Translate Academic Credentials

Translate Academic Credentials (ZH → EN)

Quick start

1. Identify document type: transcript, degree certificate, graduation certificate, or verification letter.
2. Analyze layout first — page-by-page, top-to-bottom. See layout-reference.md.
3. Ask if missing: output folder, file basename, and official English institution names.
4. Read the source (image/PDF/text). Extract every field, table cell, stamp, watermark, footer, and blank line.
5. Translate to English only using reference.md. Do not include Chinese text in output files.
6. Build layout-mirrored JSON — blocks in the same order, alignment, and structure as the original. See templates.md.
7. Export:

   python3 -m pip install python-docx fpdf2
   python ~/.cursor/skills/translate-academic-credentials/scripts/build_translation_docs.py translation.json
   

8. Verify layout fidelity against the checklist below, then deliver .docx and .pdf paths.

Layout fidelity (strict — required)

The English document must mirror the Chinese original format, not be reorganized into a generic template.

Structure

• Same page count and page breaks
• Same block order (titles → fields → tables → signatures → seals → footers)
• Same table dimensions (columns, rows, including empty rows)
• Same label–value pairing (if two fields share one row in the source, keep them on one row)
• Preserve blank lines and vertical spacing with spacer blocks

Typography & alignment

• Match center / left / right / justify per block
• Match relative font size and bold (titles larger, certificate numbers smaller)
• Certificate text: preserve stacked centered lines if that is how the source appears

Forbidden layout changes

• Do not convert source tables into summary "Field | Value" tables unless the source uses that layout
• Do not add section headings (e.g., "Student Information") absent from the source
• Do not merge or split rows/columns for convenience
• Do not move signatures, dates, or seals to different positions
• Do not add a generic "OFFICIAL TRANSLATION" banner unless the user requests it (suppress_default_title: true by default)

Output rules

English-only deliverables

• Word/PDF contain English translation only — no Chinese, no bilingual columns
• Institution names: official English only

Required file outputs

Every translation produces both:

• {basename}.docx
• {basename}.pdf

Default naming: {FamilyName}_{GivenName}_{DocumentType}_EN

Translator certification

If included, certification_statement goes on a separate page after the mirrored translation — it is not part of the source layout.

Core translation rules

• Translate all visible text; use [Illegible] when unreadable
• Do not summarize, reinterpret grades, or convert GPA unless asked
• Names: Pinyin, Family Name, Given Name
• Dates: Month DD, YYYY unless source format must be preserved
• Seals: [Official Seal: Institution Name] at the original position
• Warn about ID numbers; offer redaction if needed

Document-specific layout notes

成绩单

• Mirror header grid (often multi-column label rows, not a single table)
• Course table: translate column headers; keep every data row
• Summary row (总学分, GPA): same position and pairing as source
• Repeat per-page headers if the source repeats them

学位证 / 毕业证

• Mirror vertical certificate stack (centered lines, spacing, signature block)
• Keep certificate number placement (often lower on page)
• 学位证 vs 毕业证: use correct English title; do not swap document types

Export workflow

1. Set "mirror_source_layout": true and "suppress_default_title": true in JSON
2. Run build_translation_docs.py
3. PDF is generated from DOCX when LibreOffice/Pandoc is available (best layout match); otherwise fpdf2 fallback
4. Confirm both files exist

Quality checklist

Layout

• Page count matches source
• Block order matches source top-to-bottom
• Alignments (center/left/right) match source
• Table column count and row count match source
• Label–value pairs on same rows as source
• Spacing, page breaks, footers, seals at correct positions
• No generic reformatting or added section headings

Content

• English only in output files
• Both .docx and .pdf generated
• All fields translated; numbers/IDs exact
• Terminology matches reference.md
• No unauthorized GPA conversion

Additional resources

• Layout patterns: layout-reference.md
• Terminology: reference.md
• JSON schema & examples: templates.md