Excel macro to find words from Google Translate - vba

Question

I have an Excel sheet with almost 30.000 words in column A and I want to create a macro to search each word in Google Translate, get their meaning (or translation), put the meaing in column B (or if there is more than more meaning in column C, column D, etc.)
Since I have almost 30.000 words, it is a very time consuming thing to search for each word by myself. It would be great if I can do this with a macro.
Any suggestions? (Google Translate is not a "must" for me. If there is another web-site or some other way to do this, I am open to suggestions)
Note: I came across with this topic, but it did not work out the way I hoped.

Answer 1

Since the Google Translate API is not the free service it's tricker to perform this operation. However, I found a workaround on this page Translate text using vba and I made some adjustments so it could work for your purposes. Assuming that the original words are entered into the "A" column in the spreadsheet and translations should appear in the colums on the right here is the code:
Sub test()
Dim s As String
Dim detailed_translation_results, basic_translation_results
Dim cell As Range
For Each cell In Intersect(ActiveSheet.Range("A:A"), ActiveSheet.UsedRange)
If cell.Value <> "" Then
detailed_translation_results = detailed_translation(cell.Value)
'Check whether detailed_translation_results is an array value. If yes, each detailed translation is entered into separate column, if not, basic translation is entered into the next column on the right
On Error Resume Next
ActiveSheet.Range(cell.Offset(0, 1), cell.Offset(0, UBound(detailed_translation_results) + 1)).Value = detailed_translation_results
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
cell.Offset(0, 1).Value = detailed_translation_results
End If
On Error GoTo 0
End If
Next cell
End Sub
Function detailed_translation(str)
' Tools Refrence Select Microsoft internet Control
Dim IE As Object, i As Long, j As Long
Dim inputstring As String, outputstring As String, text_to_convert As String, result_data As String, CLEAN_DATA
Dim FirstTablePosition As Long, FinalTablePosition
Set IE = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.application")
' Choose input language - Default "auto"
inputstring = "auto"
' Choose input language - Default "en"
outputstring = "en"
text_to_convert = str
'open website
IE.Visible = False
IE.navigate "http://translate.google.com/#" & inputstring & "/" & outputstring & "/" & text_to_convert
Do Until IE.ReadyState = 4
DoEvents
Loop
Application.Wait (Now + TimeValue("0:00:5"))
Do Until IE.ReadyState = 4
DoEvents
Loop
'Firstly, this function tries to extract detailed translation.
Dim TempTranslation() As String, FinalTranslation() As String
FirstTablePosition = InStr(IE.Document.getElementById("gt-lc").innerHTML, "<tbody>")
LastTablePosition = InStr(IE.Document.getElementById("gt-lc").innerHTML, "</tbody>")
On Error Resume Next
TempTranslation() = Split(Mid(IE.Document.getElementById("gt-lc").innerHTML, FirstTablePosition, LastTablePosition - FirstTablePosition), "class=""gt-baf-cell gt-baf-word-clickable"">")
ReDim FinalTranslation(0 To UBound(TempTranslation) - 1)
For j = LBound(TempTranslation) + 1 To UBound(TempTranslation)
FinalTranslation(j - 1) = Left(TempTranslation(j), InStr(TempTranslation(j), "<") - 1)
Next j
On Error GoTo 0
Dim CheckIfDetailed
'Check whether there is detailed translation available. If not - this function returns a single translation
On Error Resume Next
CheckIfDetailed = FinalTranslation(LBound(FinalTranslation))
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
CLEAN_DATA = Split(Application.WorksheetFunction.Substitute(IE.Document.getElementById("result_box").innerHTML, "</SPAN>", ""), "<")
For j = LBound(CLEAN_DATA) To UBound(CLEAN_DATA)
result_data = result_data & Right(CLEAN_DATA(j), Len(CLEAN_DATA(j)) - InStr(CLEAN_DATA(j), ">"))
Next
detailed_translation = result_data
Exit Function
End If
On Error GoTo 0
IE.Quit
detailed_translation = FinalTranslation()
End Function
Please note that the code is extremly slow (due to anti-robot restrictions) and I cannot guarantee that Google will not block the script. However, it should work.
The only thing you should do is to choose languages in the places marked by the appropriate comment.
Alternatively, if you seek something faster, you can manipulate Application.Wait method (for example setting the value to 0:00:2 instead of 0:00:5) or google for Microsoft Translate.