate every single piece of text, message, and label. You will have the option to activate this language only when the translation is 100% complete.
When you've filled in all translations, and you toggle the activate button, your language will be shown as secondary.
If you forgot to activate your language, saved and exited or for any reason you can't find the activate button again, you can open a question translation, copy and delete one sentence (so the translation is not 100% anymore), save, then paste the sentence back where it used to be. Once the translation is 100% again then the activate button will appear!
You can add as many translations as you need. Just repeat the same steps you did before.
To translate your buttons and messages, you should go to the labels and messages and add a translation.
If you try to save your work but you have an error message "Not too fast! The questionnaire title is required", then you need to translate the questionnaire title at the intro screen. Once you add a translation there you will be able to save.
4. Translate out of the software
This feature is only available for Enterprise and ReportR plans.
This is a great feature if you want to send everything in a neat file to a translator or get colleagues to help you out. Here you can easily download the file of all the items that need to be translated. Click to expand the Export and import translations options section. Now click Export to get your translation file. You'll receive a CSV that is easily convertible to Excel. Learn how to convert your CSV file to Excel.
When you have converted your CSV file to Excel, it will look like this:
- The first column contains the link with the item in your survey. Do NOT make any changes to the first row or column.
- The second column contains your first language.
- The third column (and fourth or fifth if you have even more translations) is the place where you can add the translation.
If Excel adds a row automatically as the top row, make sure to delete this before uploading the file. The titles Label Key, Default Language, and your third, fourth language should be the first row in the CSV/excel in order that the languages can be stored in the correct place.
Now you can add all your translations. When you're done, if you've been working in Excel, you'll need to save the file as a CSV file. Learn how to convert Excel to a CSV file.
When your CSV file is ready, click Import.
Click Save once the file has been uploaded.
5. Distribute your survey
You can give people the option to select themselves, or send them the survey directly in a specific language.
If you are unsure which translation people will choose, send them the general survey link and they can choose alone on the first screen.
If you know for sure which language people need, you can add URL parameters to the end of the survey link so that they will automatically be sent the survey in the correct language. It's not difficult to do, here's what you need to add to the end of your survey link:
- English: add ?lang=en_us
- Nederlands: add ?lang=nl_be
- Français: add ?lang=fr_be
- Other: add ?lang={first two letters of chosen name for language}
So for example, if you are sending out your survey in French, this is what your link will look like: https://s.pointerpro.com/s/dgrmttqb?lang=fr_be
In order to use the Dutch and French parameters, your language needs to be named exactly "Nederlands" or "Français" when you're naming your language in the multiple languages editor.
If you want to send after the completion of your survey, an automated email with the PDF in different languages , you can copy your PDF and translate it. Then setup email templates and add rules that will send the link to the correct PDF to the respondents.
What's next?
- Adjust the labels and messages on your questionnaire to personalize it, change the messages respondents will see if you have made a question mandatory and they have not completed it as required etc. Customize the buttons, texts, messages, and labels.
- Question logic – use rules in your survey so that respondents are only shown questions that are relevant to them. Question logic allows you to specify which question to go to or go to the end of the questionnaire, based on the answer to a preceding question, quiz score, or contact data. Alternatively, you can decide to show or hide certain questions based on the criteria you set.
- Question grouping - You might want to show more than one question on the screen to make your questionnaire seem shorter. Use this feature for questions that are all on a related topic. If you really want a short survey, check out the making of a one-page survey guide.