Invalid insert when adding French translation for global_description on sn_hr_core_template

ghitabahaj
Tera Expert

7 hours ago

ghitabahaj_0-1776420102337.png

ghitabahaj_1-1776420189439.png

 

Hi everyone,

I'm experiencing an issue with Field Translations in ServiceNow and hoping someone can help.

**The Problem**
I'm trying to add a French translation for the `global_description` field on the `sn_hr_core_template` table (HR Template). Every time I try to insert a new translation record via **System Localization > Translated Text**, I get an **"Invalid insert"** error.

**What I've tried**
- Using plain HTML (`<p>`, `<ul>/<li>` tags)
- Using `<div class="ewa-rteLine">` tags with encoded special characters (`&eacute;`, `&agrave;`, etc.)
- Both Insert and Submit buttons

**What's strange**
One translation record for a *different* HR Template and the same field (`Global description`) exists and works fine in our instance — so the setup is not entirely broken.

When a record does get created, the Field Name shows as **(empty)** or invalid insert only

 

Any help appreciated. Thanks!

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Naveen20
ServiceNow Employee

4 hours ago

The most likely cause is a field name mismatch in the sys_translated_text record.

Looking at your first screenshot, the field label says "Global description" but the actual column name is description_for_employee (visible just below the label). Similarly, the short description field's real name is short_description_for_employee. When "Use global descriptions for translations" is checked, these fields act as the translation source, but the underlying element name doesn't change.

What to check:

Open the existing working translation record and inspect the fieldname value — it's likely storing the actual element name (description_for_employee), not the label. Your new record may be saving an incorrect or empty element name, which explains both the "Invalid insert" and the "(empty)" Field Name you're seeing.

Recommended approach: Rather than inserting directly into Translated Text, use the blue language icon (🔵) next to the Global description field on the HR Template record itself. This ensures ServiceNow populates the documentkey, fieldname, and tablename correctly on the sys_translated_text record automatically.

If you must create it manually, set fieldname = description_for_employee, name = sn_hr_core_template, documentkey = the sys_id of your HR Template record, and language = fr.

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