# General Translation Platform: downloadFileBatch
URL: https://generaltranslation.com/en-US/docs/platform/core/reference/gt-class-methods/translation/download-file-batch.mdx
---

title: downloadFileBatch
description: Download multiple translated files in one request. API reference for downloadFileBatch.

---

Downloads multiple source or translation files in a single batch request with General Translation. Use it instead of many individual [`downloadFile`](/docs/platform/core/reference/gt-class-methods/translation/download-file) calls to reduce network overhead.

## Overview [#overview]

Call `downloadFileBatch` with an array of file requests. Each request can target a translation (with a `locale`) or a source file (without one).

```typescript
const gt = new GT({ projectId: 'your-project-id', apiKey: 'your-api-key' });

const result = await gt.downloadFileBatch([
  { fileId: 'file-123', branchId: 'branch-456', locale: 'es' },
  { fileId: 'file-123', branchId: 'branch-456', locale: 'fr' },
  { fileId: 'file-123', branchId: 'branch-456', locale: 'de' },
]);
```

Signature:

```typescript
downloadFileBatch(
  requests: DownloadFileBatchRequest,
  options?: DownloadFileBatchOptions
): Promise<DownloadFileBatchResult>
```

*Note: `downloadFileBatch` requires an `apiKey` (or `devApiKey`) and `projectId` on the GT instance. It downloads multiple files in a single API call, which is more efficient than repeated `downloadFile` calls.*

## How it works [#how-it-works]

- **Order.** Files are returned in the same order as the requested items when possible.
- **Partial success.** A failed individual download within the batch does not cause the whole batch to fail.
- **Readiness.** Use [`queryFileData`](/docs/platform/core/reference/gt-class-methods/translation/query-file-data) to verify files are ready before downloading.

## Parameters [#parameters]

| Parameter | Description | Type | Optional | Default |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [`requests`](#requests) | Array of file request objects. | `DownloadFileBatchRequest` | No | — |
| [`options`](#options) | Configuration for the download request. | `DownloadFileBatchOptions` | Yes | — |

### `requests` [#requests]

**Type** `DownloadFileBatchRequest` · **Required**

An array of file requests:

```typescript
type DownloadFileBatchRequest = {
  fileId: string;
  branchId?: string;
  locale?: string;
  versionId?: string;
  useLatestAvailableVersion?: boolean;
}[];
```

| Field | Description | Type | Optional | Default |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `fileId` | Unique identifier of the file to download. | `string` | No | — |
| `branchId` | Branch to download from. | `string` | Yes | default branch |
| `locale` | Target locale for the translation. Omit to download the source file. | `string` | Yes | — |
| `versionId` | Version ID to download. | `string` | Yes | latest version |
| `useLatestAvailableVersion` | If `true` and the specified `versionId` is not found, fall back to the latest available version instead of failing. | `boolean` | Yes | `false` |

### `options` [#options]

**Type** `DownloadFileBatchOptions` · **Optional**

| Field | Description | Type | Optional |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `timeout` | Request timeout in milliseconds. | `number` | Yes |

## Returns [#returns]

**Type** `Promise<DownloadFileBatchResult>`

Resolves to a `DownloadFileBatchResult` containing the downloaded files and a count:

```typescript
type DownloadFileBatchResult = {
  files: DownloadedFile[];
  count: number;
};

type DownloadedFile = {
  id: string;
  branchId: string;
  fileId: string;
  versionId: string;
  locale?: string; // present when the file is a translation
  fileName?: string; // present for source files (when locale is absent)
  data: string; // file content as a UTF-8 string
  metadata: JsonObject;
  fileFormat: FileFormat;
};
```

| Property | Description | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `files` | Array of downloaded file objects. | `DownloadedFile[]` |
| `count` | Number of files successfully downloaded. | `number` |
| `files[].id` | Unique identifier of the downloaded file record. | `string` |
| `files[].branchId` | Branch ID. | `string` |
| `files[].fileId` | File ID. | `string` |
| `files[].versionId` | Version ID. | `string` |
| `files[].locale` | Locale of the file, present when it is a translation. | `string` (optional) |
| `files[].fileName` | Original file name, present for source files. | `string` (optional) |
| `files[].data` | File content as a UTF-8 string. | `string` |
| `files[].metadata` | Format-specific metadata for the file. | `JsonObject` |
| `files[].fileFormat` | Format of the file (`JSON`, `MDX`, and so on). | `FileFormat` |

## Examples [#examples]

```typescript title="index.ts"
// (1) Create a GT instance
const targetLocales = ['es', 'fr', 'de'];
const gt = new GT({
  projectId: 'your-project-id',
  apiKey: 'your-api-key',
});

// (2) Upload the file
const fileUpload = {
  content: fileContents,
  fileName: filePath,
  fileFormat: 'JSON',
  locale: 'en',
};
const files = [{ source: fileUpload }];
const { uploadedFiles } = await gt.uploadSourceFiles(files, { sourceLocale: 'en' });

// (3) Enqueue the file translation job
const enqueueResult = await gt.enqueueFiles(uploadedFiles, {
  sourceLocale: 'en',
  targetLocales: targetLocales,
});

// (4) Wait for all translations to be completed
const { fileId, versionId, branchId } = uploadedFiles[0];
const result = await gt.awaitJobs(enqueueResult);

if (!result.complete) {
  console.error('Some jobs did not finish in time');
}

// (5) Download all translations in a batch
const downloadResult = await gt.downloadFileBatch(
  targetLocales.map((locale) => ({
    fileId,
    branchId,
    locale,
  }))
);

downloadResult.files.forEach((file) => {
  console.log(`Downloaded ${file.locale}: ${file.fileName}`);
});
```

## Notes [#notes]

- Files are returned as UTF-8 strings.
- Use [`queryFileData`](/docs/platform/core/reference/gt-class-methods/translation/query-file-data) to verify files are ready for download first.
- Files are returned in the same order as the requested items when possible.
- Failed individual file downloads within the batch do not cause the entire batch to fail.