Custom Help Text translation on Standard Field Metadata API

Question

I have a custom help text on a standard field. I am able to translate the custom help text using translation workbench, however I am unable to retrieve the corresponding metadata from either a sandbox or scratch org.

For context, translation workbench is enabled and the language is active for translations.

Is this a limitation of metadata API? Is the only way forward to add the standard field help text translation manually in each environment?

I included the following in my package.xml : `

<types>
<members>Lead.Phone</members>
<name>CustomField</name>
</types>

<types>
<members>Lead-fr</members>
<name>CustomFieldTranslation</name>
</types>

<types>
<members>Lead</members>
<name>CustomObject</name>
</types>

<types>
<members>Lead-fr</members>
<name>CustomObjectTranslation</name>
</types>

<types>
<members>fr</members>
<name>translation</name>
</types>` 

I am also retrieving all standard value set translations and global value set translations

Answer 1

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like helptext is exposed through the Metadata API.

You can, however, export all of the values in your translation workbench into an XLIFF or STF file and import them into another org. Inconvenient, but certainly better than manually adding them.

Go to Setup, under Translation Workbench select "Export". From here, export Bilingual. This creates a collection of files that includes both the source and translation for each language activated in your org which you'll want in order to move the translations. Source meanwhile is used for handing off to a translator for a complete translation of the source language and Untranslated is to translate translations marked as "Out of Date" or that don't currently have a translation in a target language.

Once exported, in your target org, go to Setup and under Translation Workbench click "Import" to upload translations.

While this should be as seamless as possible, Salesforce also has an example export file and tips on formatting should you run into issues.