How to Translate a Document

This topic describes how to translate a document in the Editor view. The source language segments are displayed on the left and target language segments on the right. The segment status column in between the source and target segments contains information about the target segment status, for example whether translation memory has been applied, whether the segment has already been translated and whether the translation has been confirmed.

To translate a document:

1. In the Editor window, click inside one of the target segments in the document and simply start typing. You can use standard windows text editing functionality when working in SDL Trados Studio. You can also use the following tools to assist you in your translation:

2. Editing Tools

   There are multiple text editing tools to assist you during translation. For example,

   1. • Spell Check:  You can check spelling as you type or run a spell check when you have finished translating.

      • AutoSuggest:  You can use the AutoSuggest tool that anticipates what you are about to type and presents you with a list of previously translated words and phrases that also begin with the characters you have typed so far. If one of the words or phrases matches what you were about to type, you can select it and it is inserted into the current segment.

   Click here to see the available text editing tools.

3. Tag Formatting Tools

   There are multiple tag formatting tools to assist you during translation. For example, you can:

   1. • Press Ctrl+,(comma) to display the QuickPlace drop-down list where you can transfer tags, numbers and other elements from the source segment to the target segment.

      • Insert tags. Click the button on the QuickInsert toolbar of the tag you want to insert.

      • Copy and paste tags. Press Ctrl+C or right-click and select Copy from the shortcut menu. Press Ctrl+V or right-click and select Paste from the shortcut menu.

   Click here to see the available tag editing tools.

4. Translation Memory Tools

   By default SDL Trados Studio automatically performs a translation memory lookup whenever you place the cursor in an untranslated segment (one for which the translation has not been confirmed). The best translation memory match is automatically placed in the target segment and, if the match is a 100% match, the translation is automatically confirmed. The percentage match is displayed in the segment status column. If you want to edit the translation, type in the target segment. When you edit the segment, the background color of the percentage match figure disappears to indicate that there was a percentage match with the translation memory which has been changed.

    

   Click here to see the available translation memory tools.

5. Terminology Tools

   If a termbase is open, when you place your cursor in a segment a lookup is automatically performed. If there is a match for a term in the segment you are translating, a red bracket is displayed above the term in the source segment and a match is displayed in the hitlist in the Term Recognition window. You can press Ctrl+Shift+L to display a list of translations for the terms and insert them into the target text.

   Click here to see the available termbase tools.

2. When you have finished translating a segment, press Ctrl+Enter or click Confirm (Translated) on the Translation and Review toolbar. The status of the segment changes to Translated and your cursor is automatically placed in the next unconfirmed segment.

3. When you have finished translating the document, press F8 or select Tools > Verify from the menu bar to check for any errors in the document.

4. If you are working with packages, you can send the completed bilingual SDLXLIFF document to the reviewer for review in a package.

When you have finished translating a document and all segments in the document have a Translated status, the status of the document changes to Translated.

Related Topics

Overview: Translating and Reviewing Documents

Overview: Working with Translation Memories

Overview: Working with Text

Overview: Working with Tags

Overview: Working with Comments

Overview: Working with Messages