Setup options for pathways for multilingual learning

With the release of multilingual features for SharePoint Online communications sites, learning pathways now offers support for multiple languages. You can set up learning pathways in different kinds of ways to meet the needs of your organization. To help you decide the best path for your organization, we’ve outlined the setup options.

New install scenarios

The "new install scenarios" explain the options for installing a new instance of the learning pathways using the SharePoint Provisioning Service, now available from the SharePoint look book.

Scenario 1: We haven't installed learning pathways and need learning pathways multilingual support

If you haven't installed learning pathways and need it multiple languages, you can use the SharePoint Provisioning Service to install a new learning pathways solution with support for nine languages. English is the default language and can't be changed.

• To provision a new learning pathways solution with English as the default language for the site, see Provision a new learning pathways solution.

Scenario 2: We installed learning pathways but aren’t currently using it and/or haven’t made any customization to the site or playlists

If you installed learning pathways but aren’t actively using it, or you haven’t made any customizations to the site or playlists, you can use the SharePoint Provisioning Service to install a new solution with support for nine languages. English is the default language and can't be changed.

• To provision a new learning pathways solution with English as the default language for the site, see Provision a new learning pathways solution.

Scenario 3: We haven't installed learning pathways and don’t need multilingual support

If you haven't installed learning pathways and don’t need multilingual support, you can install it from the SharePoint Provisioning Service. English is the default language. After install, you need to turn off multilingual support.

• To provision a new learning pathways solution without multilingual support, see Provision a new learning pathways solution.

Update learning pathways (with a web part upload) scenarios

If you have an existing version of learning pathways installed, you can upload the learning pathways web part to the SharePoint App Catalog to enable multilingual support.

Scenario 1: We need to upgrade an existing version of learning pathways but don't need multilingual support

You can update learning pathways version 4.0 without multilingual support. With the update, you get a couple of new features, including an image selector for custom playlists and subcategories.

• To update an existing learning pathways solution without multilingual support, see Update learning pathways for multilingual support. The upgrade process for no multilingual support is the same as with multilingual support, but with fewer steps.

Scenario 2: We need to upgrade to multilingual support and the default language of the site collection is our default language

Learning pathways version 4.O supports multilingual pages in your site collection. In addition to multilingual support, you get a couple of new features, including an image selector for custom playlists and subcategories.

• To update an existing learning pathways site multilingual support, see Update learning pathways for multilingual support.

Update learning pathways for multilingual support with manual install

The following outlines the scenarios for updating an existing instance of the learning pathways solution to the version 4.0 multilingual version by manually installing the learning pathways web part.

Scenario 1: We need multilingual support and the default language of the site collection isn't our default language – no custom content

Learning pathways version 4.0 supports this scenario. However, this scenario assumes you don’t have custom content or playlists on the existing site. For this scenario, you can create a new SharePoint Online communication site with your default language and upload the web part, then manually set up learning pathways with a PowerShell Script.

• To set up learning pathways for multilingual support with your default language, see Manual Install of Learning Pathways for multilingual support.

Scenario 2: We need multilingual support and the default language of the site collection isn't our default language – plus we have custom content

For this scenario, you can create a new SharePoint Online communication site with your default language and upload the web part, then manually set up learning pathways with a PowerShell Script.

After you reestablish your learning pathways site by following the previously-mentioned steps, you'll need to move the contents of your CustomPlaylists list and your CustomAssets list. You can also, optionally, move the actual custom pages that make up your custom assets if they live in the existing learning pathways site, and your intent is to delete it. The task can be difficult because for all the items in the CustomPlaylists list, the ID of the list item in the CustomAssets list is buried in the JSONData field of each playlist list item. Therefore, simply moving the contents of the CustomPlaylists list from one site to the other won't be sufficient. Further, the CustomAssets list contains the absolute URL to the custom asset's page in the JSONData field of the list item. If the assets aren't moved and the site isn't renamed (thus changing the absolute URL to the asset's page), then CustomAssets can remain. But you'll need to manually correct the entries. Given the complexity of this type of migration we suggest you consider enlisting one of our learning pathways partners to assist you in making this transition.

• To set up learning pathways for multilingual support with your default language, see Manual Install of Learning Pathways for multilingual support.