External Translation

A translation project typically has a number of target languages that are translated by one or more (external) translators. The process by which translators are provided with data to be translated and translators send translated data back for final processing is known as external translation.

RC-WinTrans supports three different ways of exchanging information with translators:

1.	RC-WinTrans: The translator uses RC-WinTrans to translate an RC-WinTrans translation project.
2.	Microsoft Excel: The translator uses Microsoft Excel to translate Excel Spreadsheets (*.xls) exported from RC-WinTrans.
3.	TMX files: The translator uses a translation memory system to translate TMX files exported from RC-WinTrans.

Data Exchange Method #1: Translation Project Translated with RC-WinTrans

	If the translator is in possession of RC-WinTrans, a translation project can be sent to be
translated and then returned upon completion.

You can extract a project for a translator from the main translation project using the Export/Pack a Translation Project command from the File menu.

After the translator returns the translated project, import it back into the main translation project using the Import | Import from Project commands from the File or Project menus.

Figure 1: Diagram of the process of extracting a translation project (from the main translation project) to send to a translator and reintegrating that project after it has been translated and returned.

Creating a Translation Project for a Translator

Translation project. A translation project (also: main translation project), typically with several files to be translated and several target languages.

Translation project for translator. A translation project is created for a translator (File menu -> Export/Pack a Translation Project command).

The translation project for the translator (2) is a copy of the main project (1) and usually contains only those target languages that will be edited by a certain translator.

The data contained in the translation project for the translator is specified in the Extract Translation Project Assistant. The file extension for the target file (exported database) is *.fsmdb (data storage...)

Project packed and ready. The translation project is packed into a ZIP file to be sent to a translator.

Data Exchange Method #2: Excel Spreadsheet Translated with Microsoft Excel

	Microsoft Excel can be used to translate an Excel spreadsheet that has been created with RC-Trans. A spreadsheet can be created with the text to be translated and sent to a translator.
Translated text can then be imported into the translation project from the Excel spreadsheet received from the translator.

Figure 3: Text to be translated is exported to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The translation data is imported from the Excel spreadsheet returned by the translator.

Translation project. A translation project, typically with several files to be translated and several target languages. The data of translation units can be exported to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and translation text contained in the translated spreadsheet can be imported into the project.

Export to Excel Spreadsheet.

•

Use the Export from Excel command to export translation units.

•

Use the Import from Excel command to import translated text.

See also: "Import/Export Concepts."

Send/Receive. The Excel spreadsheet is sent to the translator to be translated using Microsoft Excel. Upon return, translated text is imported into the translation project into the translation project.

Advantages

1.	Excel is commonly used and therefore does not require any elaborate instruction for use. Translation can begin right away using the familiar tool/format.
2.	Creating an Excel spreadsheet containing the text to be translated (or to be reviewed) is very simple, as is the process of importing the translation data from an Excel spreadsheet (back) into a translation project.
3.	Only one single file (the Excel spreadsheet) needs to be given to a translator for translation (RC-WinTrans translation project usually contains a number of files to be translated).

Disadvantages

While advantageous in the aforementioned regards, Excel spreadsheets do have certain drawbacks when it comes to translating software texts because the context in which the texts appear cannot be rendered at all in Excel. When using Excel spreadsheets to exchange information with translators please be sure to consider the following:

1.	Text cannot be shown in context (no display of dialog boxes or menu resources).
2.	The layout of dialog boxes cannot be viewed or modified at all.
3.	Only useful for translating stings. Other data such as font names, size data, and images cannot be edited with Excel.
4.	No dictionary support (find and get translation text) as provided in RC-WinTrans.

Data Exchange Method #3: TMX Files Translated with a Translation Memory System

A text file or TMX file can be exported from RC-WinTrans to send to a translator. The translator uses a translation memory system (e.g., Trados or STAR Transit) to translate

the file. Upon receiving the translated file back from the translator, the data can be imported into the translation project with RC-WinTrans.