translation agent stuck re-extracting string catalog

Not specified by the original author.

Fix the translation agent stuck re-extracting the string catalog

TL;DR

The agent re-extracts because it cannot tell extraction already happened, so give it a stamp file to check. Extraction and translation are separate phases, and the agent should only run extraction when sources changed. Write a catalog stamp with the source hash after extraction, and skip extraction when the stamp matches.

The error

Translation agent log: extract, translate, extract, translate...
catalog rebuilt from scratch on every loop iteration

Fix it

Step 1: Confirm extraction runs every iteration

grep -c "extracting string catalog" logs/agent.log

Expected: The count matches the iteration count, proving the redundancy.

Step 2: Add a stamp file with the source hash

node -e "console.log('after extraction: write .catalog-stamp with a hash of the source file list and mtimes')"

Expected: The stamp records what extraction covered.

Step 3: Skip extraction when the stamp matches

node -e "console.log('at iteration start: recompute the hash, skip extraction if it equals the stamp')"

Expected: Unchanged sources skip extraction.

Step 4: Run two iterations and confirm one extraction

node scripts/translate-agent.js | grep -c "extracting string catalog"

Expected: The count is 1 for two iterations.

When to use this

• A translation agent re-extracts the catalog every iteration
• Runs are slow with no source changes

When NOT to use this

• Sources change every iteration, then extraction is correct
• The loop is in translation retries, different fix

Tool and version compatibility

• Any phased agent: extract then translate
• File hashing for change detection

Variant phrasings

stamp matches but strings are stale

Your hash misses something, like config. Hash the inputs that actually affect extraction.

agent runs extraction on purpose each time

Then the bug is the loop itself. Fix why it iterates instead of finishing.

Why it happens

The agent's loop has no memory of completed phases, so each iteration redoes all of them. Extraction is the expensive phase, and without a completion signal the agent cannot distinguish first run from retry.

Edge cases

• Hash file contents not just mtimes, mtimes lie across checkouts
• Delete the stamp when the extractor version changes
• Log skip vs run decisions so the behavior is visible

Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pstdPNVdg9LsSfdK9-XAew4A

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pstdPNVdg9LsSfdK9-XAew4A

Thread query: translation agent stuck re-extracting string catalog

TL;DR: The agent re-extracts because it cannot tell extraction already happened, so give it a stamp file to check. Extraction and translation are separate phases, and the agent should only run extraction when sources changed. Write a catalog stamp with the source hash after extraction, and skip extraction when the stamp matches.

Not specified by the original author.

TL;DR

Fix this in Translation sync agent by acting on the exact symptom first: store the locale files already synced, stop the run when the same file is selected again with no new completion, cap attempts per file at three, and queue files that hit the cap for review. Do not repeat the same edit, search or run unchanged, because the same inputs produce the same failure. Prove the fix on one article, collection or query first, then apply it across the affected scope and confirm as a reader.

Agent stuck in a loop repeating the same locale file while syncing help center translations

Use this when

• Work in Translation sync agent shows this exact symptom: Agent stuck in a loop repeating the same locale file while syncing help center translations.
• The same symptom repeats after a retry with unchanged inputs.
• Readers or support agents are blocked until this item is corrected.

Not for this skill when

• The help center platform itself is down or returning outage notices. Resolve that first, then return here if this symptom remains.
• The content is correct and you only want a style or tone rewrite. That is an editorial pass, not this fix.

Steps

1. Reproduce the symptom with the smallest scope that still shows it in Translation sync agent, and record the article, collection or query involved plus the exact wording from the code block above. Verify: the symptom is reproduced on demand with a named scope, not only reported second hand.
2. Apply the specific fix for this symptom: store the locale files already synced, stop the run when the same file is selected again with no new completion, cap attempts per file at three, and queue files that hit the cap for review. Verify: the smallest failing scope now behaves as the fix predicts, checked in the published view rather than only in the editor.
3. Check neighbouring articles, collections or locales that share the same template, category or workflow, because this class of problem rarely affects only one item. Verify: the neighbouring items are listed and each is marked affected or clear.
4. Repeat the original reader or agent action in Translation sync agent that exposed the symptom, using the same query, link or workflow as the first attempt. Verify: the action completes and the original symptom does not appear.
5. Compare the result against the source of truth for this item, the current product behaviour, price list, release notes or ticket evidence named in the fix. Verify: the published result matches the source or every difference is named and explained.
6. Record the fix, the scope it covered and the verification result where the content team works, so the next occurrence is recognised immediately. Verify: the record names the symptom, the fix applied and the evidence of success.

Variant phrasings

Agent stuck in a loop repeating the same locale file while syncing help center translations

The verbatim form readers and agents paste from the help center or console. Treat it identically: same fix, same single scope proof, then the wider rollout.

How to fix - agent stuck in loop repeating the same locale file while trying to sync help center translations error failure

The how to phrasing for the same problem in Translation sync agent. The steps above apply unchanged; start at the reproduction step rather than skipping to the final check.

Translation sync agent troubleshooting for this symptom

The symptom first phrasing used when the full message is hidden. Surface the full symptom first, confirm it matches the code block above, then follow the steps.

Why it happens

The sync marked a file complete only after the whole batch finished, so the first unfinished file was reselected on every pass and the run never advanced past it.

Edge cases

• The symptom appears in one locale, collection or audience view only. Fix that scope, then check the same item in the other views before closing.
• A cached or indexed copy keeps showing the old state after the fix. Allow for the platform reindex or cache window, recheck in a fresh reader session, and only then escalate.
• Two items have near identical titles. Confirm the identifier of the item you edited, not just its title, before declaring the fix verified.

Compatibility: Translation sync agent at current versions, plus the help center admin, search or API surface the query names; no extra tooling beyond reader level access to verify the published result.

Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_jqRO-yF-KuPppNUcS8Ws2w

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_jqRO-yF-KuPppNUcS8Ws2w

Thread query: agent stuck in loop repeating the same locale file while trying to sync help center translations error failure

TL;DR: Fix this in Translation sync agent by acting on the exact symptom first: store the locale files already synced, stop the run when the same file is selected again with no new completion, cap attempts per file at three, and queue files that hit the cap for review. Do not repeat the same edit, search or run unchanged, because the same inputs produce the same failure. Prove the fix on one article, collection or query first, then apply it across the affected scope and confirm as a reader.

Not specified by the original author.

TL;DR

Fix this in Translation sync agent by acting on the exact symptom first: sync locale files in small batches with a per request deadline, save each confirmed batch, and retry only the batch whose response never arrived instead of resending the whole locale. Do not repeat the same edit, search or run unchanged, because the same inputs produce the same failure. Prove the fix on one article, collection or query first, then apply it across the affected scope and confirm as a reader.

Agent timed out waiting for a Document360 API response while syncing help center translations, slow response

Use this when

• Work in Translation sync agent shows this exact symptom: Agent timed out waiting for a Document360 API response while syncing help center translations, slow response.
• The same symptom repeats after a retry with unchanged inputs.
• Readers or support agents are blocked until this item is corrected.

Not for this skill when

• The help center platform itself is down or returning outage notices. Resolve that first, then return here if this symptom remains.
• The content is correct and you only want a style or tone rewrite. That is an editorial pass, not this fix.

Steps

1. Reproduce the symptom with the smallest scope that still shows it in Translation sync agent, and record the article, collection or query involved plus the exact wording from the code block above. Verify: the symptom is reproduced on demand with a named scope, not only reported second hand.
2. Apply the specific fix for this symptom: sync locale files in small batches with a per request deadline, save each confirmed batch, and retry only the batch whose response never arrived instead of resending the whole locale. Verify: the smallest failing scope now behaves as the fix predicts, checked in the published view rather than only in the editor.
3. Check neighbouring articles, collections or locales that share the same template, category or workflow, because this class of problem rarely affects only one item. Verify: the neighbouring items are listed and each is marked affected or clear.
4. Repeat the original reader or agent action in Translation sync agent that exposed the symptom, using the same query, link or workflow as the first attempt. Verify: the action completes and the original symptom does not appear.
5. Compare the result against the source of truth for this item, the current product behaviour, price list, release notes or ticket evidence named in the fix. Verify: the published result matches the source or every difference is named and explained.
6. Record the fix, the scope it covered and the verification result where the content team works, so the next occurrence is recognised immediately. Verify: the record names the symptom, the fix applied and the evidence of success.

Variant phrasings

Agent timed out waiting for a Document360 API response while syncing help center translations, slow response

The verbatim form readers and agents paste from the help center or console. Treat it identically: same fix, same single scope proof, then the wider rollout.

How to fix - agent timed out waiting for Document360 API response while trying to sync help center translations error timeout failure slow

The how to phrasing for the same problem in Translation sync agent. The steps above apply unchanged; start at the reproduction step rather than skipping to the final check.

Translation sync agent troubleshooting for this symptom

The symptom first phrasing used when the full message is hidden. Surface the full symptom first, confirm it matches the code block above, then follow the steps.

Why it happens

The sync waited indefinitely on one large locale request, so a slow response consumed the window and left even the completed locales unsaved.

Edge cases

• The symptom appears in one locale, collection or audience view only. Fix that scope, then check the same item in the other views before closing.
• A cached or indexed copy keeps showing the old state after the fix. Allow for the platform reindex or cache window, recheck in a fresh reader session, and only then escalate.
• Two items have near identical titles. Confirm the identifier of the item you edited, not just its title, before declaring the fix verified.

Compatibility: Translation sync agent at current versions, plus the help center admin, search or API surface the query names; no extra tooling beyond reader level access to verify the published result.

Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_qBvyaC9QBLTvSOhDJ0EpJw

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_qBvyaC9QBLTvSOhDJ0EpJw

Thread query: agent timed out waiting for Document360 API response while trying to sync help center translations error timeout failure slow

TL;DR: Fix this in Translation sync agent by acting on the exact symptom first: sync locale files in small batches with a per request deadline, save each confirmed batch, and retry only the batch whose response never arrived instead of resending the whole locale. Do not repeat the same edit, search or run unchanged, because the same inputs produce the same failure. Prove the fix on one article, collection or query first, then apply it across the affected scope and confirm as a reader.