Adobe Illustrator Solutions
for CAT Tools

1. Introduction & Overview

Welcome to the Adobe Illustrator Solutions User Manual. These tools allow you to translate Adobe Illustrator (.ai) files directly within your CAT tool environment — without needing Adobe Illustrator installed on your computer.

Two solutions are available, each purpose-built for its respective platform:

• Trados Studio Plugin — a native file-type plugin for SDL Trados Studio 2022 & 2024. Illustrator files appear alongside any other supported format directly in your projects.
• memoQ Project Template — a pre-configured project template for all current versions of memoQ, bundling the correct filter and script settings for seamless import and export.

Both solutions use the secure Tokr Cloud to extract text, formatting, and stylistic layers from complex Illustrator files into a CAT-friendly XLIFF format. Once translation is complete, the system rebuilds the localized .ai file with pixel-perfect formatting.

2. System Requirements & Prerequisites

• Supported Platforms: Trados Studio 2022 or 2024 · memoQ (all versions supporting project templates)
• Operating System: Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit)
• Mandatory App: Tokr Hub Desktop (available in the Microsoft Store) must be installed and running in the background for license authentication and cloud processing.
• Internet Connection: A stable broadband connection is required. File extraction and rebuilding rely on secure connections to the Tokr Cloud servers.

3. Installing & Starting the Hub

Step 1 — Install Tokr Hub Desktop

1. Open the Microsoft Store app on your Windows computer.
2. Search for Tokr Hub Desktop and click Get or Install.
3. Alternatively, click this link to open the Store install page directly.

Because Tokr Hub is officially distributed through the Microsoft Store, the app is digitally verified, securely installed, and will update automatically when new features are released.

Step 2 — Launch Tokr Hub

Click into the Windows Search box, type Tokr.Hub.Desktop, and press Enter to run it.

Step 3 — Install the Solution

1. Open Tokr Hub and log in using one of the available authentication methods.

Figure 3 — Available authentication methods in Tokr Hub

2. Navigate to the Plugins tab (Trados) or Templates tab (memoQ) in the sidebar.

Figure 4 — Available plugins and templates in Tokr Hub

3. Locate "Adobe Illustrator File Type for Trados 2024" or "Adobe Illustrator Project Template for MemoQ".
4. Click Install. If this button is not visible, click Available Version to expand the drop-down. (A Reinstall button indicates the version is already installed.)

Figure 5 — Clicking "Available Version" to reveal the Install button

5. Tokr Hub automatically deploys the .sdlplugin (Trados) or .mqres (memoQ) file to the correct local directories.
6. Restart your CAT tool if it is currently open.

Figure 6 — Unsigned plugin warning dialog in Trados Studio

To verify the plugin loaded successfully, navigate to the Add-Ins tab and click Plug-ins.

Figure 7 — Verifying the loaded plugin in Trados Studio

4. Licensing & Activation

Your license is managed through the Tokr Hub. Sign in using your Google, GitHub, Microsoft, or Facebook account. The software automatically detects your active machine ID and authorizes processing for both Trados and memoQ environments.

If you see a Not licensed status next to the solution, you will need to purchase a subscription plan by clicking the drop-down list.

Figure 8 — Selecting and purchasing a subscription plan

We use PayPal as our secure payment processor. When you click Buy, a payment window will appear. We currently accept payments in US dollars from payors outside mainland China.

Figure 9 — The PayPal checkout window

If you prefer not to use a PayPal account, PayPal also supports direct payment with a bank card (credit or debit).

Figure 10 — Bank card payment option through PayPal

Figure 11 — Payee details (our registered business entity)

When payment is complete, Tokr Hub automatically refreshes and shows your subscription info in green. You can also click Refresh to force-update it.

Figure 12 — Active subscription details displayed in Tokr Hub

You will receive two email confirmations: one from Tokr Hub, and one PayPal or card receipt. Please keep both for your records.

Figure 13 — Tokr Hub order confirmation email

Figure 14 — PayPal transaction receipt email

5. Test Drive & Trial Program

Curious about the technology before committing? Give the solution a test drive using our standalone web interface at ai2xlf.translators.surf. This online tool uses the same core extraction and rebuilding technology and is an excellent first evaluation step.

In the Tokr Hub Desktop app, this corresponds to the first option listed under subscription plans. For a detailed guide, see the Online Help Documentation.

Figure 15 — The refundable Trial subscription option in Tokr Hub

You can have the order confirmation resent to your registered email at any time by clicking the small envelope button next to the installation status.

Figure 16 — Resending the order confirmation email via the envelope button

6. Step-by-Step Translation Workflow

Select your CAT tool below. Both tools follow the same conceptual phases — set up, import, translate, export — with platform-specific steps in each tab.

6a — File Type Settings

Inspect and configure the plugin by navigating to File > Options > File Types > Illustrator AI Files.

Figure 17 — File Types configuration for Illustrator AI Files in Trados Studio

Configurable Options:

• Network Timeout: Extend the maximum server polling wait time for large files (>100 MB).
• Layer Visibility: Choose whether to extract text from hidden layers or locked objects.

6b — Preview & License Verification

The Connection tab shows server status and a Preview file feature. Even before purchasing, you can test the extraction leg using the bundled sample file:

%AppData%\Roaming\Trados\Trados Studio\18\Plugins\Unpacked\IllustratorSubject.TradosPlugin.2024\Resources\sample.ai

Figure 18 — Connection tab and Preview file feature in Trados Studio

ℹ️

An active internet connection is required for preview, as the plugin must access the online ai2xlf server. The preview result is a read-only viewer — it confirms the extraction leg works correctly. The sample file completes in approximately one minute.

To verify your full subscription for the complete round-trip, navigate to the Activation tab and click Verify License.

Figure 19 — Verifying your active subscription license

6c — Create a Project & Translate

• 1
  Add the file Drag and drop your .ai file into Trados Studio, or use the Create New Project wizard.
• 2
  Cloud Conversion Phase When Trados reads the file, it invokes the plugin. A progress window appears as the file is securely uploaded, converted to XLIFF on the cloud, and downloaded back to Trados. (Depending on file size, this may take 10–60 seconds.)
• 3
  Translate The file opens in the Editor view with source text strings, character formatting data, and structural tags — exactly like any standard document.

⚠️

Formatting Tags

Handle inline structural tags with care. Deleting tags may cause font loss or misalignment when the target .ai file is rebuilt.

6d — Generate Target Files

• 1
  Save / Generate Go to File > Save Target As…, or use the Generate Target Translations batch task in the Files view.
• 2
  Cloud Rebuild Phase The plugin packages your translated XLIFF and instructs the Tokr Cloud to rebuild the layout.
• 3
  Choose Save Location A save dialog will prompt you to choose the destination folder for the final localized .ai document.

The Adobe Illustrator Project Template for memoQ (v1.0.4) gives memoQ users access to the same Tokr Cloud extraction and rebuilding technology. The template arrives pre-configured with the correct filter settings and scripts — no manual setup required.

Figure 20 — The memoQ project template available in Tokr Hub

Upon installation via Tokr Hub, the template is automatically deployed to:

C:\ProgramData\MemoQ\Resources\Local\ProjectTemplate\

⚠️

Prerequisite

Like the Trados plugin, the memoQ template requires Tokr Hub Desktop to be running for authentication and cloud processing.

Walkthrough

• 1
  Start a New Project from Template In memoQ, select New Project > New Project from Template.

  

  Figure 21 — Creating a new project from template in memoQ
• 2
  Select the Tokr Template Click Next, then select Tokr.MemoQ.ProjectTemplate.Adobe.Illustrator from the drop-down menu.

  

  Figure 22 — Selecting the Tokr template in memoQ
• 3
  Import .ai Files An empty project will be created. Go to the Translations pane, right-click the empty list, and select Import. Then choose the .ai files you wish to translate.

  

  Figure 23 — Importing .ai files into the memoQ project
• 4
  Wait for Cloud Preprocessing

  ☁️

  The cloud extraction step may take some time depending on file size and connection speed. Please wait for the process to complete before proceeding.

• 5
  Configure Filter Settings Once preprocessing is complete, the Document import options dialog will appear. Select all files and click Change filter & configuration.

  

  Figure 24 — Document import options dialog in memoQ
• 6
  Finalize Import Settings In the Document import settings dialog:

  • Set Filter to XLIFF 1 filter.
  • Under Segmentation, ensure "Segment text if there are no segment boundaries…" is selected.

  Click OK. Your .ai files will appear in the project, ready for translation.

  

  Figure 25 — XLIFF 1 filter and segmentation settings
• 7
  Export Translated Files Once translation is complete, go to the Documents ribbon and click Export (Export Dialog).

  ☁️

  The export process (cloud rebuild of the Illustrator layout) may take a few moments depending on file size. Please wait for the process to complete.

  

  Figure 26 — Export dialog in memoQ

  

  Figure 27 — Export progress indicator

7. Troubleshooting & Common Errors

"Server Poll Timeout"

Cause: The file was too large or complex to process within the default network limit.

Solution: Increase the timeout threshold in your solution's settings (File Type Settings in Trados, or the memoQ template's script configuration).

"Session Limit Reached" / "Unauthenticated"

Cause: You have reached your active device limit, or your Tokr Hub authentication token has expired.

Solution: Open Tokr Hub, review your active sessions, sign back in, and verify your internet connection is stable.

Target Generation / Export Failed

Cause: Often caused by misplaced or deleted formatting tags in the editor.

Solution: Run your tool's tag verification check (e.g., F8 in Trados Studio) to confirm all source tags are correctly placed in target segments before generating the output file.

8. Privacy & Data Security

We understand that Adobe Illustrator files often contain highly sensitive or proprietary visual content.

• Encrypted Transfer: All files are transmitted using TLS encryption.
• Zero Retention: Your .ai files are processed in ephemeral server instances. As soon as conversion or rebuilding is complete, your source assets, translated text, and outputs are automatically and permanently deleted from our cloud servers.
• No AI Training: Tokr International does not use your translation data or source files to train artificial intelligence models.

For detailed legal information, please read our Full Privacy Policy.

9. Source File Integrity

Before beginning translation, ensure your source files contain live, editable text. If text has been "outlined" (converted to vector shapes), it cannot be extracted.

File Format Categories

• Safe (Native/Semi-Native): .ai, .pdf, .svg — designed to preserve live text layers. Highly recommended.
• Quasi-Safe (Legacy/CAD): .wmf, .emf, .eps, .dwg — may contain text, but are prone to the "Letter Salad" effect where text fragments into individual characters.
• Reconstruction (One-way): .doc, .docx, .rtf — text remains live, but the original layout typically needs complete rebuilding after opening in Illustrator.

Verification Protocol: Outline Mode

You can verify whether text is live using Adobe Illustrator's Outline Mode:

1. Open the file in Adobe Illustrator.
2. Press Ctrl + Y (Windows) or Cmd + Y (Mac) to enter Outline Mode.
3. Analyze the text:
   • Live Text: You will see the full interior of each character — counters (enclosed spaces) are visible.
   • Outlined Text: You will only see hollow silhouettes. This text is not editable and cannot be extracted.
4. Press Ctrl + Y again to return to Preview mode.