Bit.ResxTranslator

Bit.ResxTranslator is a .NET global tool that automates the translation of .resx resource files into multiple languages using OpenAI or Azure OpenAI Large Language Models (LLMs).

It efficiently identifies missing translations in your target language files and generates them using the configured LLM, while preserving any existing manual translations.

Key Features

• LLM-Powered Translation: Uses OpenAI or Azure OpenAI for translating .resx entries.
• Preserves Existing Translations: Only adds missing translations to target .resx files, leaving existing ones untouched.
• Automatic File Generation: Creates target language .resx files (e.g., AppStrings.fr.resx) if they don't exist based on your default language file (e.g., AppStrings.fr.resx).
• Flexible Configuration: Configure languages, .resx file paths (using glob patterns), and LLM provider details via Bit.ResxTranslator.json.
• .NET Configuration: Supports API keys via JSON or standard environment variables (e.g., OpenAI__ApiKey, AzureOpenAI__ApiKey).
• Easy Installation: Installs as a .NET global tool.

Installation

dotnet tool install --global Bit.ResxTranslator

Configuration

Bit.ResxTranslator requires a configuration file named Bit.ResxTranslator.json located in the directory where you execute the bit-resx-translate command.

This JSON file defines the source and target languages, the location of your resource files, and the connection details for the LLM service (OpenAI or Azure OpenAI).

Example Bit.ResxTranslator.json:

{ "DefaultLanguage": "en", "DefaultLanguage__Comment": "Required: .NET culture's name, en, en-US for example.", "SupportedLanguages": [ "nl", "fa", "sv", "hi", "zh", "es", "fr", "ar", "de" ], "SupportedLanguages__Comment": "Required: An array of .NET culture names.", "ResxPaths": [ "src/**/*.resx" ], "ResxPaths__Comment": "Required: An array of glob patterns to find your *base* .resx files", "OpenAI": { "Model": "gpt-4.1-mini", "Endpoint": "https://models.inference.ai.azure.com", "Endpoint__Comment": "Required if using OpenAI: API Key. Can be set here OR via Environment Variable [OpenAI__ApiKey]", "ApiKey": null }, "AzureOpenAI": { "Model": "gpt-4.1-mini", "Endpoint": "https://yourResourceName.openai.azure.com/openai/deployments/yourDeployment", "Endpoint__Comment": "Required if using Azure: API Key. Can be set here OR via Environment Variable [AzureOpenAI__ApiKey]", "ApiKey": null, "ApiKey__Comment": "Required if using Azure: API Key. Can be set here OR via Environment Variable [AzureOpenAI__ApiKey]" } }

Security Note: It is highly recommended to provide your ApiKey using environment variables (OpenAI__ApiKey or AzureOpenAI__ApiKey) instead of hardcoding it directly in the Bit.RexsTranslator.json file, especially if this file is checked into version control. The tool uses standard .NET configuration practices, meaning environment variables will override values present in the JSON file.

Usage

bit-resx-translate