Currently, no version of ILIAS can switch help file languages with the user's language preference. Even if you have the help file translated to another language and upload that file in ILIAS, you still won’t be able to use more than one language.

Instructions on how to use the original online help in German can be found here- https://docu.ilias.de/ilias.php?ref_id=3255&cmdClass=ilrepositorygui&cmdNode=8m&baseClass=ilRepositoryGUI

In case your main language is English though, you would like to have the online help in English, and you are not planning to switch between English and another language, then here is a workaround you could use:

STEP #1

  • Translate the original German package to English.
    We understand that this might be a challenging task. If you do not have the resources to do that, you can subscribe to ILIAS Tutorials and download the latest file version.
  • DO NOT rename any of the files in the package!
  • DO NOT rename the output .zip file! It should use the same name as the original German file (for example, for ILIAS 8, your package file should be named 1716796308__6127__lm_190.zip).
  • In your ILIAS installation, open "Administration" > "System Settings and Maintenance" > "Help System".
  • Upload your translated .zip package as an online help package. The upload may take several minutes.
  • Click Activate to the right of the Help title.

STEP #2

Change the help system language from 'de' to 'en' in the following four files:

  • in Services/Help/classes/class.ilHelp.php
    replace
    if ($ilUser->getLanguage() != "de") {
    with
    if ($ilUser->getLanguage() != "en") {
  • in Services/Help/classes/class.ilHelpGUI.php
    replace
    if ((OH_REF_ID > 0 || $module_id > 0) && $ilUser->getLanguage() == "de") {
    with
    if ((OH_REF_ID > 0 || $module_id > 0) && $ilUser->getLanguage() == "en") {
  • in Services/Help/classes/class.ilHelpMapping.php
    replace
    if ($ilUser->getLanguage() != "de") {
    with
    if ($ilUser->getLanguage() != "en") {
  • in Services/Help/GlobalScreen/classes/trait.ilHelpDisplayed.php
    replace
    if ($user->getLanguage() != "de") {
    with
    if ($user->getLanguage() != "en") {

STEP #3

  • If you did not have that already, set your language to "English" and click on the ? in the top right corner.

ILIAS will open the slate with the help.