Frame maker crashes after uploading translated MIF files from Trados

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
September 11, 2023
3 replies
2067 views

Hi everyone,

I have a problem with a translated MIF file from Trados software. When I load the translated mif (which I exported from the customer supplied FM files) back into FM, the FM gets stuck and crashes. It happens very randomly - some translated files are perfectly fine and others crash. Has anyone experienced a similar problem? We figured out that it might be caused by some text field setting where a certain number of characters are exceeded after translation and FM can't handle it. But I'm not sure at all. The only thing that has helped is splitting the mifs into 2 halves but it's a lot of extra work for me, which I'd like to get rid of. Not to mention that the translation agency has to re-process it. I would be very grateful for any help on how to fix this error.

Sorry I cannot provide file - since is confident for my client.

Cheers,

Martina

This topic has been closed for replies.

W

Winfried Reng

Community Expert

Hi Martina,

Some years ago I could not open Trados MIF files, when the index marker text exceeded a certain number of characters.

I do not get this issue now, possibly because I split the marker into several shorter markers. Or because FrameMaker does not have this limitation any more.

It could be that Trados exceeded any other limit. How many pages does your file have? Are graphics imported by reference?

You could inspect the MIF file with this tiny MIFBrowse app:

http://www.grahamwideman.com/gw/tech/framemaker/mifbrowse.htm

This app still works very well, although it is very old.

Best regards, Winfried

M

Martina zstudioAuthor

Known Participant

Hi Winfried,

thank you so much for you input and to all of you who participated!

In the end I did complete reinstall of Frame Maker - we also did interesting thing. We updated to FrameMaker 2020 version 16.0.5.1096 on one computer and to the FM 2022 in other computer and watched the differences and how files are procceed and we found out FM 20 is much better for us then 2022 - We had problems with images and graphs - they didnt appeare in PDF when exported. Right now after this deep reinstal it seems all the issues are solved but who knows. We recieve Files from our client, we are not the one who is creating them, just working on translations... so I am sure we will have to deal with similar problem in future. If that happen I will sure use all your advices. Thanks again!

Best, Martina

F

FrameMaker-dk

Community Expert

FrameMaker has an option to work with XLIFF. You find XLIFF under Translation in the File menu. The process works with you exporting the FM documents as XLIFF. The translation agency translates the XLIFF file and sends it back to you as XLIFF, which you import into your FM document. In my experience XLIFF can be an easier option to handle than MIF. You may ask whether you translation agency can export the MIF to you as XLIFF.

Bjørn Smalbro - FrameMaker.dk

M

Martina zstudioAuthor

Known Participant

Thank you so much @FrameMaker-dk for your suggestions. I do not have any experience with XLIFF file. I tried to export it and it doesnt do anything at all... Is there any special command to export XLIFF file from FrameMaker? I talk about it with a collegue and she says I need a software for LionBridge to export that (?). Is it similar with Trados?

F

FrameMaker-dk

Community Expert

The feature is pretty straightforward to use.

Open the document you want to export
Go to File->Translation
Have a little patience and read carefully the different options for export
Remember to save your settings in a xts settings file.
When you have exported the file you will get a zip file. Your translation agency will be able to handle it and send a translated zip file back to you.
What the XLIFF process does, is that it transforms your document into a an xml file where all text is separated from formatting.
I am not saying that using this process will solve your problems, but it might be worth trying. I have myself managed som pretty big translation projects for automakers and that worked nicely enough. 🙂

Bjørn Smalbro - FrameMaker.dk