diff --git a/backend/src/models/translate.py b/backend/src/models/translate.py
index 812bbcbe4..6edb828be 100644
--- a/backend/src/models/translate.py
+++ b/backend/src/models/translate.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class TranslationJob(Base):
     source_dialect = Column(String, nullable=False)
     target_dialect = Column(String, nullable=False)
     database_dialect = Column(String, nullable=True, comment="Detected dialect from Superset connection at save time")
-    status = Column(String, nullable=False, default="DRAFT")  # DRAFT, READY, RUNNING, COMPLETED, FAILED, CANCELLED
+    status = Column(String, nullable=False, default="DRAFT")  # DRAFT, READY, RUNNING, COMPLETED, FAILED, CANCELLED — auto-transition DRAFT→READY via frontend preflight
 
     # Datasource & target table configuration
     source_datasource_id = Column(String, nullable=True, comment="Superset datasource ID")
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ class TranslationJob(Base):
     target_source_column = Column(String, nullable=True, comment="Target column for source/original text")
     target_source_language_column = Column(String, nullable=True, comment="Target column for detected source language (BCP-47)")
     context_columns = Column(JSON, nullable=True, comment="Context column names included in LLM prompt")
+    include_source_reference = Column(Boolean, default=True, nullable=False, comment="If true, insert original/source rows alongside translated rows")
 
     # LLM & processing settings
     # source_language removed — deprecated, auto-detected per row by LLM; use TranslationLanguage.source_language_detected instead
diff --git a/backend/src/plugins/translate/__tests__/test_orchestrator.py b/backend/src/plugins/translate/__tests__/test_orchestrator.py
index fd2ed7dff..251a3d329 100644
--- a/backend/src/plugins/translate/__tests__/test_orchestrator.py
+++ b/backend/src/plugins/translate/__tests__/test_orchestrator.py
@@ -233,21 +233,6 @@ class TestTranslationOrchestrator:
         with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="no accepted preview"):
             orch.start_run(job_id="job-123")
 
-    # region test_start_run_draft_job_raises [TYPE Function]
-    # @PURPOSE: Draft job cannot be run.
-    def test_start_run_draft_job_raises(self) -> None:
-        db = MagicMock()
-        config_manager = MagicMock()
-
-        draft_job = MagicMock(spec=TranslationJob)
-        draft_job.status = "DRAFT"
-
-        db.query.return_value.filter.return_value.first.return_value = draft_job
-
-        orch = TranslationOrchestrator(db, config_manager, "test-user")
-        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="DRAFT"):
-            orch.start_run(job_id="job-123")
-
     # region test_execute_run_invalid_status [TYPE Function]
     # @PURPOSE: Cannot execute a run that is not in PENDING status.
     async def test_execute_run_invalid_status(self, mock_job: MagicMock) -> None:
diff --git a/backend/src/plugins/translate/orchestrator_validation.py b/backend/src/plugins/translate/orchestrator_validation.py
index f845ffcaa..012d862ac 100644
--- a/backend/src/plugins/translate/orchestrator_validation.py
+++ b/backend/src/plugins/translate/orchestrator_validation.py
@@ -19,11 +19,6 @@ def validate_job_preconditions(
     Raises:
         ValueError: If any precondition fails.
     """
-    if job.status in ("DRAFT",):
-        raise ValueError(
-            f"Cannot run job '{job.id}' in status '{job.status}'. "
-            f"Job must be READY, ACTIVE, or COMPLETED."
-        )
     if not job.target_table:
         raise ValueError(
             f"Job '{job.id}' has no target table configured. "
diff --git a/backend/src/plugins/translate/service.py b/backend/src/plugins/translate/service.py
index 03a14f35e..2011ab599 100644
--- a/backend/src/plugins/translate/service.py
+++ b/backend/src/plugins/translate/service.py
@@ -77,18 +77,26 @@ class TranslateJobService:
                 f"Must be one of: {', '.join(sorted(valid_strategies))}"
             )
 
+        # Auto-fill source/target dialect from database_dialect if not provided
+        source_dialect = payload.source_dialect or payload.database_dialect or ""
+        target_dialect = payload.target_dialect or payload.database_dialect or ""
+
         dialect = payload.database_dialect
-        if payload.source_datasource_id and (payload.environment_id or payload.source_dialect):
+        if payload.source_datasource_id and (payload.environment_id or source_dialect):
             if not dialect:
                 try:
-                    env_id = payload.environment_id or payload.source_dialect
+                    env_id = payload.environment_id or source_dialect
                     _, detected_dialect = await fetch_datasource_metadata(
                         int(payload.source_datasource_id), env_id, self.config_manager,
                     )
                     dialect = detected_dialect
+                    if not source_dialect:
+                        source_dialect = detected_dialect
+                    if not target_dialect:
+                        target_dialect = detected_dialect
                 except Exception as e:
                     logger.warning(f"[TranslateJobService] Dialect detection failed: {e}")
-                    dialect = payload.source_dialect
+                    dialect = source_dialect
 
         target_languages = payload.target_languages
         if not target_languages and payload.target_language:
@@ -101,7 +109,7 @@ class TranslateJobService:
 
         job = TranslationJob(
             id=str(uuid.uuid4()), name=payload.name, description=payload.description,
-            source_dialect=payload.source_dialect, target_dialect=payload.target_dialect,
+            source_dialect=source_dialect, target_dialect=target_dialect,
             database_dialect=dialect, source_datasource_id=payload.source_datasource_id,
             source_table=payload.source_table, target_schema=payload.target_schema,
             target_table=payload.target_table, source_key_cols=payload.source_key_cols or [],
@@ -110,6 +118,7 @@ class TranslateJobService:
             target_language_column=payload.target_language_column,
             target_source_column=payload.target_source_column,
             target_source_language_column=payload.target_source_language_column,
+            include_source_reference=payload.include_source_reference,
             context_columns=payload.context_columns or [], target_languages=target_languages,
             provider_id=payload.provider_id, batch_size=payload.batch_size,
             upsert_strategy=payload.upsert_strategy, environment_id=payload.environment_id,
@@ -212,6 +221,7 @@ class TranslateJobService:
             target_language_column=source.target_language_column,
             target_source_column=source.target_source_column,
             target_source_language_column=source.target_source_language_column,
+            include_source_reference=source.include_source_reference,
             context_columns=source.context_columns, target_languages=source.target_languages,
             provider_id=source.provider_id, batch_size=source.batch_size,
             upsert_strategy=source.upsert_strategy, status="DRAFT",
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/translate/PreflightChecklist.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/translate/PreflightChecklist.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b45c6a3df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/translate/PreflightChecklist.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+<!-- #region PreflightChecklist [C:2] [TYPE Component] [SEMANTICS translate, run, preflight, checklist, readiness] -->
+<!-- @ingroup Translate -->
+<!-- @BRIEF Compact preflight readiness checklist — progress ring + expandable details.
+     Shows required (★) and optional items, with inline missing-field chips when collapsed. -->
+<!-- @LAYER UI -->
+<!-- @UX_STATE Collapsed — summary bar with progress ring + missing chips -->
+<!-- @UX_STATE Expanded — grid of all readiness items with check/cross icons -->
+<!-- @UX_REACTIVITY Props -> $props() for runReadiness array -->
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { getT } from '$lib/i18n/index.svelte.js';
+
+  let {
+    runReadiness = [],
+    onItemClick = (_key: string, _tab: string) => {},
+  } = $props();
+
+  const _t = $derived(getT());
+  const rr = $derived(_t.translate?.jobs?.run_readiness ?? _t.translate?.config?.run_readiness);
+
+  // Map item keys to i18n label keys
+  const KEY_I18N: Record<string, string> = {
+    'name': 'label_name', 'datasource': 'label_datasource',
+    'translationColumn': 'label_translation_column', 'targetLanguages': 'label_target_languages',
+    'provider': 'label_provider', 'targetSchema': 'label_target_schema',
+    'targetTable': 'label_target_table', 'schemaValidated': 'label_schema_validated',
+    'connectionId': 'label_connection_id',
+  };
+  function tLabel(key: string, fallback: string): string {
+    const k = KEY_I18N[key];
+    return (k && (rr as Record<string, string>)?.[k]) || fallback;
+  }
+  function tHint(key: string, fallback: string): string {
+    const k = KEY_I18N[key]?.replace('label_', 'hint_');
+    return (k && (rr as Record<string, string>)?.[k]) || fallback;
+  }
+
+  let showChecklist = $state(false);
+  let readyCount = $derived(runReadiness.filter((i: { ok: boolean }) => i.ok).length);
+  let totalCount = $derived(runReadiness.length);
+  let missingRequired = $derived(runReadiness.filter((i: { ok: boolean; required: boolean }) => !i.ok && i.required));
+  let allReady = $derived(readyCount === totalCount && totalCount > 0);
+</script>
+
+{#if runReadiness.length > 0}
+  <div class="mb-4 rounded-lg border {allReady ? 'border-success/30 bg-success-light' : 'border-warning/30 bg-warning-light'}">
+    <!-- Summary bar — always visible -->
+    <button
+      onclick={() => (showChecklist = !showChecklist)}
+      class="w-full flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-2.5 text-left"
+      aria-expanded={showChecklist}
+    >
+      <!-- Progress ring -->
+      <div class="relative flex-shrink-0 w-7 h-7">
+        <svg class="w-7 h-7 -rotate-90" viewBox="0 0 28 28">
+          <circle cx="14" cy="14" r="11" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3" class="text-surface-muted opacity-40" />
+          <circle
+            cx="14" cy="14" r="11" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"
+            stroke-linecap="round"
+            stroke-dasharray="{2 * Math.PI * 11}"
+            stroke-dashoffset="{2 * Math.PI * 11 * (1 - readyCount / Math.max(totalCount, 1))}"
+            class={allReady ? 'text-success' : 'text-warning'}
+          />
+        </svg>
+        <span class="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center text-[10px] font-bold {allReady ? 'text-success' : 'text-warning'}">
+          {readyCount}/{totalCount}
+        </span>
+      </div>
+      <!-- Status text -->
+      <span class="text-sm font-medium flex-1 {allReady ? 'text-success' : 'text-warning'}">
+          {#if allReady}
+            {rr?.ready_to_run || 'Ready to run'}
+          {:else}
+            {missingRequired.length} {rr?.missing_required || 'required items missing'}
+          {/if}
+      </span>
+      <!-- Missing chips (compact, inline) -->
+      {#if !allReady && missingRequired.length > 0 && !showChecklist}
+        <div class="hidden sm:flex items-center gap-1 flex-wrap justify-end max-w-[50%]">
+            {#each missingRequired.slice(0, 3) as item}
+              <span class="inline-flex items-center px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[11px] bg-warning/10 text-warning border border-warning/20">
+                {tLabel(item.key, item.label)}
+              </span>
+          {/each}
+          {#if missingRequired.length > 3}
+            <span class="text-[11px] text-text-subtle">+{missingRequired.length - 3}</span>
+          {/if}
+        </div>
+      {/if}
+      <!-- Expand chevron -->
+      <svg class="w-4 h-4 text-text-subtle transition-transform flex-shrink-0 {showChecklist ? 'rotate-180' : ''}" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M19 9l-7 7-7-7"/></svg>
+    </button>
+
+    <!-- Expandable details -->
+    {#if showChecklist}
+      <div class="border-t border-border/50 px-4 py-3">
+        <div class="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-x-4 gap-y-1.5">
+          {#each runReadiness as item}
+            <div class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs {!item.ok ? 'cursor-pointer hover:bg-surface-muted rounded px-1 -mx-1 py-0.5 transition-colors' : ''}" role={!item.ok ? 'button' : undefined} tabindex={!item.ok ? 0 : undefined} onclick={() => !item.ok && onItemClick(item.key, item.tab)} onkeydown={(e) => { if (!item.ok && (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ')) onItemClick(item.key, item.tab); }}>
+              {#if item.ok}
+                <svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5 shrink-0 text-success" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M5 13l4 4L19 7"/></svg>
+                <span class="text-text-muted truncate">{tLabel(item.key, item.label)}</span>
+              {:else}
+                <svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5 shrink-0 {item.required ? 'text-warning' : 'text-text-subtle'}" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"><circle cx="12" cy="12" r="9"/><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M12 8v4m0 4h.01"/></svg>
+                <span class="{item.required ? 'text-text font-medium' : 'text-text-muted'} truncate underline decoration-dotted underline-offset-2" title={tHint(item.key, item.message)}>{tLabel(item.key, item.label)}</span>
+                {#if item.required}
+                  <span class="text-[10px] text-warning shrink-0">*</span>
+                {/if}
+              {/if}
+            </div>
+          {/each}
+        </div>
+        {#if missingRequired.length > 0}
+          <p class="mt-2 text-[11px] text-text-subtle">* — {rr?.required_before_run || 'required before run'}</p>
+        {/if}
+      </div>
+    {/if}
+  </div>
+{/if}
+<!-- #endregion PreflightChecklist -->
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/translate/RunTabContent.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/translate/RunTabContent.svelte
index 06e780296..038de6209 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/translate/RunTabContent.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/translate/RunTabContent.svelte
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { getT } from '$lib/i18n/index.svelte.js';
   import { addToast } from '$lib/toasts.svelte.js';
-  import { updateJob, fetchJobMetrics } from '$lib/api/translate.js';
+  import { fetchJobMetrics } from '$lib/api/translate.js';
   import HelpTooltip from '$lib/ui/HelpTooltip.svelte';
   import { Icon } from '$lib/ui';
   import TranslationRunProgress from './TranslationRunProgress.svelte';
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
     isFullRun = false,
     runError = null,
     currentRunId = null,
-    runComplete = false,
     completedRuns = [],
     expandedRunIds = [],
     runHistoryHasMore = false,
@@ -48,7 +47,6 @@
     onLoadRunHistory = () => {},
     onLoadMoreRuns = () => {},
     onToggleRunDetails = (_id) => {},
-    onGoToTargetTab = () => {},
     onDismissRun = () => {},
     getJobStatusLabel = (s) => s,
   } = $props();
@@ -88,7 +86,6 @@
 
   function getRunDisabledReason(): string {
     if (isRunning) return _t.translate?.run?.disabled_running || 'Translation is already running';
-    if (status === 'DRAFT') return _t.translate?.run?.disabled_draft || 'Mark the job as READY first';
     if (!schemaValidated) return _t.translate?.run?.disabled_schema || 'Validate target schema first';
     return '';
   }
@@ -171,19 +168,18 @@
     return labels[trigger] || trigger || _t.translate?.run?.trigger_manual;
   }
 
-  async function handleMarkReady() {
-    try {
-      await updateJob(jobId, { status: 'READY' });
-      status = 'READY';
-      addToast(getT()?.translate?.config?.job_updated, 'success');
-    } catch (e) {
-      addToast(e?.message || 'Failed to update status', 'error');
-    }
-  }
-
   // @RATIONALE Svelte 5 store detection fails for `$t` in deeply nested templates.
   //             Use getT() + $derived to keep reactivity to locale changes.
   const _t = $derived(getT());
+
+  const statusClass = $derived(
+    status === 'READY' ? 'bg-success-light text-success'
+      : status === 'ACTIVE' ? 'bg-success-light text-success'
+      : status === 'RUNNING' ? 'bg-primary-light text-primary'
+      : status === 'COMPLETED' ? 'bg-success-light text-success'
+      : status === 'FAILED' ? 'bg-destructive-light text-destructive'
+      : 'bg-surface-muted text-text-subtle'
+  );
 </script>
 
 <section class="bg-surface-card border border-border rounded-lg p-6">
@@ -192,23 +188,9 @@
   <!-- Status display + transition -->
   <div class="flex items-center gap-3 mb-4 p-3 bg-surface-muted rounded-lg">
     <span class="text-sm text-text-muted">{_t.translate?.config?.status}:</span>
-    <span class="inline-flex items-center px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded-full text-xs font-medium
-      {status === 'READY' ? 'bg-success-light text-success' : ''}
-      {status === 'DRAFT' ? 'bg-warning-light text-warning' : ''}
-      {status === 'ACTIVE' ? 'bg-success-light text-success' : ''}
-      {status === 'RUNNING' ? 'bg-primary-light text-primary' : ''}
-      {status === 'COMPLETED' ? 'bg-success-light text-success' : ''}
-      {status === 'FAILED' ? 'bg-destructive-light text-destructive' : ''}">
+    <span class="inline-flex items-center px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded-full text-xs font-medium {statusClass}">
       {getJobStatusLabel(status)}
     </span>
-    {#if status === 'DRAFT'}
-      <button
-        onclick={handleMarkReady}
-        class="ml-auto px-3 py-1 text-xs bg-primary text-white rounded hover:bg-primary-hover transition-colors"
-      >
-        {_t.translate?.config?.mark_ready || 'Mark as READY'}
-      </button>
-    {/if}
   </div>
 
   <div class="space-y-4">
@@ -228,17 +210,12 @@
             <p class="text-xs text-text-muted mt-1">{_t.translate?.config?.run_incremental_desc}</p>
             <button
               onclick={() => confirmRun(false)}
-              disabled={isRunning || status === 'DRAFT' || !schemaValidated}
+              disabled={isRunning || !schemaValidated}
               title={getRunDisabledReason()}
               class="mt-3 px-5 py-1.5 text-sm font-medium bg-success text-white rounded-lg hover:bg-success disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed transition-colors"
             >
               {isRunning && !isFullRun ? _t.translate?.config?.running : _t.translate?.config?.run_translation}
             </button>
-            {#if !schemaValidated}
-              <div class="mt-1.5">
-                <button onclick={onGoToTargetTab} class="text-xs text-warning hover:underline cursor-pointer">{_t.translate?.target_schema?.validate_first || 'Please verify target schema first'}</button>
-              </div>
-            {/if}
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>
@@ -259,17 +236,12 @@
             <p class="text-xs text-text-muted mt-1">{_t.translate?.config?.run_full_desc}</p>
             <button
               onclick={() => confirmRun(true)}
-              disabled={isRunning || status === 'DRAFT' || !schemaValidated}
+              disabled={isRunning || !schemaValidated}
               title={getRunDisabledReason()}
               class="mt-3 px-5 py-1.5 text-sm font-medium bg-warning text-white rounded-lg hover:bg-warning-hover disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed transition-colors"
             >
               {isRunning && isFullRun ? _t.translate?.config?.running : _t.translate?.config?.full_translate}
             </button>
-            {#if !schemaValidated}
-              <div class="mt-1.5">
-                <button onclick={onGoToTargetTab} class="text-xs text-warning hover:underline cursor-pointer">{_t.translate?.target_schema?.validate_first || 'Please verify target schema first'}</button>
-              </div>
-            {/if}
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/i18n/locales/en/translate.json b/frontend/src/lib/i18n/locales/en/translate.json
index b1d844613..40f723c81 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/i18n/locales/en/translate.json
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/i18n/locales/en/translate.json
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     "previous": "Previous",
     "unknown_error": "An unknown error occurred",
     "from": "From",
+    "to": "To",
     "unknown": "Unknown",
     "error": "Error",
     "success": "Success",
@@ -58,7 +59,6 @@
     "target_language_search_placeholder": "Search languages...",
     "target_language_required": "Select at least one target language",
     "status": "Status",
-    "status_draft": "Draft",
     "status_ready": "Ready",
     "status_active": "Active",
     "target_column_placeholder": "Target Column",
@@ -130,11 +130,10 @@
     "select_target_database": "Select database for INSERT...",
     "target_database_hint": "Database connection used for writing translated data via SQL Lab",
     "loading_databases": "Loading databases...",
-    "include_source_reference": "Include source language in translations",
-    "include_source_reference_hint": "The original text will be stored as a verified reference copy in its detected language",
+    "include_source_reference": "Add the original as a separate record",
+    "include_source_reference_hint": "The target table will receive a copy of the source text with its detected language",
     "disable_reasoning": "Disable reasoning (save tokens)",
     "disable_reasoning_hint": "Saves output tokens by suppressing Chain of Thought reasoning",
-    "mark_ready": "Mark as READY",
     "save_job_first": "Save the job first",
     "breadcrumb_job": "Job",
     "help_name": "A unique job name for quick identification in the list.",
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@
     "help_target_language": "Languages to translate the text into. You can select multiple — a single LLM call translates each row into ALL selected languages at once. ⚠️ Important: the system auto-detects each source row's language (lingua detector). If the detected language matches one of the target languages, translation for THAT language is SKIPPED — the original text is saved as-is. Example: source 'Hello world' is detected as 'en'. If 'English (en)' is selected as a target, this row is skipped for en (stays 'Hello world') but translated into other selected languages (e.g., 'Привет мир' for ru).",
     "help_batch_size": "Number of rows sent to the LLM per request. Smaller batches = higher quality but more tokens spent on overhead.",
     "help_upsert_strategy": "Write strategy for the target table: UPSERT (MERGE) — insert or update; INSERT — new rows only; UPDATE — existing rows only.",
-    "help_include_source_reference": "Save the original text in a separate column as a reference copy. Useful for verification and auditing.",
+    "help_include_source_reference": "When enabled, the result includes both translations and a separate record with the original text and src_lang. This is useful for audit and comparison. When disabled, rows without an actual translation are not inserted.",
     "help_disable_reasoning": "Disable LLM Chain-of-Thought reasoning. Saves tokens (~20-30%) but may reduce quality for complex translations.",
     "help_dictionaries": "Terminology dictionaries for forced term mapping. Improves translation consistency within the subject domain.",
     "help_target_schema": "The database schema (namespace) where translated data will be written. E.g., public.",
@@ -253,7 +252,6 @@
     "subtitle": "Manage your translation jobs",
     "new_job": "New Job",
     "create_job": "Create Job",
-    "status_draft": "Draft",
     "status_ready": "Ready",
     "status_running": "Running",
     "status_completed": "Completed",
@@ -274,7 +272,30 @@
     "duplicate_failed": "Failed to duplicate job",
     "job_deleted": "Job deleted",
     "delete_failed": "Failed to delete job",
-    "jobs_flow_hint": "Flow: create a job → configure datasource and LLM → run translation → check run history."
+    "jobs_flow_hint": "Flow: create a job → configure datasource and LLM → run translation → check run history.",
+    "run_readiness": {
+      "label_name": "Job name",
+      "hint_name": "Enter a job name",
+      "label_datasource": "Datasource selected",
+      "hint_datasource": "Select a source datasource",
+      "label_translation_column": "Translation column",
+      "hint_translation_column": "Select a column to translate",
+      "label_target_languages": "Target languages",
+      "hint_target_languages": "Select at least one target language",
+      "label_provider": "LLM provider",
+      "hint_provider": "Select an LLM provider",
+      "label_target_schema": "Target schema",
+      "hint_target_schema": "Target schema not set — insert may fail",
+      "label_target_table": "Target table",
+      "hint_target_table": "Target table not set — insert may fail",
+      "label_schema_validated": "Schema validated",
+      "hint_schema_validated": "Validate target schema before first run",
+      "label_connection_id": "DB connection",
+      "hint_connection_id": "Select a Direct DB connection",
+      "missing_required": "required items missing",
+      "ready_to_run": "Ready to run",
+      "required_before_run": "required before run"
+    }
   },
   "history": {
     "title": "Translation History",
@@ -579,7 +600,6 @@
     "help_sum_total_tokens": "Cumulative LLM token consumption across all runs. Tokens are the unit of input/output processed by the language model.",
     "help_sum_total_cost": "Estimated cumulative cost of all LLM API calls for this job, calculated from per-run token usage.",
     "help_sum_avg_duration": "Average duration of a translation run across all runs. Measured from run start to completion (wall-clock time, including LLM calls and DB inserts).",
-    "disabled_draft": "Mark the job as READY first",
     "disabled_running": "Translation is already running",
     "disabled_schema": "Validate target schema first",
     "load_more_runs": "Load more runs",
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/i18n/locales/ru/translate.json b/frontend/src/lib/i18n/locales/ru/translate.json
index f94f83770..092266421 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/i18n/locales/ru/translate.json
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/i18n/locales/ru/translate.json
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     "previous": "Назад",
     "unknown_error": "Произошла неизвестная ошибка",
     "from": "От",
+    "to": "До",
     "unknown": "Неизвестно",
     "error": "Ошибка",
     "success": "Успешно",
@@ -58,7 +59,6 @@
     "target_language_search_placeholder": "Поиск языков...",
     "target_language_required": "Выберите хотя бы один язык перевода",
     "status": "Статус",
-    "status_draft": "Черновик",
     "status_ready": "Готово",
     "status_active": "Активно",
     "target_column_placeholder": "Целевая колонка",
@@ -130,11 +130,10 @@
     "select_target_database": "Выберите базу данных для INSERT...",
     "target_database_hint": "Подключение к БД для записи переведённых данных через SQL Lab",
     "loading_databases": "Загрузка баз данных...",
-    "include_source_reference": "Сохранять исходный текст как эталонную копию",
-    "include_source_reference_hint": "Исходный текст будет сохранён как верифицированная эталонная копия на его обнаруженном языке",
+    "include_source_reference": "Добавлять оригинал отдельной записью",
+    "include_source_reference_hint": "В целевую таблицу будет записана копия исходного текста с его обнаруженным языком",
     "disable_reasoning": "Отключить рассуждения (экономия токенов)",
     "disable_reasoning_hint": "Экономит токены на выходе, отключая цепочку рассуждений (Chain of Thought)",
-    "mark_ready": "Пометить как готово",
     "save_job_first": "Сначала сохраните задание",
     "breadcrumb_job": "Задание",
     "help_name": "Уникальное название задания для быстрой идентификации в списке.",
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@
     "help_target_language": "Языки, на которые нужно перевести текст. Можно выбрать несколько — за один проход LLM переведёт строку на все языки сразу. ⚠️ Важно: система автоматически определяет язык каждой исходной строки (lingua-детектор). Если обнаруженный язык совпадает с одним из целевых — для этой строки перевод на данный язык НЕ выполняется, а исходный текст сохраняется как есть. Пример: исходная строка 'Hello world' определена как 'en'. Если 'English (en)' выбран как целевой язык, эта строка будет пропущена для en-перевода (останется 'Hello world'), но будет переведена на остальные выбранные языки (например, 'Привет мир' для ru).",
     "help_batch_size": "Количество строк, отправляемых в LLM за один запрос. Меньше пакет = выше качество, но больше токенов на оверхед.",
     "help_upsert_strategy": "Стратегия записи в целевую таблицу: UPSERT (MERGE) — вставка или обновление; INSERT — только новые строки; UPDATE — только обновление существующих.",
-    "help_include_source_reference": "Сохранить оригинальный текст в отдельной колонке как эталонную копию. Полезно для верификации и аудита.",
+    "help_include_source_reference": "Если включено, система добавит в результат не только переводы, но и отдельную запись с исходным текстом и src_lang. Это полезно для аудита и сверки. Если выключить, строки без фактического перевода не будут вставляться.",
     "help_disable_reasoning": "Отключить Chain-of-Thought рассуждения LLM. Экономит токены (~20-30%), но может снизить качество сложных переводов.",
     "help_dictionaries": "Терминологические словари для принудительного сопоставления терминов. Повышают консистентность перевода в рамках предметной области.",
     "help_target_schema": "Схема (namespace) базы данных, в которую будут записаны переведённые данные. Например: public.",
@@ -254,7 +253,6 @@
     "subtitle": "Управление заданиями перевода",
     "new_job": "Новое задание",
     "create_job": "Создать задание",
-    "status_draft": "Черновик",
     "status_ready": "Готово",
     "status_running": "Выполняется",
     "status_completed": "Завершено",
@@ -275,7 +273,30 @@
     "duplicate_failed": "Не удалось дублировать задание",
     "job_deleted": "Задание удалено",
     "delete_failed": "Не удалось удалить задание",
-    "jobs_flow_hint": "Flow: создайте задание → настройте источник данных и LLM → запустите перевод → проверьте историю запусков."
+    "jobs_flow_hint": "Flow: создайте задание → настройте источник данных и LLM → запустите перевод → проверьте историю запусков.",
+    "run_readiness": {
+      "label_name": "Название",
+      "hint_name": "Введите название задания",
+      "label_datasource": "Источник данных",
+      "hint_datasource": "Выберите источник данных",
+      "label_translation_column": "Колонка для перевода",
+      "hint_translation_column": "Выберите колонку для перевода",
+      "label_target_languages": "Языки перевода",
+      "hint_target_languages": "Выберите хотя бы один целевой язык",
+      "label_provider": "LLM провайдер",
+      "hint_provider": "Выберите LLM провайдера",
+      "label_target_schema": "Целевая схема",
+      "hint_target_schema": "Не указана целевая схема — вставка может не сработать",
+      "label_target_table": "Целевая таблица",
+      "hint_target_table": "Не указана целевая таблица — вставка может не сработать",
+      "label_schema_validated": "Схема проверена",
+      "hint_schema_validated": "Проверьте целевую схему перед первым запуском",
+      "label_connection_id": "Подключение к БД",
+      "hint_connection_id": "Выберите Direct DB подключение",
+      "missing_required": "обязательных полей не заполнено",
+      "ready_to_run": "Готово к запуску",
+      "required_before_run": "обязательно для запуска"
+    }
   },
   "history": {
     "title": "История переводов",
@@ -580,7 +601,6 @@
     "help_sum_total_tokens": "Суммарное потребление токенов LLM во всех запусках. Токены — единица входных/выходных данных, обрабатываемых языковой моделью.",
     "help_sum_total_cost": "Оценка суммарной стоимости всех вызовов LLM API для этого задания, рассчитанная на основе использования токенов в каждом запуске.",
     "help_sum_avg_duration": "Средняя продолжительность запуска перевода по всем запускам. Измеряется от начала до завершения (реальное время, включая вызовы LLM и вставки в БД).",
-    "disabled_draft": "Сначала переведите задание в статус ГОТОВО",
     "disabled_running": "Перевод уже выполняется",
     "disabled_schema": "Сначала проверьте схему целевой таблицы",
     "load_more_runs": "Загрузить ещё запуски",
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/models/TranslationJobModel.svelte.ts b/frontend/src/lib/models/TranslationJobModel.svelte.ts
index 1373ec6a0..383c10ddf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/models/TranslationJobModel.svelte.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/models/TranslationJobModel.svelte.ts
@@ -18,10 +18,6 @@
 //             in arrow functions: onTriggerRun={(full) => m.handleTriggerRun(full)}.
 // @REJECTED Converting methods to arrow class fields rejected — it would conflict with the Svelte 5
 //            `$state` rune initialization order for non-primitive state atoms in the constructor.
-// @REJECTED includeSourceReference ($state at line 52) has no backend column or schema field.
-//            It is a UI-only checkbox; the value always resets to `true` on page load.
-//            The backend TranslateJobCreate/Update/Response schemas lack `include_source_reference`.
-//            Requires a DB migration + Pydantic schema update to persist. Not implemented as of 2026-06-03.
 import { api } from '$lib/api.js';
 import { addToast } from '$lib/toasts.svelte.js';
 import { _, getT } from '$lib/i18n/index.svelte.js';
@@ -30,6 +26,15 @@ import { startTranslationRun, resetTranslationRun, translationRunStore } from '$
 
 type UxState = 'idle' | 'loading' | 'configured' | 'saving' | 'validation_error' | 'datasource_unavailable';
 
+type ReadinessItem = {
+  key: string;
+  label: string;
+  ok: boolean;
+  required: boolean;
+  message: string;
+  tab: string;  // 'config' | 'target' — which tab to navigate to on click
+};
+
 export class TranslationJobModel {
   // ── Context ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
   uxState: UxState = $state('idle');
@@ -99,7 +104,35 @@ export class TranslationJobModel {
   isSaving: boolean = $state(false);
   isDirty: boolean = $state(false);
   validationErrors: Record<string, unknown> = $state({});
-  warnings: string[] = $state([]);
+
+  /** Run readiness checklist — derived from current model state */
+  runReadiness: ReadinessItem[] = $derived.by(() => {
+    const items: ReadinessItem[] = [
+      { key: 'name', label: 'Job name', ok: !!this.name, required: true, message: 'Enter a job name', tab: 'config' },
+      { key: 'datasource', label: 'Datasource selected', ok: !!this.datasourceId, required: true, message: 'Select a source datasource', tab: 'config' },
+      { key: 'translationColumn', label: 'Translation column', ok: !!this.translationColumn, required: true, message: 'Select a column to translate', tab: 'config' },
+      { key: 'targetLanguages', label: 'Target languages', ok: this.targetLanguages.length > 0, required: true, message: 'Select at least one target language', tab: 'config' },
+      { key: 'provider', label: 'LLM provider', ok: !!this.providerId, required: true, message: 'Select an LLM provider', tab: 'config' },
+      { key: 'targetSchema', label: 'Target schema', ok: !!this.targetSchema, required: false, message: 'Target schema not set — insert may fail', tab: 'target' },
+      { key: 'targetTable', label: 'Target table', ok: !!this.targetTable, required: false, message: 'Target table not set — insert may fail', tab: 'target' },
+      { key: 'schemaValidated', label: 'Target schema validated', ok: this.schemaValidated, required: false, message: 'Validate target schema before first run', tab: 'target' },
+    ];
+    if (this.insertMethod === 'direct_db') {
+      items.push({ key: 'connectionId', label: 'DB connection', ok: !!this.connectionId, required: true, message: 'Select a Direct DB connection', tab: 'target' });
+    }
+    return items;
+  });
+
+  /** True when all REQUIRED readiness items pass */
+  runReady: boolean = $derived(this.runReadiness.filter(i => i.required).every(i => i.ok));
+
+  /** Warnings derived from readiness items */
+  warnings: string[] = $derived.by(() => {
+    const w: string[] = [];
+    const missing = this.runReadiness.filter(i => !i.ok && !i.required);
+    for (const item of missing) w.push(item.message);
+    return w;
+  });
 
   configValid = $derived(
     !!this.translationColumn && !!this.datasourceId && this.targetLanguages.length > 0 && !!this.providerId
@@ -127,15 +160,22 @@ export class TranslationJobModel {
   // ── Actions: Run ─────────────────────────────────────────────
 
   async handleTriggerRun(full = false): Promise<void> {
+    this.runError = '';
+    // Auto-save any unsaved config changes before triggering a run
+    if (!this.isNewJob) {
+      try {
+        await this.saveJob();
+      } catch (err: unknown) {
+        this.runError = err instanceof Error ? err.message : _('translate.config.run_failed');
+        this.isRunning = false;
+        addToast(this.runError, 'error');
+        return;  // don't proceed if auto-save fails
+      }
+    }
     this.isRunning = true;
     this.runComplete = false;
     this.isFullRun = full;
-    this.runError = '';
     try {
-      // Auto-save any unsaved config changes before triggering a run
-      if (!this.isNewJob) {
-        await this.saveJob();
-      }
       const run = await triggerRun(this.jobId, full);
       startTranslationRun(run.id, { jobId: this.jobId, isFullRun: full, onComplete: this._onRunComplete.bind(this) });
       addToast(full ? 'Полный перевод запущен (все строки)' : _('translate.config.run_started'), 'success');
@@ -252,10 +292,16 @@ export class TranslationJobModel {
         this.upsertStrategy = (job.upsert_strategy as string) || 'MERGE';
         this.insertMethod = (job.insert_method as string) || 'sqllab';
         this.connectionId = (job.connection_id as string) || null;
+        this.includeSourceReference = (job.include_source_reference as boolean) ?? true;
         this.disableReasoning = (job.disable_reasoning as boolean) ?? false;
         this.databaseDialect = (job.database_dialect as string) || '';
         this.datasourceId = (job.source_datasource_id as string) || '';
         this.status = (job.status as string) || 'DRAFT';
+        if (this.runReady && this.status === 'DRAFT') {
+          this.status = 'READY';
+        } else if (!this.runReady && this.status === 'READY') {
+          this.status = 'DRAFT';
+        }
         this.targetSchema = (job.target_schema as string) || '';
         this.targetTable = (job.target_table as string) || '';
         this.targetDatabaseId = (job.target_database_id as string) || '';
@@ -320,6 +366,11 @@ export class TranslationJobModel {
     this.validationErrors = {};
     this.isDirty = false;
     try {
+      if (this.runReady && this.status === 'DRAFT') {
+        this.status = 'READY';
+      } else if (!this.runReady && this.status === 'READY') {
+        this.status = 'DRAFT';
+      }
       const payload = {
         name: this.name,
         description: this.description,
@@ -337,6 +388,7 @@ export class TranslationJobModel {
         upsert_strategy: this.upsertStrategy,
         insert_method: this.insertMethod,
         connection_id: this.connectionId || undefined,
+        include_source_reference: this.includeSourceReference,
         disable_reasoning: this.disableReasoning,
         database_dialect: this.databaseDialect && this.databaseDialect !== 'unknown' ? this.databaseDialect : undefined,
         target_schema: this.targetSchema || undefined,
@@ -360,6 +412,38 @@ export class TranslationJobModel {
       this.uxState = 'configured';
     } catch (err: unknown) {
       this.error = err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to save';
+      // Parse structured Pydantic 422 errors into per-field validationErrors
+      const apiErr = err as Record<string, unknown>;
+      if (Array.isArray(apiErr.detail)) {
+        const FIELD_MAP: Record<string, string> = {
+          'name': 'name',
+          'translation_column': 'translationColumn',
+          'source_datasource_id': 'datasourceId',
+          'target_languages': 'targetLanguages',
+          'provider_id': 'providerId',
+          'target_schema': 'targetSchema',
+          'target_table': 'targetTable',
+          'source_table': 'sourceTable',
+          'target_column': 'targetColumn',
+          'batch_size': 'batchSize',
+          'upsert_strategy': 'upsertStrategy',
+          'insert_method': 'insertMethod',
+          'connection_id': 'connectionId',
+          'environment_id': 'environmentId',
+          'target_database_id': 'targetDatabaseId',
+          'target_language_column': 'targetLanguageColumn',
+          'target_source_column': 'targetSourceColumn',
+          'target_source_language_column': 'targetSourceLanguageColumn',
+        };
+        for (const detail of apiErr.detail as Array<Record<string, unknown>>) {
+          const loc = detail.loc as string[] | undefined;
+          if (loc && loc.length > 0) {
+            const snakeField = loc[loc.length - 1];
+            const camelField = FIELD_MAP[snakeField] || snakeField;
+            this.validationErrors[camelField] = detail.msg as string;
+          }
+        }
+      }
       addToast(this.error, 'error');
       this.uxState = 'validation_error';
     }
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/translate/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/translate/+page.svelte
index e78c00eed..e3f3308b5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/translate/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/translate/+page.svelte
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
   // Count jobs by status for filter pills
   let statusCounts = $derived.by(() => {
-    const counts = { DRAFT: 0, READY: 0, RUNNING: 0, COMPLETED: 0, FAILED: 0, CANCELLED: 0 };
+    const counts = { READY: 0, RUNNING: 0, COMPLETED: 0, FAILED: 0 };
     for (const job of jobs) {
       if (counts[job.status] !== undefined) counts[job.status]++;
     }
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 
   let statusPills = $derived([
     { label: 'All', value: '', count: jobs.length },
-    { label: $t.translate?.jobs?.status_draft, value: 'DRAFT', count: statusCounts.DRAFT },
     { label: $t.translate?.jobs?.status_ready, value: 'READY', count: statusCounts.READY },
     { label: $t.translate?.jobs?.status_running, value: 'RUNNING', count: statusCounts.RUNNING },
     { label: $t.translate?.jobs?.status_completed, value: 'COMPLETED', count: statusCounts.COMPLETED },
@@ -196,7 +195,7 @@
   {:else if uxState === 'populated'}
     <div class="grid gap-4">
       {#each jobs as job}
-        {@const statusVariant = ({ DRAFT: "muted", READY: "primary", RUNNING: "warning", COMPLETED: "success", FAILED: "destructive", CANCELLED: "muted" })[job.status] || "muted"}
+        {@const statusVariant = ({ READY: "primary", RUNNING: "warning", COMPLETED: "success", FAILED: "destructive", CANCELLED: "muted" })[job.status] || "muted"}
         <div
           onclick={() => navigateToConfig(job.id)}
           class="bg-surface-card border border-border rounded-lg p-4 hover:shadow-md hover:border-border-strong transition-all cursor-pointer"
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/translate/[id]/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/translate/[id]/+page.svelte
index 7bb729bf1..45af8b8b6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/translate/[id]/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/translate/[id]/+page.svelte
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
   import ConfigTabForm from '$lib/components/translate/ConfigTabForm.svelte';
   import TargetTabForm from '$lib/components/translate/TargetTabForm.svelte';
   import RunTabContent from '$lib/components/translate/RunTabContent.svelte';
+  import PreflightChecklist from '$lib/components/translate/PreflightChecklist.svelte';
 
   const m = new TranslationJobModel();
   // @RATIONALE Svelte 5 compiler fails to detect `t` as store in deeply nested
@@ -101,18 +102,6 @@
     </div>
   </div>
 
-  <!-- Warnings -->
-  {#if m.warnings.length > 0}
-    <div class="bg-warning-light border border-warning rounded-lg p-4 mb-6">
-      <h4 class="text-sm font-medium text-warning mb-2">{_t.translate?.config?.warnings_title}</h4>
-      <ul class="list-disc list-inside text-sm text-warning space-y-1">
-        {#each m.warnings as w}
-          <li>{w}</li>
-        {/each}
-      </ul>
-    </div>
-  {/if}
-
   <!-- Loading -->
   {#if m.uxState === 'loading'}
     <div class="space-y-6">{#each Array(6) as _}<div class="h-16 bg-surface-muted rounded-lg animate-pulse"></div>{/each}</div>
@@ -132,6 +121,9 @@
 
   <!-- Form -->
   {:else if m.uxState === 'configured' || m.uxState === 'saving' || m.uxState === 'validation_error' || m.uxState === 'idle'}
+    <!-- Preflight checklist — always visible at top -->
+    <PreflightChecklist runReadiness={m.runReadiness} onItemClick={(key, tab) => { m.activeTab = tab; }} />
+
     <!-- Tab Navigation -->
     <div class="border-b border-border mb-6">
       <nav class="flex gap-1" aria-label="Tabs">
@@ -268,7 +260,6 @@
           isFullRun={m.isFullRun}
           runError={m.runError}
           currentRunId={m.currentRunId}
-          runComplete={m.runComplete}
           completedRuns={m.completedRuns}
           expandedRunIds={m.expandedRunIds}
           runHistoryHasMore={m.runHistoryHasMore}
@@ -280,7 +271,6 @@
           onLoadRunHistory={() => m.loadRunHistory()}
           onLoadMoreRuns={() => m.loadRunHistory(true)}
           onToggleRunDetails={(id) => m.toggleRunDetails(id)}
-          onGoToTargetTab={() => m.activeTab = 'target'}
           onDismissRun={() => m.handleDismissRun()}
         />
       {:else}