What Is Auto Language String Export?

Auto Language String Export in JCB ensures that all translatable text in your component — including labels, tooltips, descriptions, button titles, and even field names — is automatically exported into proper Joomla INI language files during compile time.

Instead of manually tracking or copying every string, JCB scans your blueprint for any value that can (or should) be translated and exports it into structured language files. This includes both frontend and backend languages and supports per-version, per-component packaging.

It simplifies internationalization, makes components multilingual-ready out of the box, and ensures consistent translation key management.

Key Features

• 🌐 Automatic Extraction: During every compile, JCB detects and extracts language strings from:
  • Fields
  • Views & Layouts
  • Menus, Titles, Toolbars
  • Config XML files
  • Snippets, Templates, and Custom Admin Views
  • Joomla Form definitions (e.g., filter/search fields)
• 📁 INI File Generation: JCB creates standard Joomla INI files:
  • en-GB.com_yourcomponent.ini (frontend)
  • en-GB.com_yourcomponent.sys.ini (admin)
  • Plus versioned folders for multi-version support (J3, J4, J5)
• 🧠 Dynamic Key Generation: Each string is given a meaningful, consistent language key (e.g., COM_MYCOMPONENT_FIELD_PUBLISHED_LABEL) based on entity type, name, and context.
• 🔄 Prevents Duplicates: Existing keys are matched to their values and not regenerated unless changed, preserving translation memory across builds.
• 🧾 Supports Custom Snippets & Templates: Any text within templates or custom layouts marked as translatable is also exported.
• 🔍 Debug View for String Count: After compile, the summary includes how many language strings were exported or updated.
• 📤 Excel Import/Export Compatible: Works seamlessly with JCB’s language Excel tool for translators — supporting export of all strings and re-import of translated versions.
• 🔧 Per-Version Language Sets: Generate language files scoped to Joomla versions, if using Joomla Powers or dynamic logic that differs across J3–J5.

Use Cases

• 🧩 Automatically generate translatable labels for every field in your component
• 🌍 Prepare multilingual support in seconds — without hunting for each string
• 📘 Build client-ready components that follow Joomla language standards
• 💼 Hand INI files to translators or export everything into Excel format for bulk translation
• 🔁 Regenerate all language files after content changes, with no manual editing

How It Works

1. During compile, JCB scans your entities (fields, layouts, views, config, etc.).
2. Any value marked or detected as translatable is converted into a language constant.
3. The constant is added to the appropriate INI file with the original value as the translation string.
4. Files are written to the component's language folder, with per-version support.

🧠 Pro Tip: You can customize the prefix and key patterns in JCB’s language settings — making it easy to namespace large projects.

Learn More

• 📘 JCB Wiki: Language Management
• 🎥 Video: Multilingual Joomla Components with JCB
• 🧾 Reference: Excel Language Export Tool
• 🔗 Joomla Docs: Language File Structure

Conclusion

Auto Language String Export saves you from tedious translation management. Whether you’re building a personal extension or distributing a commercial multilingual product, this feature ensures your Joomla components are cleanly internationalized — automatically, reliably, and ready for global use.