Best Way to Translate a PowerPoint Presentation

The best way to translate a PowerPoint presentation in 2022 isn’t by using PowerPoint’s built-in translation feature.

According to a thread on Microsoft Office’s help forum about how to translate a whole PowerPoint (PPT) file, you can only translate one text box on a slide at a time when you use their translation feature. What’s more, you’re only getting raw machine translation–not human-quality level translation from using the PowerPoint translator it comes with.

Can you imagine what this would look like for translating an entire 40-page slideshow? Forget about those slides that contain multiple text boxes. This would take hours of manual work.

This is why you should consider a computer-assisted translation tool that specifically caters to business needs and offers the best way to translate a PowerPoint presentation online.

You don’t have time to put aside your normal daily tasks to translate a PowerPoint document manually. This is tedious work (and your manager likely has no idea it takes hours out of your day). And when there’s one file in need of translation, there’s usually more coming your way. Therefore, you need a tool that saves you time.

Below we discuss Pairaphrase, a web-based translation management system. Pairaphrase is a key tool in the best method for translating a PowerPoint presentation, and we are about to tell you why.

Why Pairaphrase is the Best Way to Translate a PowerPoint Presentation

Pairaphrase is the best way to translate a PowerPoint presentation out of any other translation software on the market. This is because Pairaphrase is essentially a translation management system that is made specifically for business users like you.

It’s specially engineered to give you access to quick translations and cost-reducing features that improve your translation quality over time. This is all without requiring you to spend time learning the software. The majority of Pairaphrase users are business people who need to translate bulky documents and files such as PowerPoint presentations.

Here are some specific features that make Pairaphrase the best way to translate a PowerPoint presentation:

1. Batch Translation (Top PPT Translation Method for Multiple Files)

Pairaphrase is the fastest way to translate a PowerPoint presentation. It allows you to upload a PowerPoint file and receive a first draft translation of it within seconds or a couple minutes.

Even text within the charts and diagrams you create within PowerPoint will be translated for you. Not only are all the PowerPoint slides translated for you in one go, but you also have the ability to translate other files or documents at the same time in a single batch.

This is particularly useful for a group of files that are related to a single project (we’ll explain further in the Translation Memory section).

2. Translate an Entire PowerPoint & Keep Formatting

File formatting preservation is another feature that makes Pairaphrase the best way to translate a PowerPoint presentation.

When you run your entire PowerPoint file through PowerPoint translator tools online, many of them will lose all the formatting and layout of your slide deck. Pairaphrase will attempt to retain much of your image placement, line breaks, paragraph breaks and font properties. This means that you save countless hours of work because you won’t need to reformat an entire PowerPoint presentation.

**Please note Pairaphrase automatic formatting isn’t perfect, but it will save you some time.**

3. Reuse Words & Phrases (Translation Memory)

One of the strongest arguments for Pairaphrase being the best way to translate a PowerPoint presentation is its use of Translation Memory technology.

After you receive that quick first draft translation of your PowerPoint file from Pairaphrase, you can edit the translation segments within the Translation Editor to improve the translation. As you edit the file and save your changes, your text is stored in a bilingual central repository for future use as translation memories.

How Translation Memory Helps with Translating PowerPoints

Translation memories are terms and phrases that were previously either machine-translated and human-edited or human-translated and saved within the system.

When you upload more documents for future translation work, the system separates your source text into segments and then searches for exact or fuzzy matches of those segments in your translation memories. The system will present the most closely-related phrase from your translation memories to be used as the translation. You can then accept or modify those “matches” to be used as the translation for a segment.

As you save translations in your translation memories, you get more matches and the system continuously improves translation quality. This also significantly reduces your translation time and costs. It’s important to keep in mind that in order to reap the benefits of a translation memory system, human editing of machine translation or human translation is required.

4. PowerPoint Translation Collaboration

You might find yourself in a situation where you need to work with a subject matter expert on a particular translation project. Whether this person is a colleague within your organization or an external business partner, collaboration functionality is a must.

Pairaphrase offers easy, real-time collaboration. You can quickly share translated files and invite colleagues into the platform to work on edits without needing to upgrade your plan. What’s more, you can even track user edit history by segment so there’s no second-guessing regarding whom changed what.

Superior translation collaboration is another reason why Pairaphrase is the best way to translate a PowerPoint presentation.

5. Data Security

Data breaches are increasing exponentially, which makes data security non-negotiable when you are translating business documents such as PowerPoint presentations.

Pairaphrase offers the highest standards in security when it comes to protecting your translation data. Here is how Pairaphrase protects your translation data so that your company’s information stays secure and confidential:

• SHA-2 and 4096-bit encryption
• 256-bit SSL certification
• Encrypted file storage in transit, in use and at rest via AWS
• “No Return” to machine translation providers
• PCI-compliant payment processing via Stripe
• HIPAA, SOC1 and ISO27001 compliant datacenters
• Multi-Factor Authentication
• TLS 1.2 (Transport Layer Security)
• Last login date and time display in footer
• Automatic session logoff if idle for more than 30 minutes
• Password expires after one year
• Auto-lock after 4 failed password attempts
• Device Authentication
• Compliant with GDPR & HIPAA
• Single Sign-On
• Supports secure browsers; Chrome, Firefox, Edge & Safari
• Third-party security audit & assessment records

Recommended PowerPoint Translation Method

Now that you know how to translate an entire PowerPoint file efficiently using Pairaphrase, why not see for yourself how how it works?  Schedule a live demo.