Multi-Language Project Configuration

Initial Considerations

The Multi-Language Management app (MLM) allows one to translate an entire project into various languages. This includes data entry forms, surveys, alerts, error notices, etc. REDCap does not perform the translations for you, but provides a streamlined framework. Settings configured at the project level speed the process of translation as opposed to configuring each and every field variable.

To enable the MLM, one must have Design & Set Up user rights. When accessed from the left navigation panel, one can define multiple languages in the project. Once configured the project language configuration can be copied to another project which has similar set up and field variables. The MLM allows you to convert languages in surveys, data entry instrument, alerts, and elsewhere throughout the project. You can activate any given language for  a data entry or survey instrument. For example, a pre-survey instrument can have German / Spanish languages and a data entry form have no language translation enabled.

The MLM supports the e-consent framework. You are able to translate all the command language and everything you see as part of the e-Consents framework. Also, if you e-consent using the framework, the pdf consent form stored in the file repository will be in the language in which the participant took the survey. This will be beneficial for CFR Part 11 compliance for e-consent which requires it to be in the same language in which they consented.

The Process

1. Create project per normal process (define forms, create fields, events, etc.) The last step is to set up languages.

2. Click on MLM in Left Navigation panel

   

3. Click on Add new language
   

   

4. Define Language ID code in lower case by iporting from REDCap system files (button is located in lower left corner of dialogue box.

   1. ALWAYS define English (en) first so that it will be the default. 

   2. ALWAYS add all languages using ‘Import from file or system’

   3. Click on import from file or system

c. Before selecting your language be sure to review your translation selections:

d. Use dropdown to view from available system language files within REDCap to select your language.

• Selecting foreign languages in this manor will expedite some of the system translation necessary for project set up (eg error messages, warnings)

5. Click ‘Import’

Your page should look like this where English is the first language listed and is identified as the default language

• The vertical yellow line on the left indicates current changes are not yet saved. Click Save changes

6.  A participant's preferred language can be designated based upon a field you have created in your project. This can be set manually through data entry or via MLM Action tags

• When setting up a participant's preferred language, ensure the choices are labelled as the language code and not a numerical value:

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7.  Under the "Active Column" click the radio button to activate each language.  Click the RTL radio button if the  language should be read right to left (like Arabic)

8.  Click Forms/Surveys tab to identify which instruments will be translated


Remember to save your work along the way!

9. Click on Language to translate (eg Spanish) and then the Translate pencil adjacent the instrument you wish to translate

10.  Translate each field on the screen.

a. If the field is not to be translated (eg you wish some fields to remain in the default language, simple click the box next to the field variable name

b. Click and copy text from copy icon to an internet translation app. ( Use DeepL Translator or Google translate) or type in the translation if you are bilingual

12.  After you translate the field, a green icon indicates it is done.

a. If you do not need to translate the field you can click the check box next to the field variable name

b. You can use the Rich text editor to enhance your text (e.g. bold, italicize, center text)

13.  Note that you can translate all or only selected fields from your Survey Settings

14.  Continue translating all forms and surveys per the above steps

15.  Color codes:

Yellow button means current changes not saved yet. Short cut to save (Control S)

Green implies translated

Red is not translated

16.  The code book is presented in English (the primary project language). It does indicate if the instrument has been translated.  The code book example below shows the survey is translated to Spanish

18.  Click through tabs to translate each of the topic areas (e.g. Forms/surveys, Alerts, )

19. NOTE: When translating Alerts, ensure on the English page that you set language source for each alert.

1. This is important because it drives the language for the alert.

   1. It's also important who is triggering the alert if you've got that alert set to "user's" (person with REDCap access) or "survey respondent's" active language",

      1. It will use the user's active language if a user triggers the alert, but will use the survey respondent's active language if the participant triggers it

20.  MLM Action Tags

1. Be sure to review and utilized the Action Tags developed for the MLM application. Each one begins with the word @Language. Action tags can be specific to surveys or forms

   

How Participants Use / What the User Sees 

1. When the survey is distributed, the user has the option to select what language they wish to use either as a button or in the upper right corner.
   

   

   
   
   

2. It is possible to toggle back to another language by clicking on the globe icon in the upper right and the language options re-appear

   

Additional Considerations

1. Translations are done at an instrument level, not field level. Take attestations into consideration when building your e-consent. Do you want the staff to participate in English or the alternate language? You may need 2 separate instruments. Or do not translate some of the fields in the form
   

   

2. How Matrix fields look
   

   

Please refer to the MLM FAQs Knowledge Article for additional information.