--- title: Use multiple languages with PIM slug: configured-commerce/pim/use-multiple-languages-with-pim docTags: createdAt: 2026-08-05T19:28:06.847Z --- You can integrate multi-language capabilities directly into areas that manage customer-facing data with Optimizely Product Information Management (PIM). After you enable languages in Configured Commerce and sync to the PIM, you can enable additional languages. PIM lets you [export](docId\:o7GzYXhENYng2zlvsWt8Y) existing content for translation and [import](docId\:Y5FvCENbmUXcxEi-RwrhS) the translated data. ## Best practices If you have properties with a defined list of values (dropdown, radio button, or multi-select), you should export and translate these at the property level. Such properties are not displayed in the product export for translation because the translation does not need to be set for each product—translations of the value selected for the default language will automatically be used. If you have properties with unique values per product (text field, text area, HTML), you should export and translate these at the product level. ### Example To export data for translation, [enable multi-language in Configured Commerce](docId\:i0VfwwjNYqK6QOOtqjiDU) and [sync it to PIM](docId\:U3NNdtyHYxNklNJixoY3_) to determine the languages available. 1. Go to **Settings** and enable **ES** for Spanish. Determine which properties require translation and select the **Multi-language** checkbox for each property. 2. Go to **Data Setup** > **Properties** and update the following properties: - Product Title - Description - Features - Finish - Faucet Type - Faucet Handle Type - Faucet Installation Type 3. Select multi-language properties and click **Export** > **Export for Translation**. Select **Properties** and a **Target Language** of **ES**, and then download the export file when it is ready. Repeat the process but select **Property Values** to get the list of predefined values that need to be translated for Finish, Faucet Type, Faucet Handle Type, and Faucet Installation Type. 4. Go to **Categories** and select the following categories for translation: - Plumbing - Faucet - Kitchen - Bathroom. 5. Click **Export** > **Export for Translation**, select a **Target Language** of **ES**, and download the export file when it is ready. 6. Go to **Assets** > **Kitchen Faucets** and click **Export** > **Export for Translation**. Select a **Target Language** of **ES,** and download the export file. Repeats the process for her **Bathroom Faucet** assets. 7. On the **Products** page, locate faucet products, click **Export** > **Export for Translation**, select a **Target Language** of **ES**, and download the export file. 8. Compile export files and send them to a translation service that handles the Spanish translations. You can import the translated files back into PIM on the **Imports** page when they are translated. ## Enable multi-language Follow these steps after [enabling multi-language in Configured Commerce](docId\:i0VfwwjNYqK6QOOtqjiDU) and [syncing to the PIM](docId\:U3NNdtyHYxNklNJixoY3_): 1. Go to **Settings**. 2. Turn on **Enable** under **Multi-Language Options** for each language you want. Enabled languages display in the language drop-down list on various pages. 3. If you want to prevent the publication of products to commerce without translation for a specific language, click the desired option from the **Required to Publish** dropdown. These options change the product completeness calculation to include translations. - **Required Properties** require translation for any property required for the product's template. - **Required & Recommended** require translating any required property on the product's template and recommended properties with data for the default language. - **All Properties** require translation for any property with a value for the default language. - **None** do not require translation of any data to publish. :::hint{type="info"} **Note** The default language is defined in Configured Commerce and cannot be toggled in PIM. ::: ## Configure multi-language properties You can mark properties as multi-language *except* for the following control types: number, date picker, date/time picker, or Boolean. Multi-language properties can be edited on the product detail page when a non-default language is selected, and you can export them for translation. 1. Go to **Data Setup** > **Properties** and locate the property for multi-language. 2. Click the property name. 3. Select the **Multi-language** checkbox. 4. Click **Save**. ## Navigate multi-language content You can select the language you want to view on the **Product**, **Assets**, **Categories**, and **Properties** pages. The language you choose shows across relevant pages in the PIM. ![ChooseLanguage\_PIMPages.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/kK6CCq5RxVmB8Bmoe3G2N-20260720-144640.png) ### Product navigation The product list page adds columns for the selected language for multi-language properties and hides properties that cannot be translated. Click **Edit** to update translations for any applicable column directly in the product list. The product detail page adds a translation field for your selected language and hides any properties not marked as multi-language. ### Asset navigation The asset list page adds an **Alt Text** translation column to image assets and hides other assets when you select a non-default language. The asset detail page adds a translation field beside the **Alt Text** field for image assets when you select a non-default language. Suppose you have translated versions of other asset types, such as specification sheets, warranties, or other product documents. In that case, you can upload a version for each language and specify their language on the asset detail page. ### Categories navigation The categories list page and details page adds columns or fields for the following fields when you select a non-default language: - Name - URL Segment - Category description - Page title - Meta description - Meta keywords - Open graph title - Open graph URL ### Properties navigation The properties list page adds a **Display Name** for the selected language and hides properties not configured for multi-language when you select a non-default language. With the default language selected, you can add the multi-language column to the list using the **Column Selector** icon and then use the **Filter** icon to filter for properties flagged as multi-language.