A simple plugin which enables a user to overwrite localization string from the WordPress core, plugins and themes, using it's own language files
Just create a subfolder named overwrites in the WP_LANG_DIR folder (most probably /wp-content/languages).
The plugin does not distinguish if a mofile is used by a plugin, theme or even the core. ~Just name it after
the textdomain, followed by the locale, separated with a dash. This is how your folder structure might look like,
if you overwrite the core, the jetpack plugin and the twentythirteen theme for the locale de_DE:
wp-content
├── languages
│ └── overwrites
│ ├── default-de_DE.mo
│ ├── jetpack-de_DE.mo
│ ├── twentythirteen-de_DE.mo
All files must be prepended with the name of the textdomain. The textdomain for the core is default.
It is not recommended to use the functionality of this plugin to overwrite a complete language file by simply copy-pasting it to forementioned folder structure. Instead it is suggested to create a new .po-file for the desired textdomain containing only those strings and their translations that would differ from the original translation file. Schematic example:
original .po-file string -> translation
your new .po-file string -> your custom translation
For the exact lineup of the .po-file please open the original .po in a texteditor of your choice. Then create a new textfile and copy the string markups matching the strings you want to translate differently over into that new textfile. When done, save it like so: textdomain-de_DE.po (your locale) Generate a .mo-file with PoEdit.
Please also see this blogpost for background info (in German language): http://kau-boys.de/1498/wordpress/wordpress-core-strings-ohne-verlust-beim-naechsten-update-ueberschreiben
- Adding a "how to" section to the readme (Thanks to @SaskiaLund!)
- Rewrite the whole plugin to an object oriented version
- Dramatically simplify the folder and naming structure, enabling themes/plugins/core to share a textdomain
- First draft plugin version using procedural programming and a rather compilcated folder structure