Selection lists are a limitation when working with multilingual SharePoint sites, for example, for the collection of categories, Status etc.. In contrast to list names and column titles this can appear not automatically in a language other, If users from different linguistic regions to work together on a SharePoint Web page.

A quite elegant way, Selection lists to implement really multilingual, is the use of managed metadata or also so-called taxonomy fields. These can be centrally in SharePoint (also in SharePoint online/Office365) be set up. The following description refers to Office365, Proceed on an installed SharePoint Server is almost identical. The only difference is, that on a SharePoint Server you must configure a managed metadata service in Central Administration, in SharePoint online/Office365 Office365 administrators will use the management console.

In the management console, click on Manage terminology storage.

To create your own term store for our lists, You need first to the Group of Terminology storage administrators (What a Word) Add and Save.

Then you can more Working languages Add to the default language of English, in our example in German.

With the right mouse button, click the default specified term store, and you create a new group..

Because just a multilingual list should be created, set a group leader, and save the Group. Then click the drop-down arrow of the created group (Right click works too), and apply a new list with New term set.

Give you match the language setting a label for the list, for example Category. Now you can use any list entries Create expression Add in the current language.

Then change the language to the desired target language and accordingly amend the entries, by you the translation in the field Standard label Enter.

After you have prepared a list of, can include them anywhere on a SharePoint page in lists or document libraries. To add a column of type in the settings of the list or document library Managed metadata Add. Select you below under expression set settings that just create list, and click on OK. As long as you wish, can provide also a default value for the selection.

Then, each user sees the selection in each of its language. Same as internal system only, unique entry deposited will, is "Big Toy" from the entry, the English user sees the, automatically "Big toy", When the German user displays the list entry.

The selection is done either via the Picker or by entering one or more initials, also the one advantage to the rather old-fashioned standard list selections.

The SharePoint managed metadata can also for further Requirements, about hierarchical picklist, be used. Use as a simple, but very functional lists replacement with built-in multilingualism is but very practical in multilingual environments.

PS: SharePoint allows also a longer list import, but supports only monolingual lists

For larger rollout of SharePoint, you should initially purely from an organizational perspective Requirements captured with the technology departments and are structured. For this purpose own itself (GGF. externally moderated) Interviews or internal workshops only a rollout for the real operation should be planned. A good entry point, If something cluttered, offers Governance in SharePoint Server 2010 or. the SharePoint collaboration governance plan.

Also, which should rather from a technical standpoint, “Overall planning and architecture” and “Planning the site structure” These resources can be considered, GGF. accompanied by an IT consultant.

At the same time, it makes sense, the existing in-House know-how through implementation of a test environment to expand and ggf. involve external expertise, targeted to the internal SharePoint expertise and fast to build up.

Helpful resources / links for entry into the planning

The following links offer an introduction to the often somewhat confusing information to Microsoft SharePoint, replace the cooperation but definitely not with a competent SharePoint consulting partner. Just for the transport of international/multilingual sites there are a number of pitfalls. continue reading…

Internationally active companies face special challenges, to simplify the cross-border communication of employees with each other and to create a global corporate identity. A special importance here the internal technical communication facilities, as personal meetings are time-consuming and expensive. Even if teams from different countries together to work in corporate departments, is a technical platform useful, It allows not only a central file storage, but also multilingual communication support. A more or less extensive translation management should be added to the pure provision of multilingual information on the corporate network or intranet, usually, different translator in several countries are needed and coordinated by a translation Department. continue reading…