Translate content

Use translation files when you need to localize larger amounts of content via a translation agency. Activator exports the translatable text, you translate it externally, then import it back to apply the translated text to the document(s).

Supported formats

XLIFF/XML (industry standard for translators)
Excel (useful for in-house or simple workflows)
Arcane (subscription required)

Varies by tenant (Anthill-managed)
Available formats and which fields are included can differ by tenant configuration and document type.

Before you start (don’t translate the master)

Do not translate your master/source document directly.

Use this workflow:

Duplicate the document/presentation for the target market/language (so you keep a clean source and a localized copy).
Translate the localized copy using translation files.

When to use translation files

Use this workflow when you:

Work with external translation agencies
Need controlled, auditable translations across markets
Want to translate multiple text fields consistently without manual copy/paste

Export a translation file

Open the document you want to translate
Click the Translate icon next to the document name
Select the file format you need (XLIFF/XML or Excel)
Download the file and send it to your translation agency

What the export contains

Typically, the file includes translatable text fields from the document (for example headlines, body copy, button labels). Non-text assets (images) are not translated.

Import the translated file

Open the same document
Click the Translate icon next to the document name
Upload the translated file
Activator applies the updated translations to the document

What to verify after import

Text fits the layout (overflow, wrapping, truncation)
Links and buttons still point to the correct targets
Any mandatory fields are still satisfied
Preview looks correct across relevant viewports/devices

Publish translated changes

Importing applies changes to the working version of the document. To deliver the translated version to your connected repository (DAM), publish after review.

Save (if prompted)
Preview
Publish

Editing translation files safely (rules for agencies)

Do not change structure

Translators must not:

Remove or reorder keys/IDs
Delete tags/placeholders
Modify segment boundaries

Formatting tags are real

Translation files may contain inline formatting markers (for example <b>, <i>, placeholders, or inline tokens). If translators remove them, formatting will be lost.

If formatting is lost after import:

Fix formatting in the WYSIWYG editor, or
Use your Compare/Translate view if available (tenant-dependent)

Known pitfall: angle brackets in text

Angle brackets (< >) can be interpreted as markup in HTML/XLIFF contexts.

Problem pattern:

"<This" (no space) can break imports in some flows

Safer:

"< This" (add a space)

During export/import, brackets may be encoded, for example:

XLIFF: %3C and %3E
Excel: < and >

If Activator rejects an import due to bracket patterns, add a space after < (or before/after as needed), save, and re-import.

Common issues

“My import didn’t change anything”

Likely causes:

The file doesn’t match the exported structure (wrong document/version)
The agency modified IDs/keys instead of only translating values
You uploaded the wrong format or a corrupted file

“Text now overflows / breaks layout”

Translation often expands text length. Shorten copy, adjust layout, or choose a different template/layout variant.

Arcane Translation

Arcane translation is a subscription based service that can help translate your documents into more than 30 languages.

Open the document you want to translate
Click the Translate icon next to the document name
Select Translate with Arcane
Select the target language and Glossary (if available)

Make sure to proofread the text as Arcane cannot be guaranteed to provide exact translations. These lingustic translation errors are also referred to as "approximate translation," or "imperfect translation,". This can happen due to nuances in language, cultural context, or idiomatic expressions.