PDF translation

Jump to First Reply
pbpb
Posted:
in Mac Software edited January 2014
I have a couple of PDFs in german and I would like to have them translated in english. I looked around and I cannot find a free translator capable to read PDF files (yes, even a lame automated translation would give me a good idea about the content). Only the free web services for text and URLs seem to exist (and some commercial Windows-specific solutions for PDF translation). PDF is supposed to be one of the core OS X technologies, and still more than 5 years after its introduction such a translation utility does not exists. Or so I think.



Any help much appreciated.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 5
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Preview. Text tool. Select all. Save to text file. Submit for translation.



    Automator to make it easier.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 2 of 5
    pbpb Posts: 4,255member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Kickaha

    Preview. Text tool. Select all. Save to text file. Submit for translation.





    I know, I just leave it as a last resort. The problem is that this method does not preserve formatting (paragraphs etc.) and moreover there are many accented characters that need corrections after pasting the text to a web translation form. Also, the big characters with which new paragraphs begin, dissapear completely in transit to Text Edit.



    Quote:



    Automator to make it easier.




    Still Panther here.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 5
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Bummer.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 4 of 5
    jabohnjabohn Posts: 598member
    Adobe Reader can save the file to text too. Have you tried that to see if it does a good job?
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 5
    pbpb Posts: 4,255member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by jabohn

    Adobe Reader can save the file to text too. Have you tried that to see if it does a good job?



    I tried that in a Windows machine I am on now, and it certainly does a better job. Not at the point I would like, but better. I am curious to see if it works the same way with Adobe Reader for OS X.



    Thanks both for the suggestions (jabohn and Kickaha).
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
Sign In or Register to comment.