Frequently asked questions
Everything about AI document translation, SDL Trados compatibility, pricing, and how your data is handled.
What file formats does Linigu Translator support?
SDL Trados packages (.sdlppx, .sdlrpx, .sdlxliff) and everyday documents: Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), PowerPoint (.pptx), PDF, plain text, and CSV. Drop any of these into the upload box on the homepage and we detect the type automatically.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Everything runs in your browser — no plugins, no desktop software, no SDL Trados Studio license required to translate an sdlxliff.
Which languages are supported?
Any language pair Gemini can translate, including German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Polish, Dutch, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, with more available in the language selector.
Will my document's formatting be preserved after translation?
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files are edited in place — the same fonts, table styles, and slide layouts come back untouched, just with translated text. PDF is best-effort: page layout, images, and positioning are preserved, but replacement text is drawn in a standard font rather than the document's original one, since PDF fonts usually can't be reused directly.
What is translation memory and how does it save me money?
Translation memory (TM) is a store of sentence pairs from previous translations. Upload a parallel text or an SDL translation memory and any 100% exact match is applied instantly — no AI call, no charge. Only genuinely new text reaches the model.
What is a termbase and why does it matter?
A termbase (glossary) defines preferred and forbidden translations for specific terms — product names, technical vocabulary, brand language. Uploading one injects those rules into every AI prompt so terminology stays consistent from the first page to the last.
Which AI model does the translation?
Document translation uses Gemini 2.5 Flash by default, and automatically upgrades to Gemini 2.5 Pro when you turn on AI proofreading. SDL Trados translation uses Gemini 2.5 Pro throughout.
Can I get a human to review the translation?
Yes — select "Human review" in the proofreading options and our team follows up after the AI translation is delivered.
Is Linigu Translator compatible with SDL Trados Studio?
Yes. Upload an sdlppx, sdlrpx, or sdlxliff and translate it in a full segment editor — source and target side by side, exactly like Studio. Inline tags (x, g, bx, ex) are preserved character-for-character, and segment statuses (Translated, Approved, Locked, Draft) are respected. Export a return package or sdlxliff that Studio accepts without a warning.
Does it read my translation memory and termbase files?
Yes — sdltm files are read for exact and fuzzy matching, and sdltb termbases are enforced in every AI prompt, the same as Trados Studio's own matching.
How much does it cost?
The first 10 text units (up to 100 words) are free, no credit card required. After that, translation is billed per word at a low rate shown to you before you confirm. Add balance in $10, $25, or $50 increments — there's no subscription, and unused balance never expires.
Is the same balance used for both SDL and document translation?
Yes — one account, one wallet. Balance you add works across every capability on this site.
How is my card handled?
Payments are processed by Stripe on their own hosted checkout page — your card number never touches our servers. Balance is only ever credited from a signed confirmation Stripe sends directly to us, never from your browser.
Is my data used to train AI models?
No. Uploaded files, translation memories, and termbases are processed for your session only and deleted automatically after 48 hours. They are never used to train any model, ours or anyone else's.
How long are my uploaded files kept?
48 hours from upload. You can re-download a finished translation from your dashboard any time within that window; after that it's deleted automatically. See our Privacy Policy for details.
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