Live Preview for IDML files during the review stage

Overview

Live Preview in the Smartcat Editor shows your file with translated text applied in context, so you can review and post-edit without translating blindly. For most supported formats — documents, presentations, PDFs, HTML, videos, and designs — the preview renders the target (translated) language as you confirm segments.

IDML (Adobe InDesign) is an exception. During the review stage after AI translation, the IDML preview displays the source language, not the translated language. To see the translated layout, export the translated IDML and open it in Adobe InDesign.

How to use it

IDML files are translated in the CAT editor. The Preview tab is available, but for IDML it shows the original source document for context. It does not re-render the InDesign layout with translated text applied.

1. Upload your IDML file and run AI translation

2. Open the file in the Smartcat Editor and review and edit segments

3. Use the Preview tab to see where each segment sits in the original document — the preview displays the source-language layout

4. Confirm and edit segments in the editor as normal

5. Export the translated IDML and open it in Adobe InDesign to see the translated layout

You have reviewed and confirmed your translation in the editor, and the translated layout is available by exporting the IDML and opening it in InDesign.

FAQs

Why does the Live Preview for my IDML file show the source language instead of my translation?

IDML (Adobe InDesign) files are an exception to how Live Preview normally works — during the post-AI-translation review stage, the Preview tab shows the original source-language layout, not the translated one.

How do I actually see what the translated IDML layout looks like?

Export the translated IDML file and open it in Adobe InDesign — that's the only way to view the InDesign layout with the translated text applied.

Does the Preview tab still serve a purpose for IDML files if it doesn't show the translation?

Yes — it still shows where each segment sits within the original document, which is useful context while reviewing and editing segments in the CAT editor.

Is this limitation unique to IDML, or does it affect other file formats too?

It's specific to IDML — most other supported formats (documents, presentations, PDFs, HTML, videos, and designs) render the target language directly in Live Preview as you confirm segments.