DeepL Translate/Rewrite Workflow for Alfred

Overview

An Alfred workflow to help you translate and rewrite text using the DeepL API or the Deepl free API.

The selected text can be used in any Mac application via hot keys. The source and target languages are automatically detected from one of the two languages specified in the settings primary_lang and secondary_lang. This means that if you want to translate or rewrite a text, regardless of whether it is in the primary or secondary language, all you have to do is select the text and press a hotkey.

There are other features including:

• Translate/Rewrite using a special HTML input form
• Document translation (file uploading and downloading)

Downloads

Current version: 1.7.0

Download workflow

Change Log

• 1.7.0: context parameter (alpha feature) supported (API documentation)
• 1.6.3: Textbox (Web UI) updated to support formality
• 1.6.2: formality setting supported both in "translate" and "rewrite"
• 1.6.0: formality environment variable supported (default: default)
• 1.5.2: speak environment variable enabled (default: false)
• 1.5.1: Improvement of internal process
• 1.5.0: "deepl-textbox" command added
• 1.4.0: "check-for-update" command added
• 1.3.3: open_file environment valuable added
• 1.3.2: Switched to Alfred's native feature to retrieve selected text for performance and stability
• 1.3.1: Feature to translate/rewrite using Alfred's universal action

Setup

To start using this workflow, be sure to set the environment variables auth_key, primary_lang, and secondary_lang first. See Setting-up section below.

To translate or rewite text as a universal action, set up selection hotkey and enable workflow file actions and workflow universal actions.

Check for Update

Type check-for-update and run the workflow. If there is a newer version, click on the "Download" button. The readme/download page on Github will open.

Main Features

Translate text

Translate text in secondary_lang to primary_lang and vice versa. You can use one of the following methods:

• Universal action
• Fallback search
• Keyword deepl
• System clipboard and keyword deepl-clip
• User-defined hotkey (→ text currently selected in front-most app is sent)

Rewrite text

Rewrite text in one language by translating it to the other language and translating the resulting text back to the original language again. You can use one of the following methods:

• Universal action
• Keyword deepl with ⌘ key pressed
• System clipboard and keyword deepl-clip with ⌘ key pressed
• User-defined hotkey (→ text currently selected in front-most app will be submitted)

Document translation

Translate documents of the type .pptx, docx, or .pdf. Upload the original file and then download the resulting file once the translation is complete. The translated file will be downloaded to the same folder as the original file.

Note: max_characters option is ignored for document translation.

To upload the original file

1. Specify the target file (using selection hotkey, for instance).
2. Select "DeepL Upload File" action.
3. Specify if the translation is from secondary_lang to primary_lang (EN to JA, for instance) or the other way round (JA to EN, for instance).

Or alternatively, you can use a workflow file action DeepL Upload File.

To download the translated file

1. Select "DeepL Download File" script filter by typing deepl-download.
2. Specify the title of the file from the list.
3. Download will begin if the translation is complete. Otherwise, the current status (queued, translating, or error) will be displayed .

See also DeepL API: Translating documents.

document-translation.mp4

Special Input Form in Default Browser

You can open a special input form in your default browser. To open this form, use the keyword deepl-textbox or a hotkey. When using this special input form, the primary_lang and secondary lang settings are ignored. You can specify the languages using selectors and change modes (translate or rewrite) using radio buttons. These settings are stored in the browser and can be used later.

Monitor Usage

You can check how much text characters you have translated so far in the current billing period as well as the limits you set on DeepL Setting Page. Type in the keyword deepl-usage.

Requirements

To use this Alfred workflow, you need a DeepL API free or DeepL API Pro account. Create one at the following URL.

https://www.deepl.com/pro/change-plan#developer

Note: The DeepL API is only available to DeepL developer API accounts (free or professional). It is not available (at the time of this writing) for regular personal DeepL accounts.

Setting Up

Before you start using this Alfred workflow, you must set values to the following variables (use [x] button in Alfred's Workflow Setting Panel):

Mandatory Variables

Variable	Explanation
authkey	authentication key for DeepL API
primary_lang	sets the primary language (usually your native language)
secondary_lang	sets the secondary language (usually the language you use DeepL for)

Available Languages

Code	Language
BG	Bulgarian
CS	Czech
DA	Danish
DE	German
EL	Greek
EN	English
ES	Spanish
ET	Estonian
FI	Finnish
FR	French
HU	Hungarian
ID	Indonesian
IT	Italian
JA	Japanese
LT	Lithuanian
LV	Latvian
NL	Dutch
PL	Polish
PT	Portuguese
RO	Romanian
RU	Russian
SK	Slovak
SL	Slovenian
SV	Swedish
TR	Turkish
ZH	Chinese

What are primary and secondary languages?

This workflow translates/rewrites text written in either of the two languages set in the variables primary_lang and secondary_lang.

If you are a native user of Japanese who often work with text in English, for instance, Set primary_lang to JA and secondary_lang to EN.

Options

In addition to the above variables, you can also modify values to the following DeepL API parameters. See DeepL API for details.

Optional DeepL Variables

Variable	Explanation
formality	sets whether the translated text should lean towards formal or informal language (default, more, less)
split_sentences	sets whether the translation engine should first split the input into sentences
preserve_formatting	sets whether the translation engine should respect the original formatting

Currently the formality option only works when the target language (secondary_lang in "translation" mode; primary_lang in "rewrite" mode) is one of these: DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, PL, PT-PT, PT-BR, JA, and RU.

Utility Variables

There are a couple of additional parameters you can set to make the workflow more useful for you.

Variable	Explanation
use_largetype	uses Alfred's large type functionality
max_characters	sets maximum number of characters accepted at a time
ja_text_width	sets width of translated text when secondary_lang is set to JA (Japanese)
sound	rings a chime when finished
speak	read aloud the response in the "system speech language" on your Mac
open_file	open the translation file once download is complete
context_input	allows the user to enter context during execution from Alfred interface

With use_largetype disabled, the workflow creates/updates a text file in the home directory (~/deepl-translate-rewrite-latest.txt) and opens it in the default text editing app.

Text to Speech

If the speak variable is set true, the result text will be read aloud in the system's standard language and voice. To change the language and speech, go to [Accessibility] - [Vision] -[Spoken Content] in the Mac Settings panel.

Author

Yoichiro Hasebe (yohasebe@gmail.com)

License

The MIT License

Disclaimer

Please make sure you understand the difference between the DeepL free API and the Deepl pro API.

The author of this software takes no responsibility for any damage that may result from using it.