When we translate some PDF files, sometimes I found it’s a bit intractable to convert the PDF into some editable files.

The general method is to use Adobe Acrobat or some other software to convert it to WORD file directly. But most of the time, the content in WORD file will still remain un-editable. Or sometimes the format will be in disorder, then we have to adjust page by page.

In order to manage the translation files more easily, we can request the client supply us the source file, such as Indesign, pagemaker, framemaker format, and the picture of the PDF. For this step, we can check the attribute of the PDF, then we can find with which tool, the PDF is made from.

If we are unable to get the source file, then we can use the WORD file to simulate the DTP of PDF.If we can get the source file, we should open the file using Indesign tool, and then output the Inx file. Then open the inx file using Tageditor, save it, so that we can get a TTX file, then we can start the translation much easiler.

After we finish the translation, we can clean the file using workbench, but we should make sure the TTX and INX file are in the same folder. After this step, we can open the INX file using Indesign, and save it as the default format of Indesign. Then as per the style of the original font, we can build up some compound fonts ( like Song typeface + Times New Roman). Then in the paragraph format, we can replace the original English font with the compound font.

Then check again the typesetting, if there is any difference with the original file. Finally, export PDF file as per the print quality. And now we can finish the PDF translation steps successfully.

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