Translate PDF files via Google Translate REST API

[den...@iiitd.ac.in]

I would like to translate PDF files via the Google Translate REST API. The product page mentions that PDF translation is supported. However, I can not see anything in the API documentation on how to perform this translation [1].

Is this not possible or am I missing something?

[0] https://cloud.google.com/translate/

[1] https://cloud.google.com/translate/docs/reference/rest

[Alex (Cloud Platform Support)]

The Google Cloud Translation API cannot be currently used to directly translate files in PDF format. According to the API’s reference page the currently supported file formats include  plain-text or HTML. Therefore, PDF files will need to be converted, by any suitable third-party services available online, to plain-text or HTML first before being translated via the Translation API.

Now concerning the product’s page, PDF files are referenced in a context of suitable use cases either as Supported or Best fit for deciding whether to use the Standard or Premium edition of the Translation API. Sorry for any confusion and be aware that I have submitted a documentation bug regarding this issue for review.

[den...@iiitd.ac.in]

Thanks for the reply and submitting a documentation bug.

A tangential follow up question : I have submitted a request for Premium Edition on January 26. How long would it take for me to hear from you?

[Alex (Cloud Platform Support)]

Access to the Google Cloud Translation API Premium Edition is available to customers on a case-by-case basis and so it is not possible to give any timeframes on this matter. More information regarding this can be retrieve from the Premium Edition information page.

Since this form is processed by the the Google Translation API team you will have to wait until you get a reply from them.

Lastly, note that it is currently a Beta feature of the Google Cloud Translation API. This feature might be altered or changed in the future, and is not subject to any SLA or deprecation policy. This feature is not intended for real-time usage in critical applications.

[Tuttu PP]

Is there any update to this. Does Google Cloud Translation API support translating .pdf files directly?

[Jun (Cloud Platform Support)]

Hi, 

Per the documentation of Cloud Translation Product Suite, it looks the directly translating PDF files is not supported yet though text and HTML are supported. 

[sfwe...@google.com]

Hi, can you tell me more about your use case and need to translate PDF files via the API? 

[Ben Helgeson]

Sarah,

I have the need to translate a PDF document using the API.  The use case is this:

A user in one country uploads a contract (in French) as a PDF.  Users of the website in another country (ie. Germany) needs to view the contract, however, they need to view it in German.  We want a way, using the API, to show the translated contract (using either a link on the website to 'view the German version' or a Javascript method (which we can develop) to show the contract in German.

Currently, it would be necessary for the user to download the contract on their PC, then manually upload it into Google Translate to get a translated version.

[Music Li]

Hi Ben,

Could you please leave your email address so we can contact you about your needs for PDF translation?

Thanks!

Best,

Music