Text Translation Software?

[TheShortTimer]

For ages I've got by with the web based solutions like Google Translate and the largely superior newcomer, DeepL but I'd really prefer to have a dedicated program on hand rather than being dependent on using a browser. DeepL offer exactly this for the Mac but it requires Catalina or higher and this would exclude my Daily Driver which runs on High Sierra.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I really don't mind paying for a program provided that the price is reasonable and the translation results are of a decent quality.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

I modified Apple's translation dashboard widget to use the Deepl api. https://jonathanalland.com/old-osx-projects.html

 

[TheShortTimer]

Thanks for this!

I managed to get as far as here:

4) Copy the three files in the Code folder (Translation.html, Translation.js, and translationParser.js) into /Library/Widgets/Translation/, replacing the existing versions. (You may need to option-click the Translation widget in Finder and select "Show Package Contents" to see inside.)

I neither have a Translation folder (but I've created one) nor a translation.wdgt file to place the three files within. What should I do?

 

[Wowfunhappy]

What OS are you on? Starting from the root of your hard drive, does this folder path exist?

/Library/Widgets/

Inside of there, there should be a file/bundle called Translation.wdgt. The file extension may or may not be hidden depending on your Finder preferences. Regardless, right click and select "Show Package Contents" to see inside the bundle.

Files need to go in there.

If that doesn't exist... I wonder if Apple removed their translation widget prior to removing the Dashboard in general? That's news to me, and means I need to distribute more files on my website.

If you open the dashboard and try to add a widget, is "Translation" an option?

 

[eyoungren]

For ages I've got by with the web based solutions like Google Translate and the largely superior newcomer, DeepL but I'd really prefer to have a dedicated program on hand rather than being dependent on using a browser. DeepL offer exactly this for the Mac but it requires Catalina or higher and this would exclude my Daily Driver which runs on High Sierra.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I really don't mind paying for a program provided that the price is reasonable and the translation results are of a decent quality.

Make it a Fluid app?

 

[TheShortTimer]

What OS are you on?

High Sierra.

Starting from the root of your hard drive, does this folder path exist?

/Library/Widgets/

It does.

Inside of there, there should be a file/bundle called Translation.wdgt. The file extension may or may not be hidden depending on your Finder preferences. Regardless, right click and select "Show Package Contents" to see inside the bundle.

Files need to go in there.

If that doesn't exist... I wonder if Apple removed their translation widget prior to removing the Dashboard in general? That's news to me, and means I need to distribute more files on my website.

As you can see in the above screenshot of the folder area, the file doesn't exist. I have a dual boot featuring Snow Leopard and investigated its Widgets folder...

Translation is present! Could I just copy over the Snow Leopard version into the High Sierra folder?

If you open the dashboard and try to add a widget, is "Translation" an option?

No. This is all I can see:

These are the Dashboard Preferences in System Preferences:

Make it a Fluid app?

A what?

Enlighten me, please.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

No. This is all I can see:

But if you open the Dashboard itself (show the widgets) and click the plus sign, can you add "Translation"?

Currently it's looking like Apple removed the widget at some point between 10.9 and 10.13, which surprises me. I'd be quite curious to know when it went away.

Translation is present! Could I just copy over the Snow Leopard version into the High Sierra folder?

I think so, except if you have a high-dpi screen you'll loose out on Retina support, since that was added in 10.7. It would be best to take a copy from a more recent OS (I know for sure it exists in 10.9), but that also might be more effort than it's worth. You can try the Snow Leopard one at least.

 

[TheShortTimer]

But if you open the Dashboard itself (show the widgets) and click the plus sign, can you add "Translation"?

The icon is present but with a question mark. Presumably this would change if the widget were added to the folder.

I think so, except if you have a high-dpi screen you'll loose out on Retina support, since that was added in 10.7. It would be best to take a copy from a more recent OS (I know for sure it exists in 10.9), but that also might be more effort than it's worth. You can try the Snow Leopard one at least.

I don't have any Retina Macs.

The machine in question is a 2011 13" i5 MacBook Pro with a 1920 x 1080 HDTV. I'll try the Snow Leopard one and see what happens - I can always delete it... Would anyone be kind enough to donate me the widget file from a more recent version of macOS than 10.6?

 

[eyoungren]

A what?

Enlighten me, please.

Fluid – Turn any webpage into a real Mac App

fluidapp.com

Same thing as a 'FoxBox', but based off of webkit. Fluid came first, btw.

 

[TheShortTimer]

Fluid – Turn any webpage into a real Mac App

fluidapp.com

Same thing as a 'FoxBox', but based off of webkit. Fluid came first, btw.

My goodness - this is unbelievably easy! Almost too good to be true and yet it's real.

I made short work of this...

Yep, definitely launch now!

This is fantastic! Thanks so much @eyoungren. Would I be correct in assuming that given the translations are being performed within the app itself, this means that I no longer have to concern myself with the results being stored within Firefox or Chrome etc or the DeepL server for that matter? I suppose the extremely minor disadvantage is that it will always need online access in order to get the translations from DeepL.

A trivial matter, all things considered.

 

[eyoungren]

My goodness - this is unbelievably easy! Almost too good to be true and yet it's real.

I made short work of this...

Yep, definitely launch now!

This is fantastic! Thanks so much @eyoungren.

I guess I just assumed you knew about Fluid. There's a beta version (0.9.1 I believe) that took me some time years ago to track down. It works in PowerPC and was a major reason in how I leveraged things with my PowerPC Macs. You can use Fluid to create an app for any IP address/Webpage.

Combine that with a JB app/tweak and you can have 'Messages'.

Anyway, just thought that as this is a website it should be a decent candidate for Fluid.

Would I be correct in assuming that given the translations are being performed within the app itself, this means that I no longer have to concern myself with the results being stored within Firefox or Chrome etc or the DeepL server for that matter? I suppose the extremely minor disadvantage is that it will always need online access in order to get the translations from DeepL.

A trivial matter, all things considered.

I can't answer that. I would just assume the website sees you as being online and at their website.

PS. Since it's technically a 'browser' you can change your User Agent if you like. That was useful once upon a time to fool Google Music into thinking I met system requirements.

 

[Lioness~]

I am using Translate Tab - sits in the menu bar.
Costs not much, but small simple and works great on my Macs.
So worth it to me. If another suggestion is needed....

There’s an iOS app too.

‎Translate Tab

‎Translate Tab is an easy to use translator application for quick translation between 100+ languages. The idea behind Translate Tab is to have a handy tool when you need to do some basic translation. With Translate Tab, you will be able to translate words and phrases between over 100 languages.…

apps.apple.com