How to translate a document step by step in Andi Translation

By the BF-Blessy team · Updated November 7, 2026 · 3 min read

Andi Translation is a workbench for translating real documents without losing the layout. This guide follows one document from the first upload to the last export, and explains what to check at each stage so you deliver clean work.

Step 1: Prepare and upload your file

Andi works with common document formats such as DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, PDF and TXT. You can also upload a photo of a printed page, and the tool reads the text from the image with OCR (text recognition). Older or closed formats should first be saved as DOCX, XLSX, PPTX or PDF.

• Use a clear, straight, well-lit photo for scanned pages.
• Remove pages you do not need to translate.
• If the file is very long, work in parts.

Step 2: Choose the languages

Pick the source language and the target language. Right-to-left and Ethiopic scripts are supported, so languages such as Amharic and Tigrinya display correctly. Automatic translation is not available for every pair of languages; in that case you translate by hand and the tools still help you with memory and glossary.

Step 3: Work segment by segment

The document is cut into segments. For each one you see the source, a field for your translation, and help on the side:

• A machine suggestion you can accept, change or ignore.
• Similar sentences from your translation memory.
• Glossary terms found in the segment.

Type or correct your translation, then press Save Segment. Only saved segments enter your memory, so save the ones you are happy with.

Step 4: Keep tags, numbers and links intact

Some segments contain tags (invisible formatting), numbers, dates, web links or email addresses. These must stay correct. If a tag is missing or extra, the tool warns you before saving. Take a moment to check that every figure in the target matches the source.

Step 5: Run the quality check

When all segments are done, run the QA check. It looks for common problems: links or emails that differ, repeated words that may be a machine error, a target identical to the source, a length very different from the source, and segments where a back-translation suggests the meaning may differ. Fix what it finds, then run it again until it reports no issues.

Step 6: Export

Export the result in the same format as the original when possible, so the layout is rebuilt with your translation. If the original is not stored on the device any more, upload it again to export in its format. If a format cannot be rebuilt, the tool exports a Word file instead. For a translated photo you can save the translated image.

Habits of careful translators

• Read the whole document once before starting.
• Add recurring terms to the glossary on the first day.
• Never deliver without reading the final file as a reader would.
• Keep a copy of your memory for future jobs on the same subject.