How to translate

Report · Jan 03, 2011

Happy New Year Fellow FMs,

I'll keep it simple:

We just started converting our manual to Framemaker. It seemed that buying Trados was a no-brainer, but when we talked to a salesman there he said that using their system would start at around $80,000. WAAAAAAAAAAAAY too expensive for our company.

So, I'm basically wondering how to translate FM. I know that saving to .mif seems to be the standard starting-point, but then what?

By the way, we already have translation memories, from our old system. It would be great to leaverage them towards FM.

Thanks in advance for any advice,

Ian

Report · Jan 13, 2011

Hi,

And Happy New Year,

Alchemy Publisher 3.0 from Alchemy Software Development can parse Framemaker .fm files directly for translation, removing the .mif conversion process and it does not cost anything like $80,000. You can also use your old translation memories or Alchemy Publisher 3.0 can align previous source-translated files.

Please contact me directly if you heed any further information or visit our website: http://www.alchemysoftware.com . Let me know if you would like a demo or a free trial.

Best Regards

Shamus

Shamus Dermody
Director of Business Development
Alchemy Software Development Ltd.

t +353.1.708 2806 | f +353.1.708.2801

Skype: alc_sdermody

shamusd@alchemysoftware.com

Report · Jan 13, 2011

Ian,

Why do you need to buy Trados? If the translations are being done by a translation house, you do not need to buy anything. The translation house should have the software to handle FrameMaker files. And it should be able to use your old translation memory files.

Report · Jan 13, 2011

Hi Again,

Translation technology internally is typically used to pre-process files prior to sending them to translation companies. Auto translating files using Translation Memories and locking down company specific terminology, which needs to be translated in a particular way or needs to be kept in the source language.

Pre-processing files prior to translation will also give you a full report on what is being sent to the translation company giving you a strong idea what to expect in terms of cost and timelines.

Of course having the technology internally also means that your incountry reviewers or any internal language specialists have access to Translation Memories and Glossaries and can update files without any risk of these updates being lost to TM's for future revisions.

Regards

Shamus

Report · Jan 13, 2011

Hey Shamus,

Many thanks for the response. I'm downloading a trial version of Publisher 3.0 right now. It looks very promising. I'll be in touch.

Best,

Ian