How to Modify Dedecms for an English Website

Introduction

Dedecms, a popular content management system (CMS) in China, can be adapted for English websites. This guide will walk you through the necessary steps to modify Dedecms to support English content.

Prerequisites

Dedecms installed on your server

Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and PHP

FTP access to your server

A text editor (e.g., Notepad++, Sublime Text)

Step 1: Language Files

1、Locate Language Files:

Dedecms stores language files in thelang directory within the CMS installation path.

2、Download English Language Pack:

If Dedecms doesn’t come with an English language pack, you can download one from the Dedecms community forums or create your own by translating the existing Chinese language files.

3、Upload Language Files:

Using FTP, upload the English language files to thelang directory.

Step 2: Modify Template Files

1、Identify Template Files:

Dedecms uses template files to control the layout and design of your website. Locate the template files in thetemplates directory.

2、Search and Replace:

Use a text editor to search for Chinese characters or phrases in the template files and replace them with their English equivalents.

3、HTML Attributes:

Ensure that all HTML attributes likealt,title, andclass are in English to maintain consistency.

4、CSS Styles:

Rename any Chinese class names or IDs in your CSS files to English names.

Step 3: Update Meta Tags

1、Header Tags:

Replace thetitle andmeta description tags with English text.

2、URLs:

If possible, use English URLs for better SEO. You can do this by modifying the URL rewrite rules in the system settings.

Step 4: Modify System Settings

1、Admin Language:

Change the admin panel language to English in the system settings.

2、Date Format:

Set the date format to a format commonly used in Englishspeaking countries (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY).

3、Currency:

If your website deals with financial transactions, change the currency settings to a currency used in Englishspeaking countries.

Step 5: Test the Website

1、Browser Compatibility:

Test the website in different browsers to ensure it displays correctly.

2、Language Accuracy:

Proofread all content to ensure it is accurate and free of grammatical errors.

3、Functionality:

Check all features and functionalities of the website to ensure they work as expected.

Step 6: SEO Optimization

1、Keywords:

Optimize your content with English keywords for better search engine ranking.

2、Sitemaps:

Generate an XML sitemap in English and submit it to search engines.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully modify Dedecms for an English website. Remember to test thoroughly and consider SEO best practices to ensure your website reaches an international audience.