Quick Start Guide

Get Your Site Multilingual in 5 Minutes

This guide will help you get ShahiTranslate Pro up and running quickly with minimal configuration.

Step 1: Access Plugin Settings (30 seconds)

After activating the plugin:

1. In your WordPress admin panel, look for ShahiTranslate Pro in the left sidebar
2. Click on it to access the main settings page
3. You’ll see several tabs: General, Languages, API Settings, Switcher, and Advanced

Step 2: Select Your Languages (1 minute)


4. Click on the Languages tab
5. Default Language: Select your site’s primary language (e.g., English)
6. Active Languages: Check the boxes for languages you want to offer

– Start with 2-3 languages to test
– Popular choices: Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Arabic

7. Click Save Changes

Step 3: Configure Translation Method (1 minute)


8. Click on the General tab
9. Translation Engine: Choose your preferred method:

– Automatic (Google Translate API): Requires API key, automatic translations
– Manual Only: You’ll translate content yourself
– Hybrid: Automatic with manual override capability (recommended)

10. Click Save Changes

If Using Google Translate API:


11. Go to API Settings tab
12. Enter your Google Translate API key
13. Click Save Changes
14. Skip this if using manual translations only

Step 4: Add Language Switcher (1 minute)


15. Click on the Switcher tab
16. Switcher Type: Choose a style:

– Dropdown: Simple dropdown menu
– Flags Dropdown: Dropdown with flag icons
– Floating Button: Sticky floating button
– Popup: Modal-style language selector

17. Position: Select where the switcher appears (Header, Footer, Custom)
18. Display Options: Choose to show flags, language names, or both
19. Click Save Changes

Step 5: Test Your Setup (30 seconds)


20. Visit your website’s front end (open in new tab)
21. Locate the language switcher
22. Click on a different language
23. Your page should reload with translated content
24. Verify the URL reflects the language (e.g., /es/ for Spanish)

Quick Configuration Checklist


✅ Plugin activated
✅ Default language selected
✅ Target languages chosen
✅ Translation method configured
✅ Language switcher added
✅ Front-end test successful

What Happens Now?


Automatic Translation Mode


• Content is translated on-the-fly as visitors access different language versions
• Translations are cached for performance
• Subsequent visits load instantly from cache

Manual Translation Mode


• Content displays in default language until you create manual translations
• Use the Translation Editor to add translations
• Navigate to ShahiTranslate Pro → Manual Translations to begin

Hybrid Mode (Recommended)


• Automatic translations are generated initially
• You can override any automatic translation with manual ones
• Best of both worlds: speed + accuracy

Customizing the Switcher


Want to change how the language switcher looks?

• Go to ShahiTranslate Pro → Settings → Switcher
• Adjust:

– Colors: Match your theme
– Size: Make it larger or smaller
– Position: Move it to different locations
– Animation: Add hover effects

• Use Custom CSS field for advanced styling

Common Starting Configurations


E-commerce Site


• Languages: English, Spanish, French, German
• Method: Hybrid (automatic with manual product descriptions)
• Switcher: Flags dropdown in header

Blog/Content Site


• Languages: English, Spanish, Chinese
• Method: Automatic
• Switcher: Dropdown in navigation menu

Business/Corporate Site


• Languages: English, German, Japanese
• Method: Manual (for accuracy)
• Switcher: Professional dropdown in header

Performance Tips


• Enable Caching: Make sure WordPress caching is active
• Limit Languages: Start with 3-5 languages, add more as needed
• CDN Integration: Use a CDN for faster flag image loading
• Database Optimization: Plugin auto-optimizes, but monitor performance

Next Steps


Now that you’re up and running:

• Understanding Translation Methods
• Customizing the Language Switcher
• SEO and URL Structure
• Managing Manual Translations

Need Help?


If something isn’t working as expected:

• Check Troubleshooting Guide
• Review Installation Guide to verify all steps
• Ensure your theme is compatible (most themes work out of the box)