Alt text is retrieved for images imported from CMP-DAM in Optimizely CMS 12.

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:47:34 GMT

Introduction

Although image alt text is stored as metadata in CMP/DAM, it is not automatically rendered in browser HTML. This document outlines the solution implemented in Optimizely CMS to retrieve and render this metadata correctly.

Steps :

1) Create image file class and inherit with ImageData.

public class ImageFile : ImageData
{
    [Display(Name = "Alt text", Order = 10)]
    public virtual string AltText { get; set; }
}

2) Create image file view model

public class ImageFileViewModel
{
    public string AltText { get; set; }
}

3) Create image file request and paas in-built DAMAssetIdentity

public class ImageFileRequest : IRequest<ImageFileViewModel>
{
    public ImageFileRequest(DAMAssetIdentity damAsset, CultureInfo culture)
    {
        Culture = culture;
        ImageFileReference = damAsset;
    }
    public DAMAssetIdentity ImageFileReference { get; set; }
    public CultureInfo Culture { get; }
}

4) Create image file request handler and fetch Alt text from Dam using DAMAssetIdentity metadata

public async Task<ImageFileViewModel> Handle(ImageFileRequest request, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
 {
     if (request?.ImageFileReference != null)
     {
               temp.AltText = request?.ImageFileReference?.Metadata?.DAMAssetInfo?.AltText;
     }
     return temp;
 }

5) If in case while fetching alt text from Dam and if we will get DAMAssetInfo is null due to unaxpected behavior then we will use IDAMAssetMetadataService showing below

if (temp.Metadata?.DAMAssetInfo == null)
{
           var temp2 = ServiceProviderExtensions.GetInstance<IDAMAssetMetadataService>(ServiceLocator.Current).GetAssetMetadata(ExtractAssetGuid(temp).Value).Result;
        altText = temp2?.AltText;
    }
}

6) After fetching Alt text successfully then we will pass in view.

Above i have added only neccesary code other can add according to requirements.
Below references added for CMP-DAM configuration and assets sync.

Important Links

https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/content-management-system/v1.0.0-CMS-SaaS/docs/manage-assets-with-dam

https://world.optimizely.com/blogs/robert-svallin/dates/2025/2/cmp-dam-asset-graph-self-service/

https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/content-management-system/docs/cmp-dam-in-cms

Custom Deepl Glossary Translation in Optimizely CMS

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:29:08 GMT

Introduction in this post, I have created a custom DeepL glossary translation for specific words. For example, when translating from English to German, the standard translation for "Hello" is "Hallo." However, using my custom DeepL glossary, I want "Hello" to be translated as a custom word like "Ollha." This custom translation will override the normal Optimizely auto-translation and ensure that the glossary-defined terms are used instead.

Repository link for reference

https://github.com/mattpallatt/MP.LanguageManager.DeepLTranslate

1) Install nuget package MP.LanguageManager.DeepLTranslate

dotnet add package MP.LanguageManager.DeepLTranslate --version 1.0.9

2) Create DeepLTranslateProvider class

public class DeepLTranslateProvider : IMachineTranslatorProvider
{
private readonly Injected<IOptions<DeepLOptions>> _options;

public string DisplayName => "DeepL Web Translator";

public DeepL.Formality DLFormality = DeepL.Formality.Default;
public string EnglishType = "";
public string authkey = "";
public string AutoGlossary = "";
public string GlossaryList = "";

public bool Initialize(ITranslatorProviderConfig config)
{
var languageManagerOptions = new LanguageManagerOptions();
var languageManagerConfig = new LanguageManagerConfig(languageManagerOptions);
authkey = languageManagerConfig.ActiveTranslatorProvider.SubscriptionKey;
var options = _options.Service.Value;
var dlfv = "default";

try
{
dlfv = (options.Formality.ToLower() == "default" || options.Formality.ToLower() == "more" || options.Formality.ToLower() == "less" || options.Formality.ToLower() == "preferless" || options.Formality.ToLower() == "prefermore") ? options.Formality.ToLower() : dlfv;
EnglishType = (options.English.ToLower() == "en-gb" || options.English.ToLower() == "en-us") ? options.English.ToLower() : "en-gb";
AutoGlossary = (options.AutoGlossary == "0" || options.AutoGlossary == "1") ? options.AutoGlossary : AutoGlossary;
GlossaryList = options.GlossaryList;
}
catch { }

// free API authorisation keys end in :fx...
if (authkey.EndsWith(":fx"))
{
// ...set the formality to Default, as this is a Pro feature
DLFormality = DeepL.Formality.Default;
}
else
{
DLFormality = dlfv.ToLower() switch
{
"less" => DeepL.Formality.Less,
"more" => DeepL.Formality.More,
"preferless" => DeepL.Formality.PreferLess,
"prefermore" => DeepL.Formality.PreferMore,
_ => DeepL.Formality.Default,
};
}
return true;
}

public TranslateTextResult Translate(string inputText, string sourceLanguage, string targetLanguage)
{
var translateTextResult = new TranslateTextResult
{
IsSuccess = true,
Text = ""
};

if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(inputText))
{
return translateTextResult;
}

try
{
var n = DoTranslate(inputText, sourceLanguage, targetLanguage);
n.Wait();

translateTextResult.Text = n.Result.ToString();
translateTextResult.IsSuccess = true;
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
translateTextResult.IsSuccess = false;
translateTextResult.Text = "An unexpected error occurred: " + ex.Message + ex.InnerException;
}

return translateTextResult;
}
public async Task<TextResult> DoTranslate(string inputText, string sourceLanguage, string targetLanguage)
{

var slci = new CultureInfo(sourceLanguage);
var tlci = new CultureInfo(targetLanguage);
string tl = tlci.TwoLetterISOLanguageName.ToString();

// deal with PT, ZH (xx-xx) language codes
if (tl == "pt" || tl == "zh")
{
tl = targetLanguage;
}
// dealing with depreciated "en" target language code using default EN code
else if (tl == "en")
{
tl = EnglishType;
}
// reset the glossary ID
string glossaryID = "";

var translator = new DeepL.Translator(authkey);

if ((AutoGlossary == "1") || (GlossaryList.Contains($"[{slci}>{tlci}]")))
{
System.Threading.Tasks.Task<GlossaryInfo[]> n = translator.ListGlossariesAsync();
n.Wait();
List<GlossaryInfo> GI = n.Result.ToList();
glossaryID = GI.FirstOrDefault(item => item.SourceLanguageCode == slci.ToString() && item.TargetLanguageCode == tlci.ToString())?.GlossaryId;
}

var translatedText = await translator.TranslateTextAsync(
inputText,
slci.TwoLetterISOLanguageName.ToUpper(),
tl.ToUpper(),
new TextTranslateOptions { Formality = DLFormality, TagHandling = "html", GlossaryId = glossaryID }
);

return translatedText;
}
}
public class DeepLOptions
{
public string Formality { get; set; }
public string English { get; set; }
public string AutoGlossary { get; set; }
public string GlossaryList { get; set; }
public string ignoreExistingPages { get; set; }
}

3) Create API Controller

[HttpPost]
[Route("/api/v1/glossary/create")]
public async Task<ActionResult> Create([FromBody] GlossaryDTO glossaryDTO)
{
var timer = Stopwatch.StartNew();
GlossaryInfo glossaryInfo = null;

try
{
if (glossaryDTO != null)

{
glossaryInfo = await _glossary.CreateGlossaryAsync(glossaryDTO.Name, glossaryDTO.SourceLang, glossaryDTO.TargetLang, glossaryDTO.GlossaryEntries);
}

}
catch (Exception ex)
{
_logger.LogError(nameof(Index), ex, "Error GlossaryController getting GlossaryController");
return StatusCode(500, new { message = ex.Message });
}

timer.Stop();

_logger.LogInformation(nameof(Index), $"Timer took {timer.ElapsedMilliseconds}ms");

return new JsonResult(new { message = glossaryInfo != null ? "Glossary has been created" : "Glossary is not created", glossary = glossaryInfo });

}

4) Do App setting configurations

5) Set up Deepl Web Translator in Language manager plug in.

To use the DeepL Translator to perform automated translations make sure it's selected as Translator Provider in the settings of the Language Manager

6) Create Glossary block and on view create glossaries. Set access right on block hide from visitors.

6) Do auto translation from Language gadget.

Blog posts by Deepmala S

Alt text is retrieved for images imported from CMP-DAM in Optimizely CMS 12.

Custom Deepl Glossary Translation in Optimizely CMS