Articulate Localization
Technical Limits
Where One-Click ends and QA begins
This article explains the key technical limits of Articulate Localization so you can plan international rollouts, multiple languages, and voice-overs without surprises.
It provides a practical reality check on where “one-click” translation ends and where manual work, review, and technical QA begin.
It breaks down common technical gaps such as text in media, update handling issues, layout/DTP challenges, and increased complexity with Storyline logic.
This is Post 3 of 5 on our deep-dive series on Articulate Localization in Storyline and Rise. Click on the button to go back to the overview.
1) The media mix:
Anything that is not "pure text" is often left out.
The most important reality check is simple: Articulate translates text blocks well.
Everything that is visually embedded or “external” quickly becomes a manual part of the project.
Typical cases that One-Click does not solve automatically
Images with text
Screenshots, infographics, UI illustrations: The text in the image remains in the original language. You have to replace the image or work with overlays.
PDFs and embedded documents
Integrated guides, infographics, handouts: are not translated automatically. You have to translate them externally and embed them again.
Videos with on-screen text
Text that is “burned into the video” or faded in remains untranslated. Subtitles can help, but do not always replace the visual text.
Storyline blocks in Rise
A completely special case: interactive storyline embeddings are not translated “on the side”. This requires a separate workflow.
Consequence: The click delivers a text version, but you still need to know where language is everywhere.
2) Updates without change tracking:
The silent cost driver
One of the trickiest parts in practice is not the initial translation, but the update.
Typical scenario
You change a small detail in the original course, a word or a sentence. And then the following happens:
- Sections are retranslated
- Previous corrections (e.g., terminology or style) may be overwritten
- There is no clear indication of exactly which content is affected
This is not a big deal for small, text-heavy courses.
For complex courses with many lessons and multiple languages, it quickly becomes time-consuming and error-prone because reviewers cannot specifically check “only changes” but must compare manually.
Practical solution (workaround, not sexy, but effective):
- Consistently mark or document changes in the source course.
- Create comparison versions (e.g., export/views) so that reviewers can compare specific sections
- Schedule regression checks as a fixed project step
3) Layout and DTP:
Translation does not respect text boxes
Machine translation does not take layout into account. It simply “inserts text.”
And that’s exactly where classic DTP work comes in, especially in Storyline:
- Text runs out of boxes
- Buttons are too small or too large
- Line breaks look messy
- Subtitles become too long or difficult to read
- Animations and timings no longer fit
Mnemonic: Using One-Click does not automatically save DTP.
It only postpones it and must be planned for accordingly.
4) Storyline:
A new model, new opportunities, new complexity
In Storyline, localization offers a special feature: multiple languages can access the same layout elements (text boxes, buttons, media). In certain cases, this can simplify DTP because adjustments are applied centrally.
However, as soon as different media are required for each language (voice-overs, localized graphics), the advantage is offset by increased complexity.
Example: Voice-overs in 10 languages
Then you need logic that plays the right file depending on the language:
- “Play EN audio if course = English”
- “Play DE audio if course = German”
- etc.
Sounds feasible. It is.
But with many languages and many cue points, it quickly becomes confusing:
- 10 languages = 10 conditions
- 3 cue points per scene = 30 triggers
- plus checking whether all triggers fire cleanly
In the past, there was often “one storyline file per language.” That wasn’t elegant, but it was clear.
Now it’s centralized, but the complexity has shifted to the trigger and media logic.
Important: This is not an argument against localization. It is an argument for planning.
5) Mini checklist:
Technical QA after One-Click
If you want to use Articulate Localization, you must plan for these checks:
Media mix
• Images localized with text?
• PDFs translated and correctly integrated?
• Videos: On-screen text taken into account?
• Subtitles: length, breaks, timing checked?
Storyline/Interactions
• Triggers/variables/states tested in all language paths?
• Language-dependent media logic (audio, graphics) correct?
• Interactive elements: tooltips, buttons, feedback texts checked?
Layout/DTP
• Text overflows, truncated elements, uneven line breaks?
• Responsive behavior (Rise) checked in typical viewports?
Update security
• Changes documented?
• Regression check performed?
• Previous corrections (terminology/style) retained after updates?
Conclusion:
One-Click is a tool. The rest is craftsmanship.
Articulate Localization can offer a quick start.
But without technical QA, the localized course can quickly become a patchwork quilt: mixed languages in the media mix, layout problems, overlooked updates.
Those who are aware of these limitations can use localization very effectively.
Those who underestimate them save minutes at the beginning and lose days later on.
Related posts in this series
Introduction: Articulate Localization in a reality check 
Post 1: What One-Click translates and what it doesn’t
Post 2: Machine translation vs. human review
Post 4: Ensuring terminology and consistency
Post 5: Realistic cost planning (where the effort really lies)
Conclusion: A brief summary overview
FAQ
Technical questions about Articulate Localization (media, updates, Storyline)
Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about Articulate Localization. We have compiled the most important information for you. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
Does Articulate Localization really translate "everything in the course"?
No. Primarily, text that is available as text in the course editor is translated. Content such as text in images, embedded PDFs, on-screen text in videos, and certain interactive special cases are often left out or require separate workflows.
What happens during updates: Will our corrections remain intact?
Partially, but this is precisely where the risk arises. When sections are retranslated, previous corrections (terminology, style, manual adjustments) may be overwritten. Without clear change documentation and regression checks, this quickly becomes prone to errors, especially when multiple languages are involved.
Can you check "only the changes" after an update?
Not as reliable as in traditional translation or QA workflows. In practice, this means that you need an internal process that clearly marks or documents changes in the source course so that reviewers can specifically check what is really new.
How do I handle text in screenshots, graphics, or infographics?
Articulate does not recognize this text automatically. You have to localize the graphic separately (rebuild/replace image) or use alternatives (overlays, additional text modules, replacement graphics). It is important that the media mix is systematically recorded before the rollout.
And videos: Are subtitles enough?
Sometimes. If the video content remains understandable and the on-screen text does not play a major role, subtitles may be the quickest solution. However, as soon as terms appear in the video (UI, process steps, diagrams), these must be visually localized or the video must be adapted, otherwise the language will remain mixed.
Why does Storyline with Localization quickly become complex when we use voice-overs?
Because different media must be played for each language. This leads to language-dependent logic (triggers/conditions) and can grow significantly with many languages and cue points. It is feasible, but not “free”: planning, structure, and testing become more important.
Does Localization really save DTP time in Storyline?
Sometimes, because layout adjustments can have a central effect. However, translation does not respect text boxes or timings. As soon as texts become longer, classic DTP tasks begin (overflows, breaks, button sizes, timing, subtitle lengths). With many languages, the DTP workload can even increase if media varies per language.
What is the most important technical "must-have" step to ensure that nothing embarrassing happens live?
A fixed technical QA block before publication: media mix check, layout/DTP check, interaction and language path tests (especially storyline), plus regression check after updates. Without this step, “one-click” is simply a faster way to produce problems.
15 minutes of clarity instead of project surprises
If you want to use Articulate Localization (or already do) and want to know whether One-Click really saves time in your setup, let’s take a quick look at it together:
- Course structure (Rise, Storyline, Blends)
- Media mix (UI, subtitles, optional audio)
- Languages, update frequency
- Your review and approval process
TRANSLATION
“Made in Germany” from Baden-Württemberg stands for quality worldwide, and we are committed to upholding this reputation. A high-quality translation should be easy to read, easy to understand, and indistinguishable from an original text in the target language. That is our standard.
