I need a PDF translating from Italian - any ideas?

Edrof · 16 Jun 2018 at 15:21

Hi folks!

I'm writing a book about Italian swords after the Napoleonic period and I don't speak Italian (what do you mean that was poor planning?!). Most of my sources are short so I've been using Google translate but now I have a 300-page book in PDF form that I really want to read. Sadly, the text is not selectable and is a bit 'old' for the already-a-bit-dodgy Google translate camera app.

Can anyone recommend a solution to save me from hand-typing out lengthy sections?

The text is called Armamento Individuale Dell'Esercito Piemontese E Italiano.

Thanks for reading.

darael · 16 Jun 2018 at 15:30

I'd probably use some OCR software to convert it into a Word document, then translate that into English.

RetiredGreyFox · 16 Jun 2018 at 16:52

Google Docs can convert PDF into Doc

http://osxdaily.com/2012/07/12/convert-pdf-to-doc-free-with-google-docs/

englishpremier · 17 Jun 2018 at 07:59

Probably good source to teach yourself Italian. Obvs. not what you want to hear though.

[FnG]magnolia · 17 Jun 2018 at 09:34

Edrof said:
Hi folks!

I'm writing a book about Italian swords after the Napoleonic period and I don't speak Italian (what do you mean that was poor planning?!). Most of my sources are short

Have you tried someone above average height?

Derek W · 17 Jun 2018 at 12:17

Plenty of pdf translator sites online. You might have to reduce the number of pages / upload them page at a time though. I had to translate a pdf from Norwegian for work. I forget the site but it was in the first few results. Only worked with printed information rather than handwritten though

RetiredGreyFox · 17 Jun 2018 at 12:28

Pringle W said:
Plenty of pdf translator sites online. You might have to reduce the number of pages / upload them page at a time though. I had to translate a pdf from Norwegian for work. I forget the site but it was in the first few results. Only worked with printed information rather than handwritten though

It's like nobody reads posts - Google Docs does it with ease.

Derek W · 17 Jun 2018 at 14:09

SexyGreyFox said:
It's like nobody reads posts - Google Docs does it with ease.

It's almost as if no one likes an alternative to a previous suggestion. But then again you don't care...... :rolleyes:

RetiredGreyFox · 17 Jun 2018 at 14:55

Pringle W said:
It's almost as if no one likes an alternative to a previous suggestion. But then again you don't care......

Because you don't need one, it is so simple and given to you by Google.
I've tried them all.

I don't do childish roll eyes so no girly stuff off me.

Diddums · 17 Jun 2018 at 15:02

SexyGreyFox said:
Because you don't need one, it is so simple and given to you by Google.
I've tried them all.

I don't do childish roll eyes so no girly stuff off me.

Liar. I've seen your doll houses.

RetiredGreyFox · 17 Jun 2018 at 16:21

Diddums said:
Liar. I've seen your doll houses.

No way, when are you coming around to play?

Edrof · 18 Jun 2018 at 13:05

Thanks all, I will work through the suggestions this week. I have tried an OCR but it didn't work but I'll have another go with a different one.

Much appreciated!

leezer3 · 18 Jun 2018 at 20:02

Best OCR I've found is ABBYY Finereader

Expensive, but good.
Even saying that though, there will always be an error rate, & even that depends on the quality of your scan.
A good scan from a sheetfed scanner and I'd expect an error rate of ~5 words a page in older printed English text.
The error rate will go up exponentially with age and use of technical terms; The OCR software will try to intelligently correct what it sees, but this is as often as not a hindrance.

Trying to OCR then translate will probably produce iffy results unless you're prepared to read the OCR'd Italian vs. the original before trying to translate.