Variable
A feature of translation memories (TMs) that are used in SDL TM Server and Studio. TMS does not use variables. However, the way that SDL TMS treats acronyms is similar to the way that SDL TM Server treats variables. A variable is a word or phrase defined in the variable list of a TM. A TM considers a variable to be the same in all its languages. Where a translation unit includes a variable, the TM will substitute one variable for another variable if that provides a match. For example, assume the following are true: - 'Mary Brown' and 'John Smith'are variables in a TM. - The TM has a translation for 'The head manager is Mary Brown.' - The presented text is: 'The head manager is John Smith.' Then the TM uses the translation for 'The head manager is Mary Brown.', replaces 'Mary Brown' with 'John Smith' in the translated text and registers an exact match. Variable lists are a language resource.