Select text, click Translate with Bob, and read the translation in Bob's window near your pointer. Your existing Bob translation services and preferences remain in use.
Requirements#
- macOS with OpenClip 1.3.1 or later.
- Bob, Mac App Store edition, installed separately. The
requestinterface requires Bob 1.5.0 or later; tested with Bob 1.20.0 and OpenClip 1.3.1. - OpenClip's Accessibility permission for text selection. On first use, allow OpenClip to control Bob in the macOS Automation prompt.
Install#
Download Bob.openclipext.zip from the independent project's releases. Extract it and copy the entire Bob.openclipext directory into ~/.openclip/extensions/. Reload or restart OpenClip, then enable Translate with Bob in Actions. OpenClip's Install File command can also import the ZIP.
If you installed the early local prototype (local.openclip.bob), remove that prototype in OpenClip before enabling this release to avoid duplicate buttons. The permanent identifier is io.github.s010s.openclip.bob.
What it does#
The AppleScript receives OPENCLIP_TEXT, JSON-encodes the text, and calls Bob's documented translateText request with windowLocation: "mouse". It returns an empty string so OpenClip does not paste Bob's API response into your document. No build tools or translation API keys are required by the extension.
Privacy#
The extension sends the selected text to the installed Bob app through local Apple Events. It does not make network requests, collect analytics, store selected text, or read/write the clipboard. Bob may send text to the translation services you have configured. Their requirements and charges remain separate.
Troubleshooting#
- No button: reload or restart OpenClip and enable the extension in Actions.
- Automation denied / error -1743: allow OpenClip to control Bob in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Automation.
- Bob not found: install the Mac App Store edition with bundle identifier
com.hezongyidev.Bob.
Source and support#
Source, releases, and issues · Bob integration documentation
The integration code is MIT licensed. The bundled Bob icon is adapted from the official Bob–PopClip integration and distributed under GPL-3.0; see third-party attribution. No PopClip integration code is copied. This independent integration is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bob or OpenClip.