Documentation Center

Translation memory and Automated translation > Auto-Substitution

The Translation Memory and Automated Translation > Auto-substitution settings determine if auto-substitution is enabled for placeables: dates, numbers, variables, alphanumeric strings, times, measurements and acronyms.

Auto-substitution of placeables occurs when the matching source segment in the translation memory (TM) contains a placeable that is different to that in the source segment in the document. When the translation memory (TM) is applied, Trados Studio automatically substitutes the placeable from the source segment in the document to the translation in the target segment.

These settings are only available on the language pair level, since the date, time, numbers and measurement patterns are target language-specific. You can specify these patterns on the following pages:

  • Dates and Times
  • Measurements
  • Numbers and Currency

These settings appear in multiple dialogs in Trados Studio.

Enabling auto-substitution

Auto-substitution only works for the items that Trados Studio identifies as placeables in your TM. You can customize the list of placeables in your TM settings. If the recognition settings in your selected TM are not enabled to recognize these items, auto-substitution does not occur and these items are treated as normal, translatable words.

To enable auto-substitution, select the checkbox next to placeables for which you want to enable auto-substitution:
  • Dates
  • Numbers
  • Variables
  • Alphanumeric strings
  • Times
  • Measurements
  • Acronyms

Example: Auto-substitution

The following alphanumeric string is identified as a placeable and is automatically substituted in the target segment:

Source: BV0.mxm.072.531

Target:

Localizable auto-substituted placeables

During auto-substitution, Trados Studio can also adapt the following placeables to suit the format of the target language: dates, times, numbers, currency amounts and measurements. This process is called auto-localization.

The default auto-localization formats that Trados Studio suggests during auto-substitution are based on the formats available in your TM matches or in the Windows Regional Settings. For more information, see Default auto-localization formats.

You might want to change the formats that Trados Studio recognizes and auto-localizes when:
  • your source text contains non-standard formats for numbers, dates, times, measurements or currency amounts and Trados Studio cannot correctly identify them as placeables.
  • the translation units in your TM use incorrect or inconsistent formats for placeables and you do not want to use these for your new translations.
  • you do not want to use the default localization formats in QuickPlace suggestions and Automated Translation results

For more information, see Customizing auto-localization formats.

Example: Auto-localization

Source: Thursday, April 23, 2020

Target: Donnerstag, 23. April 2020