Translating with translation memories (TMs)
A translation memory (TM) is a file or database containing source language text (or segments) and translated versions of these segments.
The purpose of a TM is to reduce the amount of time and effort involved in translating new files by enabling you to reuse old translations. When you are translating files in the Editor view, TMs provide you with interactive matching content which you can use as basis for your translation.
- Check the TM for translations which could be used to translate the current file segment. This is known as performing a match lookup.
- Apply the best translation found by the lookup to the current segment.
- Search the TM for previous translations of a word or phrase (concordance search). You can use the results of the search in the current segment.
- Add the new translations to the TM. The new translation is immediately available for use in the same file and other files.
By default, many TM actions are automated. For example, when the cursor moves to a new segment a translation memory lookup is automatically performed.
Automated Translation Memory actions
By default, many TM operations are performed automatically:
- When you open a TM, SDL Trados Studio automatically goes to the first unconfirmed segment in the current file and checks the TM for segment matches.
- When matches are found, the best match is automatically applied.
- If a 100% match or a context match is found, the translation is automatically applied, the segment is confirmed and the cursor is moved to the next unconfirmed segment.
- When you confirm a segment, the translation is automatically updated to the TM.
Automation settings are located in the Options dialog and can be changed at any time.