Resolved Firefox add-on "Inline Translator" not working

I'm posting this comment here because I can't get in touch with the author and can't post a comment on his webpage.

The Firefox add-on called "Inline Translator" is a great program when it works (it used to, very well), but it doesn't seem to do so most of the time anymore. I'm using FF 3.5.7, but got the same results with 3.6.1. No matter which language the text is in that I highlight, 19 out of 20 times I get the message: "Inline Translator does not loaded. Refresh browser to retry." Just about 1 in 20 tries it works, which says it's still capable. I've tried restarting FF many time but it makes no difference.

I sent an e-mail inquiry to the author (mctenshi@gmail.com) over a month ago, but so far I've received no answer. Most of the reviews on the download page (https://[B]addon[/B]s.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/9842) are positive, even ecstatic, and if my copy was working I'd be too.

When I try to post a review with my problems, I'm told I need to log in. When I click on the "Log in" link on the page, it takes me to another page that has no connection to this add-on, and I can't post a review on the add-on's page since I'm not logged in. Sort of a Catch-22.

Has anyone else used this add-on, had trouble with it, and found a fix for it, or can give me a clue why it's not working for me? And why do I keep getting that cryptic error message that nobody else reports seeing? Thanks!

Frank D

 

The link is ok, but not presented properly. My comment is that addons are not part of Firefox, but, rather external things, so, if the author does not reply, and there is no other way to communicate, you have to look elsewhere. I will try the addon, and see if I can come up with anything.

 

Westside, I see your POV, but (IMO) by allowing/encouraging developers to create add-ons to Firefox, it would seem Mozilla would have some participation in what developers put out and and not just let the chips fall where they may.

My situation seems to be unique, and no one else is reporting it, so maybe I'm overreacting, but it just feels like there ought to be some way of finding a fix for this really great add-on (when it works).

Thanks for offering to try it!

Frank

 

That's not how it works Frank, the whole point of open source is that anybody can add/change/remove bugs/features of the software because they have access to the source.

 

Firefox and addons can be a love/hate relationship.
While waiting for a solution, you have the option of trying out other addons that may provide a solution.
Before installing any additional "translation" type addons, I would suggest "disabling or uninstalling " you currently have installed.
Firefox Translation addons sort.
Please check Firefox version requirement for compatibility.

 

Thanks, Wildfire and Dennis.

Trying out "inline" or "instant" translators and coping with their menus and toolbars is a frustrating, tedious and time-consuming experience, which I dread, since as noted one should remove all others before trying a new one, and it requires a shutdown and restart of Firefox before and after each, plus the install and almost inevitable uninstall of the latest one because it is inadequate, interrupts one's thought processes, or is totally unsuitable to the task. The foremost reason I like the "Inline Translator" I referred to at the start is that it has no toolbar, does not require right-clicking or choosing from a menu of from and to languages, etc. You simply highlight a word, phrase, or paragraph, and regardless of input language, it just instantly pops up the translation!

==============

Sorry for kvetching! Thank you for your Firefox Translation addons sort, Dennis (https://versioncheck.addons.mozilla...pid=1&lver=3.6&atype=0&pp=20&pid=5&sort=&lup=). I've checked out the first five in the list, and below is my thumbnail review of them. Note that even the two that I like are not as convenient as Inline Translator, which does its work well and without clicking on anything after selecting the input text.

IMTranslator
Requires you to right-click, select prompt from pop-up menu, then in separate box select input (and output) languages, then to paste your input selection into top box. This means you have to go back and copy the original selection before pasting it. It didn't work on Chinese. A total waste of time and effort.

FoxLingo
Requires a toolbar -- a non-starter for me -- then requires clicking on Translate in toolbar, then choosing "Autodetect" or choosing a language from a list, which I decline to do since I am not qualified to know what language some strange-looking text is in. In this case it detected (what looked like) Chinese as *German* and was a total waste of time and effort.

WordReference Translator
Requires you to select a language pair -- only one pair! Total waste of time and effort.

Nice Translator
Requires a right-click on the selected text to be translated, then selecting the "Nicely Translate" prompt from the menu. A separate window pops up with the auto-detected input (with the name of the detected input language displayed) automatically translated into English and/or any other language you have previously selected. No apparent maximum selection limit. Very nice indeed!!! This is a keeper.

Google Translator for Firefox
Requires a right-click on the selected text to be translated, then selecting the "Translate this text with Google Translator" prompt from the menu. It *replaces* the original, selected text with its translation right there on the webpage! How to get the original text back? It has no undo feature. Obviously, I have to refresh the page -- bummer! In addition, it has an 1100 character maximum, so longer passages have to be done via repetitive selections -- another bummer. In spite of these limitations, it's a keeper.

I'll keep chugging along and reporting back.

Frank

 

I'm finished searching for inline translators. None of them I could find does what Inline Translator does -- when it works!

Final report:

EZ Translator
Good for only one word at a time. Gone!

Quick Translator
Messed up Firefox. Most of my regular context menu items disappeared. Not ready for prime time. Gone!

BabelFish Instant Translation
Requires a right-click on the selected text to be translated, then selecting the "Translate" prompt from the menu. Asks for source language and then target language. How am I supposed to know what the source language is if it's in strange characters? Gone!

 

It works like a charm, for me, to the only language which I know well, i.e. Italian.
I highlight a phrase, and the translation appears just below, or beside the selected phrase.
But...., only occasionally! It worked here, for a while, but not now. And, not at all at some websites.

 

Understand where your coming from. Recently had similar problem when updating Firefox to 3.6.
IE Tab is a useful Firefox addon, allowing IE interface via Tab or shortcut to IE ... both opening the page your on within Firefox. Unfortunately the author no longer updates the addon and it finally became nonfunctional/causality when Firefox hit 3.6. Fortunately I found a good replacement addon and now using Coral IE Tab. This addon shares early bloodlines to IE Tab .. then branched to developed more options.

 

That's the way it's supposed to work, and when it does it's a gem.

And on all my Firefox pages it posts this silly message: "Inline Translator does not loaded. etc." sometimes right over a link I want to click on. When it's good it's terrific, when it's bad it's atrocious.

Oh well, I'm happy in the meantime. Nice Translator and Google Translator work well enough. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that the author fixes his nifty creation.

I'll mark this topic resolved, since there's nothing more to be gained from it.

Thanks to all!

Frank D

 

Thanks for the tip, Dennis, I switched over to Coral too.

Frank