Handling source files for translation to several languages

[Andersen, Verner Engell VEA]

We are going to translate our FM books into several languages. We use
unstructured Framemaker.

Right now our directory structure looks as follows:

Language folder
 - Text insets (corporate) (disclaimer, warranty, eula, terms of use)
 - Graphics (corporate) (logo, IVD, CE)
 - Text insets (product-specific)
    - Product manual folder
      - Framemaker files
      - PDF files
      - Graphics (language specific)
      - Graphics (product generic)

Do you have a suggestion of how to handle the translation process? I
know that the translators are to use a tag editor and that the files are
to go into Trados.

I suggest that the Framemaker files are converted to .mif and that the
same folder structure is created in each language. I also suggest that
we keep the same file names for graphics in all languages.

How do you handle it all?
Do you track changes between editions in the FM source file, use pdf
comparison or a separate Word file, or something else?

Do you write down each graphics which has been updated since the last
edition?

If you have a well-proven procdure for updating translated manuals I
would be greatful.


 
Med venlig hilsen - Best regards
Verner Andersen
Technical Writer

Radiometer Medical ApS
Phone +45 3827 3612
Fax +45 3827 2727
verner.andersen at radiometer.dk
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Radiometer Medical ApS 
Akandevej 21 
2700 Bronshoj 
Denmark 
Phone: +45 38 27 38 27 
CVR: 27 50 91 85 
 
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