📖 Illustrator XLIFF Server - Help Documentation

1. Overview

The Illustrator XLIFF Server web interface allows you to upload Adobe Illustrator (.ai) files and convert them to XLIFF (XML Localization Interchange File Format) for translation workflows. The server processes files in a queue and allows you to download the results when ready.

2. Getting Started

Prerequisites

• The XLIFF Server must be running (started from Adobe Illustrator Extension)
• You need valid user credentials (User ID and Password)
• Adobe Illustrator must be running with the Extension Panel open

Workflow Overview

1. Log in with your credentials
2. Configure your job settings (languages, options)
3. Upload one or more .ai files
4. Monitor the processing queue
5. Download completed XLIFF files

3. Authentication

User ID

Enter your assigned user ID. The default user is default. Contact your administrator for custom user credentials.

Password

Enter the password associated with your User ID. Contact your administrator if you need a password or have forgotten yours.

Security

The server validates credentials for every request. If authentication fails, you'll need to reconnect with valid credentials.

4. Job Settings

Configure how your files will be processed before uploading them.

Language Settings

• Source Language: The language of the text in your .ai files (e.g., en-us)
• Target Language: The language you're translating to (e.g., zh-cn, ja-jp)

Processing Options

Combine Styles

When enabled, merges text units with identical styling to reduce redundancy in the XLIFF output. This creates a cleaner file for translators.

Apply Minimization

Enables XML minimization to reduce file size. Two levels available:

• Level 1: Removes unnecessary whitespace between XML tags
• Level 2: Complete minimization (single-line output)

Include Hidden Layers

When checked, extracts text from hidden layers in your Illustrator document. Uncheck to process only visible layers.

Include Pasteboard Items

When checked, includes text frames that are outside the artboard boundaries (on the pasteboard).

Sort by UUID

When checked, sorts text units by their layer path and UUID for consistent ordering across exports.

Include Source File (Gzipped)

Embeds the original .ai file (compressed and encoded) inside the XLIFF header. This allows round-trip workflows where the translator can extract the source file later.

5. Uploading Files

Selecting Files

• Click the file input or drag-and-drop area
• Select one or more .ai files from your computer
• You can upload up to 50 files at once

Upload Process

1. Files are uploaded to the server
2. Jobs are created and added to the processing queue
3. Adobe Illustrator processes each file sequentially
4. XLIFF files are generated and ready for download

Upload Progress

A progress bar shows the upload status. Once uploaded, files enter the queue for processing.

6. Queue Management

Queue Status

The queue section displays all your jobs with their current status:

• Queued: 🟡 Waiting to be processed
• Processing: 🔵 Currently being processed by Illustrator
• Completed: 🟢 Ready for download
• Failed: 🔴 An error occurred during processing

Auto-Refresh

The queue automatically refreshes every few seconds to show updated status.

Processing Order

Files are processed in the order they were submitted (FIFO - First In, First Out).

7. Downloading Results

Download Button

Click the "Download" button next to any completed job to retrieve the XLIFF file.

File Naming

Downloaded files retain their original name with a .xliff extension. For example:

• my-file.ai → my-file.xliff

Unicode Filenames

The system correctly handles non-ASCII characters (Chinese, Japanese, etc.) in filenames.

8. Troubleshooting

Cannot Connect to Server

• Verify you have a stable internet connection
• Contact your administrator to verify the server is running

Authentication Failed

• Verify your User ID and Password are correct
• Contact your administrator to verify your account or reset your password

Upload Fails

• Ensure you're uploading valid .ai files
• Check that the file size isn't too large
• Verify you have a stable internet connection

Job Stuck in "Processing"

• Large or complex files may take several minutes to process
• Contact your administrator if the job remains stuck for more than 10 minutes

Job Failed

Possible reasons:

• The .ai file is corrupted or cannot be opened
• Illustrator encountered an error during processing
• Insufficient permissions to write output files

9. Frequently Asked Questions

What file formats are supported?

• Input: Adobe Illustrator (.ai files)
• Output: XLIFF 1.2 format (.xliff files)

How many files can I upload at once?

You can upload up to 50 files in a single batch.

What happens to my uploaded files?

Uploaded files are processed immediately and the resulting XLIFF files are made available for download.

Can I process files with non-English characters in the filename?

Yes, the system fully supports Unicode filenames including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other international character sets.

What does "Include Source File" do?

When enabled, the original .ai file is compressed and embedded inside the XLIFF file. This allows translators to have access to the original artwork if needed for context or round-trip workflows.

Why is "Include Source File" ignored when minimization is enabled?

Embedding a source file creates larger XLIFF files, which conflicts with the goal of minimization (reducing file size). To keep files small, the source file is not embedded when minimization is active.

How long does processing take?

Processing time depends on the complexity and size of your .ai files. Simple files typically process in seconds, while complex documents with many layers may take a few minutes. You can monitor progress in the Job Queue section.

Can I close my browser while files are being processed?

Yes! Once files are uploaded, they're queued on the server. You can safely close your browser and return later to download the completed XLIFF files.