Editing Translation Files

You might ask yourself, what happens if I need to make edits to the translation files? The short answer is that Central does not facilitate the editing process. You will need to contact and work with your translator about your editing needs.

Permission Required?

Translation is an activity available to users with the Author status. You must have the following permission setting in Central:

For more information about permissions, see Setting User Permissions or Setting Team Permissions.

How Do I Edit Files Using MadTranslations?

Since MadTranslations is a full service provider, they will communicate with you and guide you through the entire translation process—including what to do if editing at any stage in the process is needed.

The following are a few editing scenarios you might encounter:

  • Before a quote is approved Once you click the Create button at the end of the wizard, MadTranslations receives the translation package to prepare a quote. If you made a mistake or want to change a setting, you will most likely have to restart the process for a new quote.

  • Quote is approved, but edits are needed before completion If you need to make edits to your content after a translation branch is sent to MadTranslations (and before completion), you will most likely need to cancel the existing branch and create a new branch to send.

  • Translation is complete but edits are needed After you receive a completed translated project, MadTranslations will retain all of your files. A re-uploaded branch will replace the existing branch. Once you "Approve" the translated project, then no more edits can be made for that branch.

MadTranslations uses a translation memory system. It stores source language content and previously translated content. If rework is needed they will most likely tap into this database.

How Do I Edit Files With a Third-Party Translator?

Communicate with your translator about an editing process that will work for both of you. There are various ways a reviewer and translator can exchange updates. The workflow is up to you, but the following points might get you started.

  • The reviewer can build a PDF of the translated branch and make annotations in the PDF regarding any changes. The reviewer will have to deliver those edits to the translator (e.g., via email).

  • The reviewer can build a PDF or an online version of the translated branch and make a list of edits in a separate document (e.g., Word, Notepad). The reviewer will have to deliver those edits to the translator (e.g., via email).

  • The reviewer has a license seat with Central. The reviewer can review the translated content in the Files editor, make edits or annotations where text needs more work, and save the changes. If the reviewer wants to send the edits to the translator, the reviewer will need to create a new translation branch but base it on the previously translated (or edited) branch.

    Note The current branch uploaded (that the reviewer can view, edit, or annotate) can be overwritten if another upload occurs on that branch.

  • The reviewer and translator have a license seat with Central. The reviewer can review the translated content in the Files editor and make annotations where text needs more work. The translator could go in after the review and clean up the files with annotations.

    Note Edits done in the Files page will be disregarded if another upload occurs, and edits will not be retained in the translator’s translation tool or in translation memory.

  • The translator could set the reviewer up with access to the translation tool that is used for translation (e.g., memoQ, Trados Studio, Smartcat). If applicable, the reviewer could provide comments in the portal for the translator.

Your translator should retain all your files (i.e., in a translation memory system), so a re-translation of the entire project should not be necessary. Only the files that require editing should be affected.

What’s Noteworthy?

Warning You can view, edit, and author files in the Files page, but use caution if the files belong to a translation package. For example, if you have received the translated project back, and you know you will not be receiving any more changes from the translator, then it might be fine to make a few edits in the Files page.

But, if you know that more updates could come from the translator, the branch you are reviewing will be replaced with new files once a newer version of the branch is received via an uploaded .zip file. In this case, it is not recommended to make changes locally because your edits in the Files page will be disregarded since the upload overwrites the branch.

If you need make edits to translated content, consult with your translator.