Zotero Plugins Atlas
Plugins / Translation

Local PDF Translate

by liuwenbo0 · github.com/liuwenbo0/zotero-local-translate

Translates PDFs into a monolingual and a bilingual attachment using PDFMathTranslate and BabelDOC, with your own OpenAI-compatible API.

Local PDF Translate has Atlas grade C (not recommended) because it downloads and runs a program we haven't reviewed yet. It works with Zotero 10. Last checked 6 Nov 2026.

Translation
View source
Downloads a .xpi file (0.1 MB). In Zotero, open Tools → Plugins and install it from the file.
In useAn estimate of how many copies of Zotero have it: Zotero downloads each new version once for every copy that has the plugin, so we count the downloads of its most-downloaded recent release. Rounded. Plugins that update from outside GitHub count low.
140
DownloadsAll-time downloads of its release files from GitHub, counting every update. Installs from elsewhere aren't counted.
180
ReleasesVersions published on GitHub. Everyone who has the plugin downloads each one again, which adds up in Downloads.
2
StarsPeople who starred the repository on GitHub: a rough measure of interest.
0
ContributorsPeople who have committed code to the repository.
1
LicenceThe licence the code is published under, as GitHub reports it.
AGPL-3.0
C
Atlas gradeNot recommended
because it downloads and runs a program we haven't reviewed yet
Applies to v0.1.2, released 26 Oct 2026Code checked · not yet tested in a live Zotero
Documentation in Chinese onlyOur summary is in English, but the plugin's own docs and support are in Chinese.
What we found in the codeSets the gradeThe worst finding in these three areas sets the grade.
Code transparencyReadable code; not yet checked against the published sourceThe developer uploaded the release file from the liuwenbo0 account. We haven't yet checked whether this file matches the public source code.UnknownWe couldn't check this yet.
Updates
Updates come from this project's GitHub repositoryThe update address offers this version
Where your data goesOnly contacts services we could identify4 addresses in 3 groups.LowLow concern: normal for plugins that do this job. Listed so you know.
AI services (1)
api.deepseek.comnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.
Translation (2)
BabelDOC (the AI provider it's set up with)pdf2zh-next (SiliconFlow, or the engine it's set up with)
Code hosting (1)
github.com
Where we found it
github.comcontent/zotero/runtime.js · line 42
const url = `https://github.com/astral-sh/uv/releases/download/${manifest.uv}/uv-${platform}${windows ? ".zip" : ".tar.gz"}`;
Powerful capabilitiesDownloads and runs a program we haven't reviewed yet, and 5 moreHighHigh concern: a serious problem. One high finding makes the grade C.
High concern (1)
Downloads and runs a program we haven't reviewed yet
Medium concern (2)
Installs and runs software packages from npm or PyPILaunches programs on your computer
Low concern (3)
Uses the clipboardWorks with files on your computerUses Zotero's password manager
Where we found it
Downloads and runs a program we haven't reviewed yetcontent/zotero/runtime.js · line 43

We haven't yet reviewed who publishes the file or whether anything stops it changing, so it counts as a high concern until we do. From astral-sh/uv on GitHub; checked only against a checksum from the same place, which catches a broken download but not a swapped one.

const response = await Zotero.HTTP.request("GET", url, {
Installs and runs software packages from npm or PyPIcontent/zotero/runtime.js · line 83

Installs a locked set of packages

await this.runtimeCommand(uv, [
Launches programs on your computercontent/zotero/process.js · line 40

Programs it names include tar, uv

const { Subprocess } = ChromeUtils.importESModule("resource://gre/modules/Subprocess.sys.mjs");
Before you installShown, not gradedFacts to help you decide. They don't change the grade.
Works withZotero 10 · not 9, 11 betaUpdates automatically
Zotero 9 ✗ doesn't workZotero 10 ✓ worksZotero 11 beta ✗ doesn't work
What you'll needNothing extra detectedDetected automatically from its code
No further detail for this area yet.
MaintenanceActive · last release 26 Oct 20261 contributor
No further detail for this area yet.
LanguagesDocumentation in Chinese onlyInterface language not declared
No further detail for this area yet.
We report what we found in the code. Open any area for the evidence.How we gradeReport a problem

What it does

Written by AI from the README

Translates PDFs into a monolingual and a bilingual attachment using PDFMathTranslate and BabelDOC, with your own OpenAI-compatible API. Works on selected items, collections or the whole library, and offers to translate new PDFs. Built for Zotero 10.

Translating whole papers while keeping their layout and formulas usually needs separate tools. This adds the translated PDFs next to the original. It downloads engines on first use, needing about 4 GB.

What you'll need

Detected automatically

We haven't detected any setup requirements. That isn't the same as none: check the developer's README.

Where your data goes

We found: only contacts services we could identify. 4 addresses in 3 groups.

AI services (1)
api.deepseek.comnamed in its code
Translation (2)
BabelDOC (the AI provider it's set up with)pdf2zh-next (SiliconFlow, or the engine it's set up with)
Code hosting (1)
github.com
Evidence · file and line
github.comcontent/zotero/runtime.js · line 42
const url = `https://github.com/astral-sh/uv/releases/download/${manifest.uv}/uv-${platform}${windows ? ".zip" : ".tar.gz"}`;

Other plugins that do this

Matched on what they do

For the same job, work with Zotero 10 and graded B or better. Closest match first.

  • B
    Zotero BabelDOC

    Translates a PDF attachment into Chinese with BabelDOC and saves the result as a child attachment, either Chinese only or original and Chinese side by side.

    Matches “translate pdf with babeldoc” · 92 downloads · Active · Zotero 10
Compare all 2 side by side
How we pick these

By how closely what they do matches this plugin, using descriptions and the phrases people search with. Copies and forks of this plugin are listed under Forks and copies instead. No plugin pays to appear here.

Forks and copies

No forks listed.

The developer's response

The developer hasn't responded. Developers can reply here, and their reply sits next to our findings.I'm the developer

Ratings and reviews

What people who use it say. This is separate from the grade, which is what the code does, and never changes it.

No ratings yet.

Write a review
Your rating of Local PDF Translate v0.1.2

Your review is public, under the name you give, and published with the directory's data under CC BY 4.0. Links are removed. We never store your IP address: a scrambled code made from it is kept for 30 days to catch fake reviews. Every review is checked before it's published; how fake ones are spotted isn't published, so it can't be gamed.

Install Local PDF Translate
CNot recommended
We don't recommend itIt downloads and runs a program we haven't reviewed yet.
Better-graded plugins for the same jobA+PDF TranslateA+Zotero 标题翻译A+Dual Title
Read what we found