Installation Guide

Copyright © 2025 Tomasz Kamiński
Last Updated: 20 July 2025

This guide provides detailed instructions for installing and setting up Game-Changing Translator on your system.

Table of Contents

1. System Requirements
2. Installation Method 1: Compiled Version (Recommended for Most Users)
   • Choose Your Version
   • Installation Steps
   • What's Included
   • No Additional Setup Required
3. Installation Method 2: Python Source Version (For Developers)
   • Prerequisites
   • Step 1: Install Tesseract OCR
   • Step 2: Install Python and Dependencies
   • Step 3: Run the Application
4. Translation Service Configuration (Both Installation Methods)
5. Version Comparison
6. Troubleshooting
7. Which Version Should I Choose?

System Requirements

• Windows 10 or newer (64-bit)
• 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
• For compiled version: 1-4GB free disk space (depending on version chosen)
• For Python version: 500MB free disk space
• Additional space for MarianMT models if using offline translation (~500MB per language pair)
• Internet connection (for API-based translation services and initial MarianMT model downloads)

Installation Method 1: Compiled Version (Recommended for Most Users)

The compiled version provides the easiest installation experience with no need to install Python or dependencies. Simply download, extract, and run.

Choose Your Version

Game-Changing Translator is available in multiple versions to suit different needs and hardware configurations:

Version 3.5.2 - CPU-Only (~240MB) [Latest Version]

• Best for: All users seeking the latest features with superior Gemini Translation + Gemini OCR workflow
• Requirements: Any modern CPU
• Download size: ~240MB compressed (1 file)
• Note: MarianMT offline translation remains available as a reliable fallback option, though the advanced Gemini workflow provides superior results for most use cases

Version 2 - Legacy Versions

Version 2 remains available for users who prefer the previous generation of the application:

Version 2 - GPU-Supported (~1.35GB)

• Best for: Users with NVIDIA GPUs who want faster MarianMT translation performance
• Requirements: NVIDIA GPU with CUDA support
• Benefits: Significantly faster offline neural translation processing
• Download size: ~1.35GB compressed (3 files)

Version 2 - CPU-Only (~188MB)

• Best for: Users without dedicated GPUs or those prioritizing smaller download size
• Requirements: Any modern CPU
• Benefits: Smaller download, works on all systems
• Download size: ~188MB compressed (2 files)

Installation Steps

1. Download the required files for your chosen version:

   • For Version 3.5.2 (Latest): Download the file:
     • GameChangingTranslator_CPU-only_v3.5.2.exe
   • For Version 2 GPU: Download ALL 3 files:
     • GameChangingTranslator_GPU-enabled_v2.7z.001
     • GameChangingTranslator_GPU-enabled_v2.7z.002
     • GameChangingTranslator_GPU-enabled_v2.exe
   • For Version 2 CPU: Download BOTH files:
     • GameChangingTranslator_CPU-only_v2.7z.001
     • GameChangingTranslator_CPU-only_v2.exe

2. Run the installer:

   • Double-click the .exe file you downloaded.
   • Choose your installation directory when prompted.
   • The installer will extract all necessary files automatically.

3. Install Tesseract OCR (required for text recognition):

   • Download from UB-Mannheim repository.
   • Choose the latest 64-bit version.
   • Install to default location: C:\Program Files\Tesseract-OCR\.
   • Select all optional installation components, including support for all languages.

4. Run the application:

   • Navigate to the extracted folder.
   • Double-click GameChangingTranslator.exe.
   • The application will start immediately.

5. First-time setup:

   • Verify the Tesseract path in the Settings tab (should auto-detect).
   • Select source and target translation areas.
   • Configure your preferred translation method.
   • You're ready to translate!

What's Included

The compiled version includes everything you need:

• GameChangingTranslator executable
• All Python libraries and dependencies
• Pre-configured settings
• Documentation and user manual
• Resource files for all supported languages

No Additional Setup Required

Unlike the Python version, the compiled version requires no additional software installation beyond Tesseract OCR. All Python dependencies, translation libraries, and neural network frameworks are bundled and ready to use.

Installation Method 2: Python Source Version (For Developers)

This method is recommended for developers who want to modify the application or prefer running from source code.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.7 or newer
• Git (optional, for cloning the repository)

Step 1: Install Tesseract OCR

Game-Changing Translator relies on Tesseract for optical character recognition. Follow these steps to install it:

1. Download the Tesseract installer from the UB-Mannheim repository.

   • Choose the latest 64-bit version.
   • Select all optional installation components, including support for all languages.

2. Install Tesseract to the default location: C:\Program Files\Tesseract-OCR\

   • If you install to a different location, you'll need to update the path in the application settings.

3. Verify installation by opening Command Prompt and typing:

   "C:\Program Files\Tesseract-OCR\tesseract.exe" --version

Step 2: Install Python and Dependencies

1. If you don't have Python installed:

   • Download Python from python.org.
   • Make sure to check "Add Python to PATH" during installation.

2. Clone or download this repository:

   git clone https://github.com/tomkam1702/OCR-Translator.git
   cd OCR-Translator

3. Install required Python packages:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

   This will install:

   • Core dependencies (numpy, opencv, pytesseract, Pillow, pyautogui)
   • Translation API clients (Google Cloud Translate, DeepL)
   • Optional MarianMT offline translation libraries (transformers, torch, sentencepiece)
   • Keyboard hotkey support

Step 3: Run the Application

1. From the project directory, run:

   python main.py

2. The application will start and display the main interface.

3. If running for the first time, you'll need to:

   • Verify the Tesseract path in the Settings tab
   • Select source and target translation areas
   • Configure your preferred translation method

Translation Service Configuration (Both Installation Methods)

Google Cloud Translation API (Optional):

1. Create a Google Cloud account and project.
2. Enable the Cloud Translation API.
3. Create an API key:
   • Go to Google Cloud Console → APIs & Services → Credentials.
   • Click "Create credentials" → "API key".
4. Copy your API key for use in the Game-Changing Translator settings.

DeepL API (Optional):

1. Create a DeepL account at deepl.com/pro-api.
2. Subscribe to a plan (including the free plan).
3. Get your API key from the account dashboard.
4. Copy your API key for use in the Game-Changing Translator settings.

MarianMT (Offline Translation):

This option requires no configuration as the models are downloaded automatically when first used. However, note that:

• Models are ~500MB each.
• First-time translation with a new language pair will take time to download the model.
• A fast internet connection is recommended for the initial download.
• GPU version processes translations significantly faster if you have a compatible NVIDIA GPU.

Version Comparison

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during installation:

For Compiled Versions:

• Application won't start: Ensure you have Visual C++ Redistributable installed.
• Tesseract not found: Verify the path in Settings matches your installation location.
• GPU version slow: Check if NVIDIA drivers are up to date and CUDA is working.
• Antivirus warnings: Add the application folder to your antivirus exclusions.

For Python Source Version:

• Python dependency errors: Make sure you're using Python 3.7+ and try reinstalling dependencies.
• Import errors: Verify all packages installed correctly with pip list.

Common Issues (All Versions):

• Translation API errors: Check your API keys and internet connection.
• MarianMT errors: Ensure you have sufficient disk space and a stable internet connection for model download.
• OCR not working: Verify Tesseract installation and path configuration.

For more help, see the Troubleshooting Guide.

Which Version Should I Choose?

Choose Version 3.5.2 - CPU-Only if:

• You want the latest features and improvements.
• You prefer advanced Gemini API integration with superior translation quality.
• You need comprehensive API cost tracking and monitoring.
• You want the smallest download size for a modern feature set.
• You primarily use online translation services (Gemini, DeepL, Google Translate).
• You don't mind using MarianMT as a reliable fallback rather than primary translation method.

Choose Version 2 - GPU-Supported if:

• You have an NVIDIA GPU with CUDA support.
• You frequently use MarianMT offline translation as your primary method.
• You want the absolute best performance for neural translation.
• You don't mind the larger download size for maximum MarianMT performance.

Choose Version 2 - CPU-Only if:

• You prefer the previous generation interface.
• You don't have a dedicated GPU but want Version 2 features.
• You primarily use API-based translation services but prefer Version 2.
• You want maximum compatibility with Version 2 workflows.

Choose Python Source Version if:

• You're a developer who wants to modify the application.
• You prefer having full control over dependencies.
• You want to contribute to the project.
• You're comfortable with Python development environments.

For most users, Version 3.5.2 - CPU-Only provides the best balance of modern features, translation quality, ease-of-use, and download size. Users who heavily rely on MarianMT offline translation and have compatible NVIDIA hardware may prefer Version 2 - GPU-Supported for maximum offline performance.