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Can Adobe Acrobat Translate a PDF and Save It as a New PDF?
Question details
The user wants to know if Adobe Acrobat has a built-in feature to translate text from one language to another and save the translated content as a new PDF document.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Translating an entire PDF document into another language while retaining the file format.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe Acrobat does not have a native translation tool, primarily because translating text alters text length and breaks the static layout of a PDF.
Before attempting to translate your document using alternative tools, ensure your PDF contains selectable text. If it is a scanned image, you will need to perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) first to make the text recognizable.
Use an Online Document Translator
Since Adobe Acrobat lacks native translation capabilities, use a dedicated online document translation service to translate and export your file.
PDF layouts are difficult to preserve during translation because translated text is often longer or shorter than the original. Tools like Google Translate or DeepL allow you to upload a document and download the translated version while attempting to keep the original formatting intact.
Navigate to the Google Translate website in your web browser and click on the 'Documents' tab at the top of the page.
Click the 'Browse your computer' button and select the PDF file you want to translate.
Select the source language and your desired target language, then click the 'Translate' button.
Once the translation is complete, click 'Download translation' to save the translated document as a new PDF file on your computer.
Convert to Word, Translate, and Save as PDF
Convert the PDF to a Word document to utilize Microsoft Word's or WPS Office's built-in translation features, then save it back as a PDF.
Use WPS Office to Translate and Manage PDF Documents
WPS Office offers powerful built-in PDF tools, including document translation, PDF editing, and seamless conversion between PDF and Word formats while preserving your original layout.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF file you wish to translate.
- 2. Access Translation Tools: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon and select the 'Translate' feature.
- 3. Select Target Language: Choose the language you want to translate the document into and initiate the translation process.
- 4. Save as New PDF: Review the translated content directly within the application and save the file as a new PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't Adobe Acrobat include a translation feature?
Translating a PDF introduces significant layout challenges. Translated text can be up to 200% longer than the original text, which breaks the static structure of a PDF since the text cannot easily be reflowed to fit the original design.
Can I use translation tools on a scanned PDF?
No, translation tools require editable text. If your PDF is a scanned image, you must first convert it into editable text using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software before any translation service can process it.
Is there a way to request a translation feature in Adobe Acrobat?
Yes, users can submit feature requests or feedback directly to Adobe's product team through their official Wishform website to suggest the addition of native translation tools.
Will translating a PDF change its formatting?
Yes, formatting is frequently affected during translation because the length of words and sentences varies greatly between languages. Converting the PDF to a Word document first allows you to manually fix formatting issues before saving it back as a PDF.
