CatScribe Docs

#Simple vs Advanced Mode

CatScribe has a global interface mode with two values: Simple and Advanced. The toggle is the rightmost button in the top bar — it shows the mode you are currently in, and its tooltip names the mode you would switch to. Simple is the default, and the choice is remembered on your device.

The mode controls how much translation-engine detail the app shows. It never changes how a translation actually runs — Advanced is the same app with the full engine list and extra controls visible.

#What Each Mode Shows In The Provider List

Mode Selectable providers
Simple "Offline Translation" (one option standing in for all local engines) and "Google (Free)"
Advanced "Argos (Local)", "LibreTranslate (Local)", "MarianMT (Local)", "NLLB (Local)", and "Google (Free)"

Both modes also list disabled previews at the bottom of the selector: DeepL and OpenAI with a "Coming later" badge, and Catscribe Cloud with a "Pro" badge. These are teasers — they cannot be selected in current builds.

Ollama and LM Studio never appear in this main provider dropdown in either mode; they are local LLM providers used through the AI model selectors (AI refinement layers, Improve with AI, Help Chat). See Translation Engines.

#Everything Else That Changes

Beyond the provider list, switching modes changes a few File Translation behaviors:

Area Simple Advanced
Provider list One "Offline Translation" + Google (Free) Every local engine listed individually
Local Translation Panel (per-engine local MT status and controls in File Translation) Hidden Shown (when Auto Mode is off and a local provider is selected)
AI refinement setup Enabling refinement auto-configures the pipeline: CatScribe picks the preferred model and skips stages when no issues are found. Per-stage model pickers are never shown. Full manual control: per-stage models, Orchestration choice (Single-model / Multi-model), and stage toggles
In-form detail A "Show advanced" / "Hide advanced" toggle reveals optional fields Advanced fields visible by default

Things Simple/Advanced does not change:

  • No Settings field is hidden by either mode — Settings always shows everything (the "Advanced" chip there is just a filter).
  • Auto Mode works identically in both modes.
  • Jobs that are already running or saved are unaffected by switching.
  • Interface language, theme, and the guided tour are independent of the mode.

#When To Use Advanced Mode

Switch to Advanced when you want to:

  • Compare specific engines on the same sample text.
  • Pick a particular engine for one job without changing your saved Preferred Offline Provider.
  • Configure the AI refinement stages and their models directly.
  • Troubleshoot quality or performance engine by engine (the Local Translation Panel shows per-engine status).

An engine selected explicitly in Advanced mode runs exactly as chosen.

#When Simple Mode Is The Better Fit

  • You always translate with the same local engine and just want it to work.
  • You share the machine with less technical users.
  • You want the AI refinement layer without configuring per-stage models.

#Good To Know

  • The onboarding tour has a dedicated "Advanced / Simple" step: "Toggle between simplified and advanced UI. Advanced mode shows detailed status of local services and more AI options."
  • Changing Preferred Offline Provider changes what "Offline Translation" resolves to from that point on; the app re-checks the setting continuously, and the "Currently using" line always reflects the live value.
  • The provider guide (the help icon next to the provider selector) adapts too: in Simple mode it explains the single Offline Translation option; in Advanced mode it documents each engine with guidance like "FAST & SIMPLE" (Argos) or "QUALITY FIRST" (NLLB).