Variables
Use the Variables dialog box to view or edit a list of variables for the current language. Variables are items which should not be translated when a translation memory is applied to target segments. For example, you could add a product name to this list and it will be kept as is from the source text to the target text.
You can also use variables to provide pattern matching for the translation memory. If a segment in a translated memory contains a variable, any sentence that is the same (except that one variable) is also considered a match. See, for example Penalties.
When SDL Trados Studio encounters a variable from the Variable List in the source language, it checks the translation memory for any translation unit that matches the source segment:
- If there is a matching translation unit, Studio translates the segment, but replaces the variable from the translation unit with the variable from the source text.
- If there is no matching translation unit, Studio does not translate the segment, but it identifies the variable as a recognized token.
The Variables dialog box is displayed when you select the Variable List in the Language Resource Template Settings dialog box or the New Language Resource Template dialog box and click Edit.
- If you want to edit an existing entry, double-click the entry and make the required change.
- If you want to add a new entry, scroll to the bottom of the existing list, double-click the first empty row and enter the new entry.
By default, the Variable List is empty.