Translation Memory

Tips & Tricks

Use this tips and tricks section to learn about useful hints and shortcuts for using in the components of SDL Trados 2007.

Work the latest file formats

Did you know that SDL Trados supports the most extensive range of file types in the industry? The latest version of SDL Trados 2007, SDL Trados 2007 Suite, brings additional support so that you can accept the latest file formats, including Microsoft Office 2007 and BroadVision QuickSilver 3.0. With the ability to easily and quickly work with over 70 different file types, SDL Trados will ensure that you will never have to turn down a translation project due to file compatibility ever again!

SDL Trados Suite

With SDL Trados 2007 Suite automated translation (beta) you can now benefit from enterprise technology directly from your desktop to grow translation memories more rapidly and complete translation projects faster. To activate automated translation in SDL Trados 2007 Suite, open SDL Trados Translator's Workbench, select Options followed by Translation Memory Options and then click on the Automated Translation (beta) tab. Select Use SDL Automated Translation if no TM match is found and then click the Test Connectivity button to ensure that you are connected to the Internet.

Checking character limits are not exceeded

When translating in TagEditor, there is a way of quickly checking that your target segment fits into a given length limit. All you need to do is highlight the segment and the number of characters will be displayed in the status bar at the bottom right of the screen. This feature is particularly useful when working with Excel or DTP file formats to ensure that text does not exceed the character limit for Excel cells or DTP markers and become truncated.

Changing local project files location

If you need to change the folder and drive location of where you save local project files (those which are not tracked online), then you can do this quickly and easily through Synergy, the project management application. Simply go to View ->Options -> General, then browse for the desired location before clicking OK. This will mean that all project files stored in the old folder will be automatically be copied to the new location - please note that the new folder will need to be empty before you move the project files.

Automated QA checks directly from Synergy

Did you know that within SDL Trados 2007 you can generate automated quality assurance checks directly from the Synergy dashboard to accelerate project completion and ensure quality? To set up the verification process, simply go to the Project option in the top navigation bar and select Verification Plug-ins to choose the project and verification checks. Then, to run the checks, return to the Project option in the navigation bar and click Verify Project Files.

Shortcuts to accelerate QA checks

When using the verification tools within SDL Trados 2007, you may wish to use the following shortcuts to reduce the time spent checking the quality of your work. To switch from the current TagEditor document to the Verification Messages list and back again, simply press F6. Also, you can move up and down the Verification Messages list by using F4 (down) and SHIFT+F4 (up).

Speeding up the interactive translation process

In order to speed up the interactive translation process, you can set Translator’s Workbench to automatically insert the translations for 100% matches and only stop if it finds a fuzzy match or no match. This option is called Translate to Fuzzy. You can accelerate the translation process even further by using the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Z to automatically trigger the Translate to Fuzzy function!

Translation Memory Settings

Do you wish to share your translation memory settings with other Translator’s Workbench users? Then you can do this in Translator’s Workbench by saving to an external settings file. Click [F8] to save the current settings as an external file, then to load the settings from an external file, close the translation memory and click [Shift + F8]. This simple method will help you to work even more closely and easily with other users within the translation supply chain!

TRADOStag Viewer

TRADOStag Viewer plug-in to review translation projects allows you to easily preview and print TradosTag (TTX) files from within Internet Explorer. You can review files that have been partially or fully translated, with optional color settings to indicate translation memory match values. All files are displayed with the correct formatting so that no tags appear.

Sharing Tranlsation Memory Settings

You can quickly and easily share the current settings for your translation memory options with other Translator’s Workbench users. To do this, click [F8] to save the current settings as an external file. To load the settings from an external file, close the translation memory and click [Shift + F8]. For further information about best practise within SDL Trados 2007, please refer to the Translator's Workbench User Guide that is included with the software.

Open Office/ Star Office

Have you ever been sent Open Office or Star Office files for translation and thought to yourself - what do I do with these formats? Well did you know that SDL Trados 2007 now supports OpenOffice and StarOffice file formats for translation directly in TagEditor!

PowerPoint Documents

When translating PowerPoint documents, you can easily exclude speaker notes within the presentation via the SDL Trados Filter Settings application. Just select PowerPoint 2000-2003, click the link "Order of slides and shapes" and then select "Exclude notes" from the first dropdown list. Finally press "Save", re-start TagEditor and open the *.ppt file to localize.

Synergy Interface

Did you know that with the new SDL Trados 2007 Synergy interface, you can manage all your projects, languages, files and deadlines in one centralized location. This means that it has never been easier to keep your projects on track and ensure that important deadlines are not missed

TagEditor Translating Shortcuts

When translating in TagEditor, you can accelerate your translations by using various time-saving keyboard shortcuts. One such shortcut helps to move on to the next segments as your translate. To trigger the “Set/Close next Open/Get” function, simply use the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+N to close the completed segment and open up the next one for translation, all within a simple keystroke.

Deleting in TagEditor

When translating within TagEditor, you can delete all text within a target segment which is placed after your current cursor position by simply pressing Ctrl+D. This shortcut will allow you to get rid of any unwanted text within a single keystroke!