Difficulty Level: Low
There are cases where you have to create and/or deliver an exported version of your TM (Translation Memory). This might seem as an unneeded task since the customer should be able to use directly your TM in its current format. Well, in theory, this assumption is correct but there is some valid rationale behind exporting a TM. Here’s a short list of the reasons an exported TM may prove handy:
- Reduced file size: You will be amazed at how smaller an exported TM can get. Depending on the exported format (for example TXT or TMX format), you will see a decrease of more than 30% – 40% in file size, even more in some cases. This reduction will be evident once you compress the exported TM, though, using a suitable utility (i.e. WinZip, WinRAR, 7-Zip etc.).
- Backup friendly: Depending on your CAT tool, your working TM might consist of several files which all need to be present when using it. For example, in SDL Trados 2007 and prior versions, a TM consists of 5 files:
A common, unintentional error a lot of translators do is to send only one of these files back to the customer (usually it’s the one with the visible icon and the extension .tmw). Of course, this single file will not allow the other person to access the TM. All 5 files are required to ship together. Again, this example concerns SDL Trados 2007 and prior versions.
So, as you can guess, whenever you export your TM you always end up with single file that can easily be compressed and stored away for future reference and use.
- CAT Tool cross-compatibility: This is one of the most useful benefits of exporting a TM. How many times have you been in a situation where your customer is using another CAT tool but gives you the OK to work on the source files using your own tool. The catch is that he also requires that you send back a TM export so he can update his master TM. Usually, the requested export format is either Trados TXT or TMX, which most modern CAT tools export to. So, you end up simply creating an exported TM once you’ve finalized your work and you’re good to go. Naturally, this plays both ways: the customer can send you a TM export for you to import in your CAT tool of choice.
Thereby, TM exports are good for you. But, how do you initiate the export process? Well, that depends on your CAT tool of choice. The option to do so should be quite evident in your tool’s menu (usually under the File or TM/Translation Memory menu entries). Below is a quick walk through for SDL Trados 2007 (and prior versions) and SDL Trados Studio 2009.
SDL Trados 2007 (and prior versions): In your Translator’s Workbench Window (TWB) select the menu option File -> Export… Click the OK button on the windows that pop-ups and you’ll end up at the Create Export File dialog box. In the Save as type dropdown list you can select the format of the TM export, as shown below:
SDL Trados Studio 2009: In the main pane situated on the left side, click on Translation Memories and then, from the menu, select File -> Export… The Export dialog will appear in which you hit on the Browse… button to select the location to save your TM export. Note that the only format available for export is TMX.