Understanding Language Support in PeopleSoft

A key part of any multiple-country system is language support. PeopleSoft streamlines the process of using multiple languages. For example, to change from one language to another during a session, you change the contents of only one field, and the system changes to the new language. You can change from German to English to French and back to German all in one session. This section introduces you to language support in PeopleSoft.

PeopleSoft uses several methods to ensure full multilingual capabilities. PeopleTools contains built-in ways of translating field labels, page displays, and menu items. When you log in to the system, everything appears in your language of preference, assuming that it has been translated.

If you modify PeopleSoft by adding new fields, pages, or menu items, you can use the built-in PeopleTools capabilities to translate those items into your supported languages.

To maintain full language capability when you modify your application, you enter translations of any new items. If you use only one language and enter new items in that language, that's fine. However, if you use more than one language and you do not translate the new items, they appear in your original language, even when you change to another language. Then you may see more than one language on your page.

Note: The translation of objects that we deliver is performed once, before we distribute the system, and includes all the pages and menu items that are in the application. However, you must translate new field labels and any data―names, comments, long descriptions, and short descriptions―for each new record that you create or in the data that you add.

For more information about language support in PeopleSoft, see PeopleSoft Supported Languages and Delivered Translations (Doc ID 2989920.1) and PeopleTools: Global Technology.