How can I export text for translation and reimport it to replace the original language?

[Herr van Tast]

Hello,

I have to build quite a few text layers in a larger project.

This project has to be localized in 12 other languages.

Is there a way to export the textlayers to a .doc,.xls, .csv or similar fileformat for the translators which I then can re-import into my project so the language in the original layers is replaced while maintaining the position and keyframes etc.?

Any help is very appreciated, since I am not looking forward to a copy and paste orgy....

[David Torno]

I showed how to import text from a text document as well as writing text documents in episodes 16 and 17 of my After Effects ExtendScript training. They might help you.

http://provideocoalition.com/pvcexclusive/video/after-effects-extendscript-training-ep-16

http://provideocoalition.com/pvcexclusive/video/after-effects-extendscript-training-ep-17

[Herr van Tast]

Hi David,

thank you very much.

Is there a chance to download the script from your side?

Though I'm quite interested in all the details I'd just like to test the script for now quite swiftly. A colleague of mine who is far more script savy than I am could probably make some necessary alterations.

[Herr van Tast]

Another thing I came across.

I tried your other tutorial here:

http://provideocoalition.com/pvcexclusive/story/expression_shorts_-_read_external_text_document

I copied the source code and adjusted the path (whcih works, I had it checked)

try{

myPath = "C:\\TEST\\01_Intro.txt";

$.evalFile(myPath);

eval(thisComp.name)[0];

}

catch(err)

{

err;

}

But I get an error message like this:

SyntaxError: Expected: ;

We tried this instead:

try{

myPath = "C:\\TEST\\01_Intro.txt";

$.evalFile(myPath);

//eval('' + thisComp.name + '[0];');

DE_Intro_fein[1];

}catch(err){

err;

};

And it worked. But If I don't want to hardcode (is this the right expression?) I need your code to be working.

Do you have any advice?

Thank you.

[Herr van Tast]

I managed to do it with this tutorial (and it works now)

http://provideocoalition.com/pvcexclusive/story/expression_shorts_-_re ad_external_text_document

But I still have one concern:

When the translators have to use special characters like ö or ñ etc., is there anything I have to tell them or bear in mind when briefing them how to handle the txt file?

Thank you again for your help.

[David Torno]

As far as I know that should be fine. My guess though is if any of those special characters exist only in a certain font, that you also have the same font. Otherwise the only special characters that I'm aware of that need special care are these:

http://www.w3schools.com/js/js_obj_string.asp

[Herr van Tast]

Hmmm, unfortunately my Greel translation produces only syntax errors. Do you have an idea to solve this?

I already asked some colleagues but they don't have any idea, either.

Thanks

[Lazlo_Hollyfeld]

Can you show what is inside C:\\TEST\\01_Intro.txt

Make sure your script file itself, and the external files, are all saved in UTF-8 format.  You can use a standard text editor--like Sublime--to ensure that it is.  Are you sure that the syntax errors that are thrown are a result of you reading an external text file with UTF-8 characters?

Typically if you're going to read an external file for data, you'll wants to use File.open('r').  Check the documentation on the File object.  $.evalFile is generally used when you want to read another script file, not a file that contains data.