Translation tools and file formats
Send your files in the format you already have. We translate Word, InDesign, PowerPoint, Storyline, JSON, XLIFF, subtitle files and more, and return them in the same format, ready to print, publish or import. Translation runs in CAT tools such as Trados, memoQ and Phrase.
Common formats we receive. Send a sample if yours isn't here.
Why the format matters
If we translate in your original file, you get back something you can use straight away: an InDesign file ready for print, a JSON file ready to merge, a SCORM package ready to upload. Copying text into Word and back loses formatting, breaks code and adds days of rework, so we avoid it.
Translators work in CAT tools, which keep your formatting and code safe while they translate, reuse your translation memory and check terminology as they go.
Formats by type
- Office documents
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Docs and Slides, PDF, OpenDocument
- Design and print
- InDesign (INDD, IDML), QuarkXPress, Illustrator, Photoshop, Figma, print PDF
- Web and software
- JSON, XLIFF, iOS .strings, Android XML, .po, YAML, .resx, HTML, Markdown
- E-learning
- Articulate Storyline and Rise, SCORM and xAPI packages, HTML5
- Video and audio
- SRT, WebVTT, After Effects, Premiere Pro, MP4, MOV, WAV, MP3
- eBooks
- EPUB 3, Kindle, fixed-layout and reflowable
- Scans and images
- Scanned PDF, TIFF, JPG and PNG, through OCR first
- Translation and data
- TMX, TBX, Trados and memoQ packages, XLIFF, JSONL, CSV, TSV
Tools we work in
Your tools if you have them. Ours if you don't.
CAT tools
Trados, memoQ and Phrase, with your translation memories and termbases kept intact.
Layout
Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop, QuarkXPress and Figma. More on DTP.
E-learning
Articulate Storyline 360 and Rise 360. More on e-learning.
Video
Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, and subtitle editors. More on video.
Localization platforms
Your platform or repository for app and web strings. Platforms to confirm
Annotation tools
Your labeling tool, or Label Studio or CVAT when you don't have one. More on annotation.
Related services
Questions about tools and formats
What is a CAT tool?
A CAT (computer-assisted translation) tool is software translators use to work through a file sentence by sentence. It protects formatting and code, stores translations in a translation memory for reuse, and checks terminology. It is not machine translation; a person still translates.
What file formats can you translate?
Most common formats, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, InDesign, PDF, HTML, JSON, XLIFF, Storyline and subtitle files. If your format isn't listed, send a sample and we'll check it before quoting.
Can you translate a scanned PDF?
Yes. We convert it to editable text with OCR first, then translate it and rebuild the layout. The quote shows the conversion and translation separately.
Do you work in Trados or memoQ?
Yes. We work in Trados, memoQ and Phrase, accept packages from your system, and return them with your translation memories intact.
Send a file to check
Send a sample in your format, or book a call. We confirm we can work with it and send a quote.
- Phone
- +44 20 3290 0116
- Phone hours
- Weekdays 9:30 to 16:00, weekends 9:30 to 12:00, UK time