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Bob is a powerful translation and OCR software for macOS and iOS. Through Laozhang API, you can integrate various advanced AI models into Bob for translation, polishing, summarizing and other functions.

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Quick Integration

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Step 1: Install Bob

  1. Visit Bob Official Website to download and install
  2. Or install via Homebrew: 
    brew install bob

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Step 2: Install OpenAI Plugin

  1. Open Bob application
  2. Click the menu bar icon, select “Preferences”
  3. Go to “Plugins” tab
  4. Search for “OpenAI Translate” plugin
  5. Click “Install” button

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Step 3: Configure Laozhang API

1

Open Plugin Settings

Find “OpenAI Translate” plugin in the plugin list, click the settings icon
2

Fill In API Configuration

Configure the following information:
  • API Base URL: https://api.laozhang.ai
  • API Key: Enter your Laozhang API key
  • Model: Select the model you need (e.g., gpt-4-turbo)
3

Test Configuration

Click “Test” button to ensure connection is successful
4

Save Settings

Click “Save” button to complete configuration
Obtaining API KeyVisit Laozhang API Console to create and obtain your API key.
Choose appropriate models based on different translation scenarios:
Translation ScenarioRecommended ModelReason
Daily Translationgpt-3.5-turboFast response, economical
Professional Documentsgpt-4-turboHigh accuracy, strong domain knowledge
Literary Worksclaude-sonnet-4Strong literary flair
Technical Documentsgpt-4-turboPrecise technical terminology
Simultaneous Interpretationgpt-3.5-turboUltra-fast response
Cost vs. Quality Trade-off
  • Daily use: Recommend gpt-3.5-turbo, cost-effective
  • Important documents: Recommend gpt-4-turbo or claude-sonnet-4, higher quality
  • Large batches: Consider using gpt-3.5-turbo combined with manual proofreading

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Core Features

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1. Text Translation

Select any text, use shortcuts to translate:
  • Screenshot Translation: ⌥ + A
  • Selection Translation: ⌥ + D
  • Input Translation: ⌥ + S

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2. OCR Text Recognition

Extract text from images:
  • Support multiple languages
  • High recognition accuracy
  • Direct translation of recognition results

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3. Text Polishing

Optimize your text:
  • Grammar check
  • Expression optimization
  • Style adjustment
  • Tone conversion

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4. Text Summarization

Quickly summarize long text:
  • Extract key points
  • Generate abstracts
  • Refine core ideas

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Practical Examples

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Scenario 1: Web Translation

Browsing foreign language websites:
  1. Select the text you want to translate
  2. Use shortcut ⌥ + D
  3. View translation result in popup

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Scenario 2: Document Translation

Translating professional documents:
  1. Copy document text
  2. Use shortcut ⌥ + S
  3. Input or paste text
  4. Get high-quality translation

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Scenario 3: Paper Reading

Reading English papers:
  1. Screenshot paper paragraphs
  2. Use shortcut ⌥ + A
  3. OCR extracts text
  4. Automatic translation display

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Scenario 4: Email Writing

Writing English emails:
  1. Write Chinese draft
  2. Use translation feature
  3. Get English version
  4. Use polishing feature for optimization

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Advanced Configuration

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Custom Prompts

Customize prompts for translation: 
You are a professional translator proficient in {source language} and {target language}.

Task: Translate the following text to {target language}
Requirements:
1. Accurate and fluent translation
2. Maintain original style and tone
3. Handle proper nouns appropriately
4. Preserve formatting

Text to translate:
{text}

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Multi-model Configuration

Configure different models for different scenarios:
ScenarioModelTemperatureMax Tokens
General Translationgpt-3.5-turbo0.32000
Literary Translationclaude-sonnet-40.73000
Technical Translationgpt-4-turbo0.22000
Text Polishinggpt-4-turbo0.52000

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Shortcut Customization

Customize shortcuts as needed:
FunctionDefault ShortcutRecommended Custom
Screenshot Translation⌥ + ASet to your preferred
Selection Translation⌥ + DSet to your preferred
Input Translation⌥ + SSet to your preferred
Polishing FeatureNone⌥ + P (recommended)

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Troubleshooting

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Connection Failed

Problem: Unable to connect to API Solutions:
  1. Check if API Base URL is correct: https://api.laozhang.ai
  2. Verify API Key validity
  3. Check network connection
  4. Confirm firewall settings

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Translation Quality Poor

Problem: Translation results don’t meet expectations Solutions:
  1. Try using a more advanced model (e.g., switch from GPT-3.5 to GPT-4)
  2. Adjust temperature parameter (lower = more accurate, higher = more diverse)
  3. Optimize prompt template
  4. Provide more context information

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Slow Response

Problem: Translation speed is slow Solutions:
  1. Switch to a faster model (e.g., gpt-3.5-turbo)
  2. Reduce max_tokens setting
  3. Check network speed
  4. Try during off-peak hours

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High Cost

Problem: Usage costs are too high Solutions:
  1. Use gpt-3.5-turbo for daily translation
  2. Use advanced models only for important content
  3. Set reasonable max_tokens limits
  4. Regularly check usage

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Best Practices

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1. Choose Models Wisely

Choose appropriate models based on scenarios: 
Daily communication → gpt-3.5-turbo (fast and economical)
    ↓
Professional documents → gpt-4-turbo (highly accurate)
    ↓
Literary works → claude-sonnet-4 (strong literary flair)

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2. Optimize Prompts

Provide clear translation requirements: 
❌ Bad example: "Translate this text"

✅ Good example: "Please translate the following technical documentation text from English to Chinese, pay attention to:
1. Keep technical terminology professional
2. Maintain original paragraph structure
3. Preserve code blocks and formatted content
4. Ensure text is fluent and natural"

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3. Context Management

Provide necessary context information:
  • Document type (paper, email, chat, etc.)
  • Domain background (technical, medical, legal, etc.)
  • Target audience (professional, general public, etc.)
  • Style requirements (formal, casual, etc.)

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4. Result Verification

Check translation quality:
  • Verify terminology accuracy
  • Check logic coherence
  • Confirm style appropriateness
  • Proofread for typos

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Usage Tips

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Efficient Workflow

1. Selection/Screenshot
   ↓
2. Automatic Recognition/Translation
   ↓
3. Check Results
   ↓
4. (If needed) Secondary Polishing
   ↓
5. Copy and Use

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Batch Processing

Handle large amounts of text:
  1. Split large text into appropriate blocks
  2. Process each block sequentially
  3. Merge results
  4. Perform overall proofreading

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Quality Control

Ensure translation quality:
  1. Initial Translation: Use GPT-3.5 for rough translation
  2. Accuracy Check: Important parts use GPT-4 for retranslation
  3. Style Polishing: Use Claude for style optimization
  4. Final Review: Manual review and adjustment

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Plugin Extensions

Plugin NameFunctionUse Case
DeepL TranslateProfessional translationOfficial translation alternative
Google TranslateQuick translationDaily translation supplement
Youdao TranslateChinese-English translationDomestic user-friendly
OpenAI PolishingText polishingContent optimization

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Plugin Combination Strategies

Bob OpenAI Plugin (Primary)
    ↓
DeepL Plugin (Comparison)
    ↓
Manual Proofreading (Quality Assurance)

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Cost Optimization

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Usage Strategy

Document TypeStrategyExpected Cost
Chat MessagesGPT-3.5, no optimizationVery Low
General DocumentsGPT-3.5, batch processingLow
Important DocumentsGPT-4, secondary proofreadingMedium
Contract/LegalGPT-4 + Manual ReviewHigh

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Budget Control

Set budget control:
  1. Daily Cap: Limit daily maximum usage
  2. Priority Allocation: Allocate quota by importance
  3. Monitor Usage: Regularly check usage
  4. Optimize Model Selection: Adjust model strategy based on actual needs

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Further Learning

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Official Resources

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Learning Resources

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Community Support

Need more help? Please visit Laozhang API Official Website or contact our support team.
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