Understanding and Fixing the URL Monitor %(type)n Translation Issue

If you're using the Redirection plugin in a language other than English, particularly German, you may have encountered a confusing text display in your URL Monitor settings. Instead of seeing a list of your post types (like 'Pages' or 'Posts'), you see the placeholder text %(type)n within a sentence. This guide explains why this happens and what you can do about it.

The Problem: Misplaced Placeholders

Users report seeing text like Änderungen überwachen für %(type)n in the URL Monitor options. This text is meant to say "Monitor changes for Pages" or "Monitor changes for Posts," but the dynamic variable (%(type)s) is not being replaced correctly due to a formatting error in the plugin's translation files.

Why This Happens

This is not a bug in the core Redirection plugin code. The issue originates from the community-translated language files hosted on WordPress's Translate platform. Specifically, the German translation for this string incorrectly uses the placeholder %(type)n instead of the required %(type)s. The 's' denotes a string variable, which is what the plugin expects to find and replace. The 'n' format is incorrect and breaks the functionality.

The Redirection team does not directly control these translations; they are contributed and approved by the community. Therefore, the fix must be applied within the translation system before it can be delivered in a plugin update.

How to Resolve the Issue

There are a few paths to a resolution, depending on your technical comfort level and urgency.

1. Wait for the Official Translation Update (Recommended for most users)

The most straightforward solution is to wait for the translation to be corrected on translate.wordpress.org. Once a community translator submits a fix and it is approved, it will be included in a future update of the Redirection plugin. This requires no action on your part but does require patience.

2. Contribute a Fix Yourself

If you are fluent in German and want to expedite the process, you can help the community by fixing the translation yourself.

1. Visit the Redirection translation project page.
2. Select 'German' and log in with your WordPress.org account.
3. Search for or locate the string containing %(type)n.
4. Submit a corrected translation that uses %(type)s as the placeholder.
5. Once approved by translation editors, the fix will be packaged into the plugin.

3. Use a Language File Plugin (Temporary Workaround)

For advanced users who need an immediate solution, you can use a plugin like "Loco Translate" to manually edit the translation file on your own site. This will only affect your installation.

1. Install and activate the "Loco Translate" plugin.
2. Navigate to Loco Translate → Themes and click on "Redirection".
3. Select the German language and choose to edit the translation file.
4. Find the string with the incorrect %(type)n placeholder.
5. Edit the translation to ensure the placeholder is %(type)s.
6. Save the changes. The text should now display correctly on your site.

Note: This is a temporary workaround. Your manual edit may be overwritten if the plugin or its translations are updated in the future.

Conclusion

The %(type)n display issue is a classic example of a community translation error. While it can be visually confusing, it's important to understand that the underlying URL Monitor functionality remains intact. The options are still there and will work; only the text label is affected. By following the steps above, you can either contribute to a permanent fix for all users or implement a local solution for your own website.