Translating IDML files using a CAT tool

[rocio25]

Hi,

I'm using a CAT tool (memoQ) to translate user manuals done in InDesign. This is the process that I follow (simplified):

1. I receive IDML files

2. I convert them to XLIFF files

3. I import in memoQ

4. The translators start working (I'm a project manager)

5. When they are done I send the IDML files to the customer

Most things work pretty well except that when the translators need to add bolding or italic formatting to the target text (within memoQ) they can't do it unless the source has also the same formatting. If the source has a few words in bold or italics, they can simply copy and paste the tags from the source into the target, but if the source has nothing, the DTP person has to apply the bold after we export.

I'd like to be able to streamline this process because we're talking of user manuals that amount to more than 21000 words. They are updated every 3 months and 80% of the text remains the same, however, thanks to this formatting problem, every time we receive a new version the DTP person has to apply  (almost) all the formatting in the target again...

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Laubender]

rocio25  wrote

… but if the source has nothing, the DTP person has to apply the bold after we export.

Hi,

I'd say stay with that workflow. Maybe you could hire a scripter that could write a script that could apply the right text with the right formatting faster, but yes, I think, there is no other chance for streamlining…

Regards,
Uwe

[TᴀW]

Couldn't you make sure that whoever provides the original IDML files of the source includes a little bit of bold or italics so you can copy its tags? You can always delete it at the end. Even just an invisible space somewhere in the file would be enough perhaps.

Ariel

[Srishti Bali]

Hi Rocio,

We are sorry for the inconvenience. I would request you to please share your feedback at our Adobe InDesign Feedback form. This is the best way of communicating with the Engineering and Product Management teams regarding issues and suggestions so they can be implemented in future releases.

Regards,

Srishti

[Laubender]

Hi Srishti,

the problem is not an InDesign one, I think.

It's just that workflow with IDML > memoQ where it seems to be hard to format things with memoQ as I understand the issue.

Don't know what the engineers could do on the InDesign / IDML side to streamlining that process.

Regards,
Uwe