Hello,

I understand that you're having trouble with the conversion of PDF files into Word documents for use in Trados Studio. This can indeed be a challenging task due to the complex nature of PDF files. However, I have a few suggestions that might help you:

Step 1: Use the original file format whenever possible. PDF should be seen as a workaround when the original file cannot be made available.

Step 2: If you're working with non-Latin based languages, make sure to tick the checkbox "Use alternative processing" in the PDF File-type configuration. This setting is better suited for these types of languages.

Step 3: If you're dealing with scanned PDF documents, the support for OCR (optical character recognition) is limited. If the text in the document is selectable, the technology will attempt to convert it. You can test this in Adobe Reader.

Step 4: For more advanced support for scanned PDF documents, consider using Microsoft Word's built-in PDF conversion or Adobe Reader's built-in function to save PDF documents in Microsoft Word format. Alternatively, you could consider purchasing a third-party solution, such as Abbyy Fine Reader or Readiris.

Step 5: A new PDF converter app has been added to the RWS AppStore, which has shown excellent results in tests. This might be a good option for you to try.

Remember, the goal is to get the best possible conversion from PDF to a format that Trados Studio can work with effectively. It might take a bit of trial and error to find the best method for your specific documents.

I hope these steps help you resolve your issue. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Best regards,

RWS Community AI

I have tried what you suggested, it's still not solving my problem, but maybe I can try the third party software ABBYY Fine Reader or Readiris

Devon Deng 

PDFs are inconsistent. The best way to handle a PDF that is not being handled well is to convert to Word, then fix the formatting so the Word file is perfectly suitable for sharing and only then translate the file.  That way the translation process will be smoother and the target file will need less work.  How you convert to Word is up to you, but certainly using a professional tool that is designed to handle PDF files is a good idea.

Thank you for the reply, I wonder are there any format fixing tools that are available on RWS store? Any recommendation?

Devon Deng 

I’d ask the client for the original document, the one used to create the PDF. Sometimes, they have it!

Yes, I have the original PDF and the coverted word file from the client, but the problem is that either I get disordered sentences in the segments or when I tried to pull out to the final Word file as the finale which I can send to them, the problem just comes up as the last pic that I posted

Devon Deng 

I mean that the PDF was created with another file, such as a Word file or an InDesign document. This original file is clean and doesn’t need any edits from you, so no doubt it’s the quickest option. Please ask your client if they have got this original document. Note that working with PDFs has always extra work, and sometimes it can be a lot, so I try to avoid this route.

It's already created into a Word file with Acrobat and that's what I work with, the problem is as the Second pic that I posted is from the Word. The first two original sentences of this article should be :

"Jesus talked to Nicodemus near the beginning of His ministry.He preached the Sermon on the Mount soon after He called the twelve apostles. ",

But because of the format problem in the Word file, due to the conversion process, somehow Trados recognize it in the segment as

"Jesus talked to Nicodemus near the beginning  claim that Jesus did not give these teachings for of His ministry. " As I showed in the First pic and that's what I got in the segments, and that is something I can't work with. So that's why I'm posting this thread to seek for help

It's already created into a Word file with Acrobat and that's what I work with, the problem is as the Second pic that I posted is from the Word. The first two original sentences of this article should be :

"Jesus talked to Nicodemus near the beginning of His ministry.He preached the Sermon on the Mount soon after He called the twelve apostles. ",

But because of the format problem in the Word file, due to the conversion process, somehow Trados recognize it in the segment as

"Jesus talked to Nicodemus near the beginning  claim that Jesus did not give these teachings for of His ministry. " As I showed in the First pic and that's what I got in the segments, and that is something I can't work with. So that's why I'm posting this thread to seek for help

Devon Deng

Devon Deng said:

It's already created into a Word file with Acrobat

This Word document you’re talking about is not the original document I’m talking about.

If you translate a Word document generated from a PDF, you’ll need to edit it Word before start translating it because there is always data lost.

If your client has the original document I’m talking about and delivers it to you, you won’t need to edit anything, you'll be able to start translating right away, and you'll save a ton of work.

 Devon Deng 

Devon Deng said:

It's already created into a Word file with Acrobat and that's what I work with, the problem is as the Second pic that I posted is from the Word. 

That's not what Jesús meant.  PDF files are normally created from some other software.  They don't start life as a PDF.  It's better to ask your client if they have the original file that was used to create the PDF.  It might be InDesign, Framemaker or even Word for example.  If you can get that file then Trados Studio may be able to handle it.  Sometime people provide the PDF because they don't think you'll be able to work with the original format.

Devon Deng said:

I wonder are there any format fixing tools that are available on RWS store? 

You could try a tool such as Trans Tools that can help you clean it up. 

https://www.translatortools.net/products/transtools

But I'm afraid there won't be a substitute for getting the best conversion you can and then manual work on your part to make it ready for translation.  That's why Jesús suggested to double check with your customer what the file was before it became a PDF!

Loud and clear, understood! Thanks for your time! I'm gonna double check with them and see if they have it.