Key concepts
- Automated translation
- AutoSuggest
- PerfectMatch
- Tags
- Tasks
- Terminology
- Translation memories
- Aligning existing translated files
Alignment is a way of making use of previous translations. The Alignment tool in SDL Trados Studio turns previously translated documents into translation units (TUs) so that you can add them to a translation memory (TM). This means that you can build up a database of translations by leveraging previous translation experience. Studio can then use this translation experience to save you time and money on future, similar translations. - About Language Pair settings
A language pair is used to store settings relating to translation from a specific source language into a specific target language. Resources and options are typically configured for use across all language pairs to which they apply. Multilingual resources, such as termbases and server-based translation memories, may apply to more than one language pair. Bilingual resources, such as file-based translation memories, only apply to a specific language pair. - About the Abbreviation List
When segmenting text, SDL Trados Studio follows certain rules, including the rule to break segments after a full stop (period). To ensure that abbreviations do not incorrectly trigger a segment break after full stop, Studio uses a default list of abbreviations for each source language. When Studio finds a full stop preceded by text, and the text appears in the default Abbreviation List, the full stop is interpreted as an abbreviation punctuation mark and Studio keeps reading until the next full stop. - About Language Resource templates
A language resource template holds a modified set of language resources. You select the template when you create new translation memories and the settings stored in the template are added to the new translation memory. - About segmentation rules
Segmentation rules define how SDL Trados Studio divides paragraphs of source text into segments. Often a segment is identical to a sentence, in which case the rules specify the text patterns that constitute a sentence. - Active document
You can have more than one document open in the Editor, but only one can be displayed at any time. The currently displayed document is known as the active document. - Active Row
There are multiple segments displayed at the same time in the Editor window in the Editor view. However, only one of these can be selected at any time and this row is known as the active row. When a row is the active row, a lookup in the translation memory and termbase is automatically performed. You can only edit the target segment for an active row. - Active Project
You can have several projects listed in the Projects view at the same time. However, only one of these can be open in SDL Trados Studio at any time and this project is known as the active project. The name of the active project is displayed on the title bar of the application, the files for that project are displayed in the Files view and the reports that have been generated for that project are displayed in the Reports view. - Active Translation memory
You can have several translation memories open at the same time in the TM side-by-side editor window in the Translation Memories view. However, only one of these can be displayed at any time and this translation memory is known as the active translation memory. - How source files get segmented and tokenized
Understanding how SDL Trados Studio segments, and then tokenizes, a source file is the key to using TMs effectively. When you open a document, the software uses the file type settings to do initial segmentation. It then uses the TM segmentation rules (taking into account some file type settings) to do further segmentation. The software uses the segmentation rules from the TM (or, if you use a TM sequence, the first TM in the sequence). After segmentation, the software uses the TM settings to replace text with tokens where applicable ('tokenization'). - About Language Resources
Language resources control the process of segmenting source document text ready for translation memory to be applied to the segments. Language resources are stored in the form of lists and rules. There is a set of default language resources for every language supported by SDL Trados Studio. In addition you can create a Language Resource Template that contains a modified set of language resources. - About the ordinal follower list
SDL Trados Studio uses a default source language ordinal follower list when segmenting text. An ordinal follower, or ordinal noun, is a word that is typically found following a number. The ordinal nouns list allows Studio to read past instances of the full stop that are preceded by a number and followed by an ordinal noun. This aspect of segmentation is not relevant for all languages, but it is particularly useful for the German language. A dot is not interpreted as a segment boundary marker if it is preceded by a number and followed by an ordinal noun. - About QuickPlace
QuickPlace is a feature which can be used to speed up how recognized tokens from a source segment are inserted into a target segment in the Editor window in the Editor view. Recognized tokens can include text formatting, tags, numbers, variables and dates. - About Recognized Tokens
A recognized token is a short piece of text, enclosed in a segment, that a TM treats as a single word because it is a defined format. For example, if dates are enabled as a recognized token in a TM, the TM recognizesMonday 1 January, 1900as one word. Tokens that can be recognized are: - About Pre-translation
When you create a project, it pre-translates project files by applying translations from translation memories, terminology databases (termbases) and previously translated files. Pre-translation refers to the automatic translation of segments in the source file(s). - About Project Templates
Project templates reduce the amount of time and effort involved in creating new projects by reusing settings and selections used to create previous projects. - About Pseudo-translation
Pseudo-translation is a procedure which simulates how a translated document will look after translation and how much extra DTP or other work will be required before actual translation is done. This can help in the planning of the project to set appropriate estimates and expectations. - About Recognition Settings
Recognition settings in a translation memory specify whether to identify elements that do not change during translation. If enabled, SDL Trados Studio recognizes designated elements and treats them as recognized tokens during translation. These items include variables, dates, times, numbers, measurements and acronyms. These elements can either be transferred directly from the current source segment to the new target segment or automatically converted to the correct target language format. For example, you can auto-localize date and time elements to the correct target language format. Variables are identified by a customized list you can create in the language resource template for your translation memory. - SDLXLIFF File Format
SDLXLIFF is an XML-based file format specially developed for use in SDL Trados Studio. It is compliant with version 1.2 of the*.xliffstandard.*.sdlxliffstands for SDL XML-based Localization Interchange File Format. - Translatable
By default all project files are given a status of Translatable. This means that they can be translated in SDL Trados Studio. If a file requires translation but cannot be translated in Studio, they should be given a usage status of Localizable. - About the Variable List
SDL Trados Studio allows you to include a customized list of variables in the translation memory setup. Each item on the list is treated as a non-translatable element (recognized token) in Studio. You can create your own variable list in a language resource template or during the translation memory creation. Variables can be useful if, for example, you may not want to translate a company name. Adding it to the variable list identifies this as untranslatable content. The properties of the variable list are as follows: - Where to define your Language Pair settings
You can specify your language pair settings in the following places: You can specify your language pair settings in the following places: