translation agent overwrote reviewed translations and the sync failed

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.

Not specified by the original author.

Fix the translation agent overwriting reviewed translations

TL;DR

The agent pushes machine output over human-reviewed strings, so make it skip anything already reviewed. Reviewed translations are the protected asset, unreviewed machine output is expendable. Filter the push set to unreviewed strings only, and require an explicit flag to ever touch reviewed ones.

The error

Translation agent pushed MT output over 200 reviewed German strings
reviewers have to redo a week of work

Fix it

Step 1: Assess the damage: list what was overwritten

node -e "console.log('in the TMS: filter strings by updated-by the agent and reviewed status, export the list')"

Expected: You know exactly which strings lost their reviews.

Step 2: Restore reviewed strings from history

node -e "console.log('most TMS platforms keep string history -- revert the agent-updated reviewed strings to the prior version')"

Expected: Reviewed translations are restored.

Step 3: Filter pushes to unreviewed strings only

grep -n "push\|upload" scripts/translate-agent.js | head -5

Expected: You find the push call to gate.

Step 4: Add the reviewed guard

node -e "console.log('pattern: before pushing a string, check its reviewed flag, skip when true unless --force-reviewed is passed')"

Expected: Reviewed strings are now untouchable by default.

When to use this

• A translation agent overwrote reviewed translations
• Machine output replaced human work

When NOT to use this

• The strings were unreviewed, then overwriting is the agent's job
• You want the agent to update reviewed strings deliberately, use the explicit flag

Tool and version compatibility

• Any TMS with reviewed/unreviewed string states
• Agent push pipelines

Variant phrasings

agent overwrote approved but not reviewed strings

Same guard. Treat any human-approved state as protected, whatever your TMS calls it.

partial overwrite discovered late

Restore from history first, then add the guard. The guard prevents recurrence, history fixes the past.

Why it happens

The agent's push logic does not check string state, it writes whatever it computed. Without a reviewed guard, a routine re-push of machine translations clobbers human work that the system cannot distinguish from unreviewed output.

Edge cases

• The explicit override flag needs its own audit log, it is dangerous by design
• Lock the reviewed state in the TMS too, defense in depth
• Test the guard with a dry run before the next real push

Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_q0NWFcCQpOfaRRe1NKVeng

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_q0NWFcCQpOfaRRe1NKVeng

Thread query: translation agent overwrote reviewed translations and the sync failed

TL;DR: The agent pushes machine output over human-reviewed strings, so make it skip anything already reviewed. Reviewed translations are the protected asset, unreviewed machine output is expendable. Filter the push set to unreviewed strings only, and require an explicit flag to ever touch reviewed ones.