✍️ Translate an InDesign document online

Translating InDesign documents can be challenging due to layout and formatting issues—but Redokun makes the process faster, easier, and layout-safe

📘 About This Guide

This guide walks you through the recommended online workflow using the Web Editor, starting from an .idml file. It’s ideal when collaborating with internal teams or external translators.

If your collaborator prefers to work offline or doesn't use Redokun, check out:

• Translate an InDesign document with an exchange file (limited tools or internet)
• Translate an InDesign document with an exchange file (LSP or professional translator)

✅ What you'll learn:

• How to prepare and upload your InDesign file
• How to assign languages and translators
• How to translate online using Redokun’s Web Editor
• How to download the translated .idml file and open it in InDesign

✨ Optional: Use the Redokun InDesign Extension

You can enhance your experience by installing Redokun's InDesign Extension. It helps keep your source file previews in sync.

1. Install Redokun's InDesign Extension
2. Close and reopen InDesign after installation.

Once installed, the extension ensures that every time you save your InDesign file, Redokun updates the online preview.

📋 Before You Start: Optimize Your InDesign File

To ensure smooth segmentation and clean formatting during translation:

1. Use consistent paragraph and character styles throughout your file.
2. Avoid manual line breaks and unnecessary formatting.
3. Make sure all text is editable (not outlined or placed as images).

📥 1. Upload Your IDML File

1. Go to your Document List.
2. Click Upload Document.

3. Select your .idml file.

   
   

   

4. Choose the source language of your document.
5. Click Upload.
6. Choose the source language of the document.
7. Click Upload.

🌐 2. Add Target Languages

After setting the source language, you’ll be asked to select one or more target languages for your document.

1. Use the search bar or scroll the list to find your desired language.
2. Click a language to select it. If you haven’t invited any translators before, your name will appear below as the translator. Otherwise, Redokun will suggest the translators you most recently invited.
3. You can add multiple languages in one step.

👥 3. Assign Translators

After selecting your target languages, you can assign a translator directly from the same screen.

1. Click Add translator next to a target language.
2. If you’ve already invited someone to translate into that language in the past, their name will appear and you can select them.
3. To invite a new translator, type their email address into the field.
4. They’ll receive an invitation to create a Redokun account and begin translating or reviewing the content.
5. To remove a translator, simply click the X icon next to their name.

➡️ What Happens Next

After assigning languages and translators, Redokun will:

• Redirect you to the Document Detail page (if you uploaded a single document),\or
• Redirect you to the Document List (if you uploaded multiple documents).

From there, you can manage the next steps in your translation workflow. Typically, users take one of the following paths:

⚙️ 4. Pre-Translate the Document (Recommended)

To speed up the process, you can run Pre-Translate to:

• Automatically fill in previously translated segments using your Translation Memory.
• Use AI Translation to translate new segments (depending on your plan).

Where to do it:

• Run Pre-Translate for all languages from the Document Detail page.
• Or, run it on a language-by-language basis from inside the Web Editor.

Learn how to use Pre-Translate →

✍️ 5. Translate Online Using the Web Editor

If you or your invited collaborators prefer translating directly online:

1. Open the document in the Web Editor.
2. Translate each segment manually, or refine suggestions from Translation Memory and AI Translation.
3. Keep all formatting tags (e.g., [1] , [2] ) in place. Learn more about tags here.
4. Confirm each translation once it’s completed. Confirmed translations are saved to your Translation Memory and can be reused in future projects.

Learn more about the Web Editor →

📅 6. Download the Translated InDesign File

To download the final file, all translations must first be confirmed and locked. This ensures the content is stable and no further edits are in progress.

Confirm the translation

You can confirm the translations in two ways:

• From the Web Editor, by clicking Confirm translation after reviewing all segments.
• From the Document Detail page, by clicking Confirm and lock next to each language.

Download the translated document

Once a translation is confirmed and locked, the Download button becomes active.

Click Download to generate the translated file. Redokun will export the document in its original format and layout.

📌 Additional Tips

• Use the Brief, Notes, and Instructions section to communicate with your team.
• Utilize Comments and Mentions for segment-specific discussions.
• Monitor progress using the Translation Progress Bar:
  • Grey: Confirmed segments
  • Orange: Draft segments
  • Green: Untranslated segments

Learn more about proofreading and collaboration →

🔄 Working with Many InDesign Files?

Need to batch convert .indd to .idml before uploading?

📘 Use this guide to streamline your workflow.

Feel free to reach out to support@redokun.com if you need further assistance or have questions about specific features!