Jeff Staflund

It might be that they sent you the SDLXLIFF because it had been prepared in a particular way, perhaps even partially translated, and they wanted the SDLXLIFF file back that they gave you.

When you create a project in Studio from a  file, in your case Word, an SDLXLIFF is created in the backgrouond.  This is a bilingual file that contains the source and the target text.  SDLXLIFF files can also be opened in their own right as if they were the source file and you can translate them.

So I guess, based on the instruction you received you could of done this:

1. Open the SDLXLIFF in Studio and not the Word file
2. Translate it
3. Save it
4. Send the SDLXLIFF back

It's not too late now if you used a Translation Memory.  Just open the SDLXLIFF you received from your client and pretranslate it using a batch task from your TM.  Then save it and send it to your client.

I'm presuming you'll be able to follow these instructions as you managed to translate the Word file?

Worst comes to the worst just go to the Files View of the project you created, right-click on the SDLXLIFF in that view and select Explore Containing Folder.  That will take you to the SDLXLIFF you translated from the Word file.  Send them that one.  Even if it's not the one they expected back they can import it into their TM and pretranslate their project from that.

Thanks, Paul. The SDLXLIFF file provided by the client is a partial, pre-translated version of the document. It contains things like job titles. I will definitely try what you're suggesting.

Another issue I have with this document (a letter) is that I need to shift segments around a bit, like the subject line, which usually comes after the salutation (at least in Canada). Any insights on how I do that in the SDLXLIFF version?

Hi Jeff Staflund

If the sentences have the same structure (style in Word) then you could just use the incorrect translations and swap them around in the target, but you'll probably want to not add them to your TM seeing as they are not right, and certainly not if you are providing the SDLXLIFF to your client.  If the structure is different you'd have to edit the target Word file anyway to correct it.

So I think the better solution would be to make the change in Word afterwards.  If you save the target from the SDLXLIFF you should get a Word file.

Ha! That's what I'd come up with as a solution, too. There may be hope for me after all :) Thanks again, Paul.