Localize ATS PDF export to the active UI language

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -4,6 +4,15 @@ All notable changes to CV Manager will be documented in this file.
 
 Format follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/), versioning follows [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/).
 
+## [1.26.7] - 2026-04-15
+
+### Fixed
+- ATS PDF export is now fully localized to the selected UI language. Section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills, etc.), the "Present" label for current roles, the "Technologies:" prefix in projects, the PDF document language tag, and PDF metadata (Title, Subject) now follow the active locale instead of always appearing in English.
+
+### Added
+- Server-side i18n loader that reads the existing `public/shared/i18n/*.json` files so server-generated output can be localized.
+- New `ats.technologies_label`, `ats.pdf_title_suffix`, `ats.pdf_subject`, and `ats.name_fallback` i18n keys in all 8 locale files (`en`, `de`, `fr`, `nl`, `es`, `it`, `pt`, `zh`).
+
 ## [1.26.6] - 2026-04-15
 
 ### Fixed

CLAUDE.md

@@ -187,17 +187,39 @@ Parameter interpolation uses `{{variable}}` syntax.
 
 Every PR that adds or modifies user-visible strings **must** follow this checklist:
 
+**Before you start:** enumerate every string the feature emits to the user — UI label, toast, confirmation dialog, exported file contents, PDF heading, filename fragment, email subject, document metadata. For each one, decide whether it's rendered client-side or server-side, then pick the matching mechanism below. Missing this step is the most common way localization regressions ship.
+
 1. **No hardcoded English in JS** — Use `t('key')` for every user-visible string in `admin.js` and `scripts.js`. This includes button labels, titles, placeholders, empty-state messages, toasts, and confirmation dialogs.
 
 2. **No hardcoded English in HTML** — Use `data-i18n="key"` (text), `data-i18n-title="key"` (title attribute), or `data-i18n-placeholder="key"` (placeholder) on every element with static English text.
 
-3. **Add the key to `en.json` first** — Add the new key to `public/shared/i18n/en.json` under the appropriate namespace. This is the source of truth.
+3. **No hardcoded English in server-generated user output** — Anything `src/server.js` writes into a user-facing response must go through the server-side translation helper, not be a string literal. This covers:
+   - PDF / document exports (e.g. `/api/export/ats-pdf`)
+   - Downloadable file contents (ZIP manifests, CSV headers, etc.)
+   - Document metadata written into generated files (PDF Title, Subject, `/Lang` tag)
+   - Any API response field shown to the user verbatim (error messages, labels)
+
+   Use the `serverT(key, locale)` helper and `resolveLocale(requested)` — both live near the top of `src/server.js`. The client passes `locale: I18n.locale` in the request body; the server falls back to the stored `language` setting, then English. For PDFs, set the document `lang` metadata to the resolved locale for accessibility.
+
+   ```js
+   // In src/server.js — WRONG:
+   doc.text('Work Experience', ...);
+
+   // In src/server.js — RIGHT:
+   const locale = resolveLocale(req.body.locale);
+   const t = (key) => serverT(key, locale);
+   doc.text(t('section.experience'), ...);
+   ```
+
+4. **Add the key to `en.json` first** — Add the new key to `public/shared/i18n/en.json` under the appropriate namespace. This is the source of truth — used by both client `t()` and server `serverT()`.
+
+5. **Add the key to every other locale file** — All translation files must have the exact same set of keys. Add the translated value to each of: `de.json`, `fr.json`, `nl.json`, `es.json`, `it.json`, `pt.json`, `zh.json`. If you don't know the correct translation, use the English value as a placeholder — it will still be functional since English is the fallback.
 
-4. **Add the key to every other locale file** — All translation files must have the exact same set of keys. Add the translated value to each of: `de.json`, `fr.json`, `nl.json`, `es.json`, `it.json`, `pt.json`, `zh.json`. If you don't know the correct translation, use the English value as a placeholder — it will still be functional since English is the fallback.
+6. **Key parity is enforced by tests** — `npm run test:frontend` validates that every locale file has the same keys as `en.json` and no extra keys. The CI will fail if keys are missing or mismatched.
 
-5. **Key parity is enforced by tests** — `npm run test:frontend` validates that every locale file has the same keys as `en.json` and no extra keys. The CI will fail if keys are missing or mismatched.
+7. **Server-side output localization is enforced by tests** — When adding a new server-rendered artifact (PDF/file export, email, etc.), add a regression test in `tests/backend.test.js` that requests the artifact in two different locales and asserts the outputs differ. See the `ATS PDF export localization` describe block for the pattern. A test that only asserts status 200 won't catch a missing `serverT()` call.
 
-6. **Namespace your keys** — Follow the existing conventions (`toolbar.*`, `section.*`, `form.*`, `toast.*`, etc.). For new feature areas, create a new namespace.
+8. **Namespace your keys** — Follow the existing conventions (`toolbar.*`, `section.*`, `form.*`, `toast.*`, etc.). For new feature areas, create a new namespace.
 
 **Quick example — adding a new button:**
 ```js

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "cv-manager",
-  "version": "1.26.6",
+  "version": "1.26.7",
   "description": "Professional CV Management System",
   "main": "src/server.js",
   "scripts": {

public/shared/admin.js

@@ -3965,7 +3965,7 @@ async function fetchAtsPdfPreview() {
         const res = await fetch('/api/export/ats-pdf', {
             method: 'POST',
             headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-            body: JSON.stringify({ scale, paperSize })
+            body: JSON.stringify({ scale, paperSize, locale: I18n.locale })
         });
 
         if (!res.ok) throw new Error('Failed to generate PDF');
@@ -3993,7 +3993,7 @@ async function downloadAtsPdf() {
         const res = await fetch('/api/export/ats-pdf', {
             method: 'POST',
             headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-            body: JSON.stringify({ scale, paperSize })
+            body: JSON.stringify({ scale, paperSize, locale: I18n.locale })
         });
 
         if (!res.ok) throw new Error('Failed to generate PDF');

public/shared/i18n/de.json

@@ -395,6 +395,10 @@
     "ats.generate_failed": "ATS-Dokument konnte nicht erstellt werden",
     "ats.downloaded": "ATS-Dokument heruntergeladen",
     "ats.what_is": "Was ist ATS-Export?",
+    "ats.technologies_label": "Technologien",
+    "ats.pdf_title_suffix": "Lebenslauf",
+    "ats.pdf_subject": "Lebenslauf / CV",
+    "ats.name_fallback": "Name",
 
     "present": "Aktuell",
     "loading": "Laden...",

public/shared/i18n/en.json

@@ -395,6 +395,10 @@
     "ats.generate_failed": "Failed to generate ATS document",
     "ats.downloaded": "ATS document downloaded",
     "ats.what_is": "What is ATS Export?",
+    "ats.technologies_label": "Technologies",
+    "ats.pdf_title_suffix": "Resume",
+    "ats.pdf_subject": "Resume / CV",
+    "ats.name_fallback": "Name",
 
     "present": "Present",
     "loading": "Loading...",

public/shared/i18n/es.json

@@ -376,6 +376,10 @@
     "ats.generate_failed": "Error al generar el documento ATS",
     "ats.downloaded": "Documento ATS descargado",
     "ats.what_is": "¿Qué es la exportación ATS?",
+    "ats.technologies_label": "Tecnologías",
+    "ats.pdf_title_suffix": "Currículum",
+    "ats.pdf_subject": "Currículum / CV",
+    "ats.name_fallback": "Nombre",
 
     "present": "Actualidad",
     "loading": "Cargando...",

public/shared/i18n/fr.json

@@ -395,6 +395,10 @@
     "ats.generate_failed": "Échec de la génération du document ATS",
     "ats.downloaded": "Document ATS téléchargé",
     "ats.what_is": "Qu'est-ce que l'export ATS ?",
+    "ats.technologies_label": "Technologies",
+    "ats.pdf_title_suffix": "CV",
+    "ats.pdf_subject": "CV / Résumé",
+    "ats.name_fallback": "Nom",
 
     "present": "En poste",
     "loading": "Chargement...",

public/shared/i18n/it.json

@@ -376,6 +376,10 @@
     "ats.generate_failed": "Impossibile generare il documento ATS",
     "ats.downloaded": "Documento ATS scaricato",
     "ats.what_is": "Cos'è l'esportazione ATS?",
+    "ats.technologies_label": "Tecnologie",
+    "ats.pdf_title_suffix": "Curriculum",
+    "ats.pdf_subject": "Curriculum / CV",
+    "ats.name_fallback": "Nome",
 
     "present": "Presente",
     "loading": "Caricamento...",

public/shared/i18n/nl.json

@@ -376,6 +376,10 @@
     "ats.generate_failed": "ATS-document kon niet worden gegenereerd",
     "ats.downloaded": "ATS-document gedownload",
     "ats.what_is": "Wat is ATS-export?",
+    "ats.technologies_label": "Technologieën",
+    "ats.pdf_title_suffix": "CV",
+    "ats.pdf_subject": "CV / Curriculum vitae",
+    "ats.name_fallback": "Naam",
 
     "present": "Heden",
     "loading": "Laden...",

public/shared/i18n/pt.json

@@ -376,6 +376,10 @@
     "ats.generate_failed": "Falha ao gerar documento ATS",
     "ats.downloaded": "Documento ATS baixado",
     "ats.what_is": "O que é a exportação ATS?",
+    "ats.technologies_label": "Tecnologias",
+    "ats.pdf_title_suffix": "Currículo",
+    "ats.pdf_subject": "Currículo / CV",
+    "ats.name_fallback": "Nome",
 
     "present": "Presente",
     "loading": "A carregar...",

public/shared/i18n/zh.json

@@ -376,6 +376,10 @@
     "ats.generate_failed": "生成 ATS 文档失败",
     "ats.downloaded": "ATS 文档已下载",
     "ats.what_is": "什么是 ATS 导出？",
+    "ats.technologies_label": "技术",
+    "ats.pdf_title_suffix": "简历",
+    "ats.pdf_subject": "简历 / CV",
+    "ats.name_fallback": "姓名",
 
     "present": "至今",
     "loading": "加载中...",

src/server.js

@@ -83,6 +83,40 @@ const SECTION_DISPLAY_NAMES = {
 
 const DEFAULT_SECTION_ORDER = ['about', 'timeline', 'experience', 'certifications', 'education', 'skills', 'projects'];
 
+// Server-side i18n: load all translations once at startup so server-generated
+// content (e.g., ATS PDF export) can be localized to the user's active language.
+const I18N_DIR = path.join(__dirname, '../public/shared/i18n');
+const serverTranslations = {};
+try {
+    if (fs.existsSync(I18N_DIR)) {
+        for (const file of fs.readdirSync(I18N_DIR)) {
+            if (file.endsWith('.json')) {
+                const code = path.basename(file, '.json');
+                try {
+                    serverTranslations[code] = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(I18N_DIR, file), 'utf8'));
+                } catch (e) {
+                    console.warn(`Failed to parse translation file ${file}: ${e.message}`);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+} catch (e) { console.warn(`Failed to load server translations: ${e.message}`); }
+
+function serverT(key, locale) {
+    const loc = serverTranslations[locale] || {};
+    const en = serverTranslations['en'] || {};
+    return loc[key] || en[key] || key;
+}
+
+function resolveLocale(requested) {
+    if (requested && serverTranslations[requested]) return requested;
+    try {
+        const row = db.prepare('SELECT value FROM settings WHERE key = ?').get('language');
+        if (row && row.value && serverTranslations[row.value]) return row.value;
+    } catch (e) { /* ignore — db may not be ready or settings table may lack the key */ }
+    return 'en';
+}
+
 function checkFilesystemAccess(dir) {
     const testFile = path.join(dir, '.write-test-' + process.pid);
     try {
@@ -1894,27 +1928,32 @@ if (PUBLIC_ONLY) {
     // Uses pdfkit directly for StructTreeRoot / tagged PDF support
     app.post('/api/export/ats-pdf', async (req, res) => {
         try {
-            const { scale = 1, paperSize = 'A4' } = req.body || {};
+            const { scale = 1, paperSize = 'A4', locale: reqLocale } = req.body || {};
             const s = Math.max(0.5, Math.min(1.5, parseFloat(scale) || 1));
+            const locale = resolveLocale(reqLocale);
+            const t = (key) => serverT(key, locale);
 
             const cvData = gatherCvData();
             const p = cvData.profile || {};
             const sectionOrder = cvData.sectionOrder || [];
 
+            const MONTH_KEYS = ['jan','feb','mar','apr','may','jun','jul','aug','sep','oct','nov','dec'];
             function fmtDate(dateStr) {
                 if (!dateStr) return '';
                 if (/^\d{4}$/.test(dateStr)) return dateStr;
                 if (/^\d{4}-\d{2}$/.test(dateStr)) {
                     const [y, m] = dateStr.split('-');
-                    const months = ['Jan','Feb','Mar','Apr','May','Jun','Jul','Aug','Sep','Oct','Nov','Dec'];
-                    return `${months[parseInt(m) - 1]} ${y}`;
+                    return `${t('month.short.' + MONTH_KEYS[parseInt(m) - 1])} ${y}`;
                 }
                 return dateStr;
             }
 
             function getSectionName(key) {
                 const orderEntry = sectionOrder.find(s => s.key === key);
                 if (orderEntry && orderEntry.display_name) return orderEntry.display_name;
+                const translationKey = 'section.' + key;
+                const translated = t(translationKey);
+                if (translated !== translationKey) return translated;
                 if (SECTION_DISPLAY_NAMES[key]) return SECTION_DISPLAY_NAMES[key];
                 if (orderEntry && orderEntry.name) return orderEntry.name;
                 const cs = (cvData.customSections || []).find(s => s.section_key === key);
@@ -1935,12 +1974,12 @@ if (PUBLIC_ONLY) {
                 size: [pageW, pageH],
                 margins: { top: margin, bottom: margin, left: margin, right: margin },
                 info: {
-                    Title: `${p.name || 'CV'} - Resume`,
+                    Title: `${p.name || 'CV'} - ${t('ats.pdf_title_suffix')}`,
                     Author: p.name || '',
-                    Subject: 'Resume / CV',
+                    Subject: t('ats.pdf_subject'),
                     Keywords: (cvData.skills || []).flatMap(c => c.skills || []).join(', ')
                 },
-                lang: 'en',
+                lang: locale,
                 font: 'Helvetica'
             });
 
@@ -2027,7 +2066,7 @@ if (PUBLIC_ONLY) {
             }
 
             // --- Header ---
-            addHeading('H1', p.name || 'Name', sz(22));
+            addHeading('H1', p.name || t('ats.name_fallback'), sz(22));
             if (p.title) addParagraph(p.title, sz(12), { color: '#444' });
             if (p.subtitle) addParagraph(p.subtitle, sz(10), { color: '#666' });
 
@@ -2067,7 +2106,7 @@ if (PUBLIC_ONLY) {
                             advanceY(6);
                         }
                         const title = exp.job_title || '';
-                        const dateStr = `${fmtDate(exp.start_date)} – ${exp.end_date ? fmtDate(exp.end_date) : 'Present'}`;
+                        const dateStr = `${fmtDate(exp.start_date)} – ${exp.end_date ? fmtDate(exp.end_date) : t('present')}`;
 
                         // Job title on its own line as H3
                         ensureSpace(sz(10) * 1.3 + 4);
@@ -2113,7 +2152,7 @@ if (PUBLIC_ONLY) {
                             advanceY(6);
                         }
                         const title = edu.degree_title || '';
-                        const dateStr = `${fmtDate(edu.start_date)} – ${edu.end_date ? fmtDate(edu.end_date) : 'Present'}`;
+                        const dateStr = `${fmtDate(edu.start_date)} – ${edu.end_date ? fmtDate(edu.end_date) : t('present')}`;
 
                         // Degree on its own line as H3
                         ensureSpace(sz(10) * 1.3 + 4);
@@ -2197,7 +2236,7 @@ if (PUBLIC_ONLY) {
 
                         if (proj.description) addParagraph(proj.description, sz(9));
                         if (proj.technologies && proj.technologies.length > 0) {
-                            addParagraph(`Technologies: ${proj.technologies.join(', ')}`, sz(8.5), { color: '#666', font: 'Helvetica-Oblique' });
+                            addParagraph(`${t('ats.technologies_label')}: ${proj.technologies.join(', ')}`, sz(8.5), { color: '#666', font: 'Helvetica-Oblique' });
                         }
                         if (proj.link) addParagraph(proj.link, sz(8), { color: accentColor });
                     });