Many FileMaker applications can benefit from multilingualism, for example for the user interface, for document output and much more. However, translations are labour-intensive and require good linguistic know-how.

“TWD, Translate With DeepL” is a free add-on for FileMaker, with which translations can be automated. The add-on translates using DeepL and uses their API interface.

How does it work?

The DeepL API requires an input text and returns an output in one of the available languages.

The add-on assumes a single text field, which as a repeating field should have as many repetitions as languages. The first repetition is the input text. The output goes in one of the repeats for that field. Using repeating fields is far more flexible and powerful than separate fields for each language. The add-on manages the number of languages dynamically and calculations based on the repetitions are easy to create.

If a data set is translated, then the first column (first repetition) is given as input for DeepL. As many columns and languages are now specified, the add-on now processes the translation as often. All existing columns/languages are translated one after the other. Any data sets can also be processed in sequence. We judged this to be the most efficient way to handle multiple languages.

If you are already working with your own table for translations, you can easily specify this. However, the translations must be written in repetitions of this field. Therefore, make sure that the structure is the same as the sample database in the add-on indicates.