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Is it possible to revise a translation sent as a SDLXLIFF file in Wordfast Pro?
Thread poster: Ritu Khanna
Ritu Khanna
Ritu Khanna
India
Mar 3, 2022

Hi,
Is it possible to revise a translation sent as a SDLXLIFF file in Wordfast Pro (Version 6.7.1), track changes, and send it back to the client in the same format?
 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 16:19
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
No Mar 3, 2022

Ritu Khanna wrote:
Is it possible to revise a translation sent as a SDLXLIFF file in Wordfast Pro (Version 6.7.1), track changes, and send it back to the client in the same format?

No. WFP6 can only open SDLXLIFF files as a source file, and convert it to and from its own format, TXLF. TXLF doesn't have a tracked-changes feature like SDLXLIFF does (it deals with edit tracking in a different way).

In addition, the tracked-changes feature used in SDLXLIFF is not universal to XLIFF files (it is specific to SDLXLIFF file), so not all CAT tools can add or edit tracked changes in SDLXLIFF files. MemoQ is one exception: MemoQ recognizes tracked changes in SDLXLIFF files, and tracked changes in SDLXLIFF files that were added/edited in MemoQ are visible in Trados.

[Edited at 2022-03-03 10:58 GMT]
 
Mihai Badea (X)
Mihai Badea (X)  Identity Verified
Luxembourg
Local time: 16:19
English to Romanian
+ ...
Alternative: Export for External Review. Mar 3, 2022

There is an alternative to working directly on sdlxliff (strictly for revision/review).

http://producthelp.sdl.com/sdl_trados_studio_2014/client_en/Edit_View/SendFilesforExternalReview.htm

You might want to ask your client if they can do that for you.

Alternatively, you can install the trial Trados ... See more
There is an alternative to working directly on sdlxliff (strictly for revision/review).

http://producthelp.sdl.com/sdl_trados_studio_2014/client_en/Edit_View/SendFilesforExternalReview.htm

You might want to ask your client if they can do that for you.

Alternatively, you can install the trial Trados Studio and see how it works. ▲ Collapse
 
Edward Potter
Edward Potter  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 16:19
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Then Mar 3, 2022

[quote]Samuel Murray wrote:

WFP6 can only open SDLXLIFF files as a source file, and convert it to and from its own format, TXLF. TXLF doesn't have a tracked-changes feature like SDLXLIFF does (it deals with edit tracking in a different way).


Lately I've been working with a lot of post editing SDLXLIFF jobs with WF Pro. Since the two packages are not fully compatible, wouldn't it just be easier to invest in Trados to work with these jobs?
 
Mihai Badea (X)
Mihai Badea (X)  Identity Verified
Luxembourg
Local time: 16:19
English to Romanian
+ ...
Wordfast Pro support for SDLXLIFF format Mar 4, 2022

According to information provided on the company's website, SDLXLIFF is indeed supported by Wordfast Pro. However, details are absent. To what degree does Wordfast Pro support SDLXLIFF file format? What are the limitations?

Such information is likely to help potential buyers make informed decisions, and also avoid unnecessary frustration.
 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 16:19
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
External review Mar 4, 2022

Trados' "external review" feature is notoriously unreliable. It is super easy to mess up the tags, to break the file format (e.g. using just the wrong version of Word to edit it), or to encounter unknown errors that are "not your fault" that prevents Trados from importing the file. And if the translator doesn't have Trados, he won't know whether the file he delivers to the client can be successfully imported back into Trados. You'd be doing your client a disservice by suggesting this option. ... See more
Trados' "external review" feature is notoriously unreliable. It is super easy to mess up the tags, to break the file format (e.g. using just the wrong version of Word to edit it), or to encounter unknown errors that are "not your fault" that prevents Trados from importing the file. And if the translator doesn't have Trados, he won't know whether the file he delivers to the client can be successfully imported back into Trados. You'd be doing your client a disservice by suggesting this option. (-: ▲ Collapse
 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 16:19
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
Theoretically... Mar 4, 2022

If you have access to MemoQ, you could do this:

0. Watch a video on how MemoQ works (it's not intuitive)
1. Open the SDLXLIFF file in MemoQ.
2. In MemoQ, export to bilingual, selecting the RTF format.
3. Edit directly in the RTF, using e.g. Microsoft Word.
4. In MemoQ, import the RTF file, selecting "Import changes as tracked changes" when importing.
5. In MemoQ, export the translation to SDLXLIFF.

There is a 30-day trial of MemoQ available... See more
If you have access to MemoQ, you could do this:

0. Watch a video on how MemoQ works (it's not intuitive)
1. Open the SDLXLIFF file in MemoQ.
2. In MemoQ, export to bilingual, selecting the RTF format.
3. Edit directly in the RTF, using e.g. Microsoft Word.
4. In MemoQ, import the RTF file, selecting "Import changes as tracked changes" when importing.
5. In MemoQ, export the translation to SDLXLIFF.

There is a 30-day trial of MemoQ available, but I'm not sure what happens after the trial. MemoQ aggressively hijacks other CAT tools' file associations and shortcuts, so if possible, install it on a second computer or a virtual machine.

I tried the method above, and found that it works fine, except that it loses existing tracks in the file. So this method won't work if the SDLXLIFF file from your client already has tracked changes in it.

(One can also export to XLIFF from MemoQ, which you can then exit in WFP6, but then you don't get the option to import edits as tracked changes, which defeats the purpose.)

[Edited at 2022-03-04 07:57 GMT] ▲ Collapse
 
Mihai Badea (X)
Mihai Badea (X)  Identity Verified
Luxembourg
Local time: 16:19
English to Romanian
+ ...
Transparency Mar 4, 2022

Samuel Murray wrote:

Trados' "external review" feature is notoriously unreliable. It is super easy to mess up the tags, to break the file format (e.g. using just the wrong version of Word to edit it), or to encounter unknown errors that are "not your fault" that prevents Trados from importing the file. And if the translator doesn't have Trados, he won't know whether the file he delivers to the client can be successfully imported back into Trados. You'd be doing your client a disservice by suggesting this option. (-:


It is of utmost importance to be honest to your client, right? If you do not have Trados Studio, but are willing to work in an alternative way, just say so and share the risks.

As to External Review, obviously, it is not the first option (which is to work in Studio). But, it is an option, even in the latest edition (2021). You probably have the Freelance edition and probably don't have the kind of support contract an agency can have. Of course, it is the agency's prerogative to decide on what works for them.
 
Mihai Badea (X)
Mihai Badea (X)  Identity Verified
Luxembourg
Local time: 16:19
English to Romanian
+ ...
Not a reasonable option Mar 4, 2022

Samuel Murray wrote:

If you have access to MemoQ, you could do this:

0. Watch a video on how MemoQ works (it's not intuitive)
1. Open the SDLXLIFF file in MemoQ.
2. In MemoQ, export to bilingual, selecting the RTF format.
3. Edit directly in the RTF, using e.g. Microsoft Word.
4. In MemoQ, import the RTF file, selecting "Import changes as tracked changes" when importing.
5. In MemoQ, export the translation to SDLXLIFF.

There is a 30-day trial of MemoQ available, but I'm not sure what happens after the trial. MemoQ aggressively hijacks other CAT tools' file associations and shortcuts, so if possible, install it on a second computer or a virtual machine.

I tried the method above, and found that it works fine, except that it loses existing tracks in the file. So this method won't work if the SDLXLIFF file from your client already has tracked changes in it.

(One can also export to XLIFF from MemoQ, which you can then exit in WFP6, but then you don't get the option to import edits as tracked changes, which defeats the purpose.)

[Edited at 2022-03-04 07:57 GMT]


The thread starter has Wordfast Pro. Files have been produced in Trados Studio.

Are you a MemoQ agent?
 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 16:19
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
@Mihai Mar 4, 2022

Mihai Badea wrote:
The thread starter has Wordfast Pro. Files have been produced in Trados Studio.

I'm trying to think of ways to help the OP without them having to perform the work in Trados, and preferably without buying extra software.

I realise the OP has WFP6, and the OP did imply that they would want to do the work in WFP6, but perhaps the OP simply assumed that Microsoft Word would not be an option. Besides, Trados' own bilingual review feature also assumes that the translator will edit the files in Microsoft Word -- there is no easy way to convert the Trados bilingual review DOCX files to a format that can be dealt with inside WFP6.
 
Mihai Badea (X)
Mihai Badea (X)  Identity Verified
Luxembourg
Local time: 16:19
English to Romanian
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Flawed reasoning Mar 4, 2022

Samuel Murray wrote:

-- there is no easy way to convert the Trados bilingual review DOCX files to a format that can be dealt with inside WFP6.


If the client sent the file in a Trados Studio proprietary file format, one can safely assume the client has Trados Studio, wouldn't you agree?

Why would you assume there is any need to import the already revised files in WFP6? Do you have a specific workflow in mind?
 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 16:19
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
@Mihai Mar 4, 2022

Mihai Badea wrote:
Why would you assume there is any need to import the already revised files in WFP6?

I think you misunderstood me. The OP doesn't want to import revised SDLXLIFF files into WFP6, and none of my steps advise that either.
 
Mihai Badea (X)
Mihai Badea (X)  Identity Verified
Luxembourg
Local time: 16:19
English to Romanian
+ ...
@Samuel Mar 5, 2022

Samuel Murray wrote:

Mihai Badea wrote:
Why would you assume there is any need to import the already revised files in WFP6?

I think you misunderstood me. The OP doesn't want to import revised SDLXLIFF files into WFP6, and none of my steps advise that either.


Thank you for clarifying, Samuel.
 


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Is it possible to revise a translation sent as a SDLXLIFF file in Wordfast Pro?







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