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    • Resolve file upload issues

    Learn about common reasons for file upload failures in Smartcat and how to troubleshoot issues related to file size, image size, parsing, and text export errors.

    Below you'll find the common reasons why Smartcat fails to upload your files.

    1. File size. Smartcat supports files of the following formats not bigger than 6 GB so there maybe issues when uploading .docx and .pptx files of substantial size. Files exceeding the maximum upload limits cannot be processed. Smartcat's file size limits are:

      • Document/Project files: 6 GB

      • Reference Files: 4 GB

      • Translation Memories: 1 GB

      • Glossary imports: 10 MB

    Most files under 6 GB should upload successfully, but large files may take longer to process. For optimal speed, consider splitting very large files (greater than 1 GB) into smaller parts, removing unnecessary embedded media, or compressing images within documents.

    2. Image size. If your document is larger than 100 MB (for non-image PDFs) or contains images larger than 30 MB for OCR text extraction, you may encounter upload issues.

    Solution: Split the document into smaller parts. You can use PDF tools for editing documents, for example, PDF-XChange Editor, Adobe Acrobat and others.

    3. Parsing error. The platform may be unable to recognize the content of the slides.

    Solution: exclude all extras (e.g. hidden slides, slide masters, etc.) when loading the file into the project.

    To remove these elements you can also convert your presentation to *.pdf, then back to * .pptx.

    4. Text export error. Your text can contain elements Smartcat can't recognize.

    Solution: Modify the original document and delete elements like:

    • invalid characters

    • large pictures or videos that can cause presentation to freeze

    • shapes and objects that differ from the rest visually or by some attributes

    • graphs and diagrams.

    1. Protected PDF files. Password protected or secured PDF files cannot be processed normally. 

    Solution: 

    • Remove password protection before uploading, or

    • Upload-as-is, which results in image-only processing consuming 1 Smartword per image page

    • Contact support if you cannot remove protection but need text extraction

    API upload errors. You receive 500 errors or timeouts when uploading files via API. 

    Solutions:

    • Ensure file size is under 6 GB

    • Check your API authentication credentials

    • Try uploading smaller batches if processing multiple files

    • Contact support with your API request details if the error persists

    FAQ

    Can I process TS files in Smartcat?

    TS files cannot be processed natively in Smartcat but it is possible to convert them using a free app called QT Linguist which is part of a larger development framework but can be installed separately. Using QT Linguist, these TS files can be converted to XLIFF which can be processed using Smartcat. Upon translation, they can be converted back to TS format using QT Linguist.

    QT Linguist can be downloaded from here.

    Is it possible to upload .jpg file for reference?

    You would like to upload screenshots for reference, and they are in the .jpg format. There are 2 options:

    1. You can add these files as reference to the project as described in Can I add reference files to my project? This is the easiest and fastest process but when dealing with references such as screenshots, it might create some work for the translation team to find the image that corresponds to the string being translated.

    2. You can upload individual graphic files for each segment where needed using the Camera [Alt-Insert] button in the toolbar. A picture icon will be displayed in the segment and the translator will be able to click on the icon to show the screenshot. This process takes longer but creates more targeted references. This feature needs to be enabled in the account, it is not enabled by default.

    Why does my .pptx file fail to process even though it's under 6 GB?

    Complex elements like embedded Excel graphs, advanced math formatting, or SmartArt objects can cause processing failures. Try removing these elements or converting to PDF first. 

    Can I upload subtitle files (SRT/VTT)?

    Yes, but ensure proper segmentation. Each subtitle segment should align with your translation workflow requirements.