Running a multilingual WordPress site? The PDF Embedder viewer toolbar displays in English by default, but the plugin is fully translation-ready. A .pot template file is included with the plugin, and you can use it to create a translation for any language.
This guide walks through creating a translation file using POEdit, naming and uploading it correctly, and confirming the translated strings appear in your embedded viewer.
What you need
- POEdit (free) — a desktop app for editing WordPress translation files
- FTP or file manager access to your server’s plugin directory
- Confirm your WordPress site language is set under Settings > General > Site Language
Locating the Translation Template
The plugin includes a translation template file at:
/wp-content/plugins/pdf-embedder/lang/pdf-embedder.pot
Download this file to your computer. It contains all the translatable strings from the plugin, including toolbar labels and button tooltips.
Creating Your Translation in POEdit
- Open POEdit and choose Create new translation.
- Open the
pdf-embedder.pottemplate file. - Select your target language when prompted.
- Translate each string in the editor. The source English text appears on the left; enter your translation on the right.
- Save the file. POEdit automatically generates two files: a
.posource file and a compiled.mobinary file.
Name your files using the WordPress language code format:
pdf-embedder-xx_XX.po
pdf-embedder-xx_XX.mo
Code language: CSS (css)Replace xx_XX with the language code matching your WordPress Site Language setting (for example, fr_FR for French or de_DE for German).
Uploading the Translation Files
Upload both the .po and .mo files to the /lang/ folder inside the plugin directory:
/wp-content/plugins/pdf-embedder/lang/
Both files must be present for the translation to work. The .po file defines the translated strings; the .mo file is the compiled version the plugin actually reads at runtime.
Verifying the Translation
Flush any caching plugins or server-side caches on your site, then reload a page that contains an embedded PDF. The toolbar labels and button tooltips now appear in your translated language.
If the translation does not appear, confirm that the filename matches your WordPress Site Language code exactly, and that both the .po and .mo files were uploaded to the correct /lang/ directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some common questions about translating the PDF viewer.
Do I need to re-translate after plugin updates?
Plugin updates can add new translatable strings. After updating, open your .po file in POEdit, update the template reference, and translate any new strings before re-uploading.
Can I use a translation plugin instead of POEdit?
Translation plugins like Loco Translate can manage WordPress .po and .mo files directly from the WordPress admin, which is a good alternative to the manual file process described here.