# Configure channels

<figure><img src="/files/u3XQEB1R6EPyr6hbn0PF" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="danger" %}
iTranslator NEED permissions `VIEW_CHANNEL`, `SEND_MESSAGE`, `MANAGE_WEBHOOKS`, `MANAGE_MESSAGES`, `MESSAGE_EMBED_LINKS` in **every channel** it work (sources & targets) if you want to make it work properly. Please, be sure to have these permissions **enabled** before reporting an issue!
{% endhint %}

You can have as many source and target channels as needed. Here is how to configure it!

## 1. Configure source channels

First, just run the command: `/autotranslate config channel-source`, like so:

<figure><img src="/files/mYljU9NFRNOT64DAgCVW" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Then, just configure it like so:

<figure><img src="/files/UX2gr50YfbfZofP5izy4" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

In my example the source channels will be #general & #media. Simple! Right?

## 2. Configure target channels

First, just run the command: `/autotranslate config channel-target`, like so:

<figure><img src="/files/AQFckbGwqVIcpRaQWns0" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Then, exactly like the source channels, select the channels you want!

{% hint style="info" %}
Unfortunately, due to Discord's limitations, we cannot open Select Menus with your currently configured channels already selected from the list of suggestions.
{% endhint %}

## 3. Using categories as channels

{% hint style="info" %}
This feature requires [**Premium**](/overview/premium.md).
{% endhint %}

Instead of selecting individual channels, you can select a **Discord category** as a source or target channel. This allows you to automatically translate **all channels within a category** without having to configure each one individually.

When selecting your source or target channels (using the commands above), you will see categories appear in the select menu alongside regular channels. Simply select the category you want!

### Category as a source

When a category is set as a source, **every message sent in any text channel within that category** will be automatically translated. This is especially useful if you have a category with many channels and want them all to be translated without adding each one manually.

### Category as a target

When a category is set as a target, iTranslator uses **position-based routing** to determine where to send the translations. This means it matches channels by their position within the category:

* A message sent in the **1st channel** of the source category is translated to the **1st channel** of the target category.
* A message sent in the **2nd channel** of the source category is translated to the **2nd channel** of the target category.
* And so on...

This is perfect for creating **mirrored category structures** for different languages. For example:

> **English Category**: #general-en, #support-en, #news-en\
> **French Category**: #general-fr, #support-fr, #news-fr

With this setup, messages in #general-en are automatically translated and sent to #general-fr, messages in #support-en go to #support-fr, etc.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Category-to-category routing only works when you have **exactly 1 target category** configured. You can have multiple source channels or categories, but if you have multiple target categories, the category routing will not apply.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
If the source and target are the **same category**, the translation will be sent in the same channel as the original message.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
iTranslator NEED permissions `VIEW_CHANNEL`, `SEND_MESSAGE`, `MANAGE_WEBHOOKS, MANAGE_MESSAGES`, `MESSAGE_EMBED_LINKS` in **every channel** it work (sources & targets) if you want to make it work properly. Please, be sure to have these permissions **enabled** before reporting an issue!
{% endhint %}


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