<html><div style='background-color:'><P>We have a somewhat similar and really low-tech solution that believe it or not, works reasonably well. Whenever we make changes to a doc, we use the changebars. When we're done with the book, we make two pdf's: One with changebars and one without. Then when we send the docs to be translated, we send both pdf's, the source files and the images. That way, they can see exactly what has changed and monkey only with those places where something is new. </P>
<P>Then we track who has what versions and who is doing which translation on ... an Excel spreadsheet.</P>
<P>Like I said: Low-tech, but it works for us on our limited budget.</P>
<P>Karyn<BR></P>
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From: <I>"Lisa M. Bronson" <lisa@frameusers.com></I><BR>Reply-To: <I>lisa@frameusers.com</I><BR>To: <I>Sivia Atar <satar@mercury.com></I><BR>CC: <I>"framers@lists.frameusers.com" <framers@lists.frameusers.com></I><BR>Subject: <I>Re: Document Localization Process?</I><BR>Date: <I>Mon, 28 Nov 2005 10:10:42 -0600</I><BR><BR>Hi Sivia,<BR><BR>I am the translation coordinator where I work. Our translation vendor uses TRADOS to build a translation memory for each language. We version control at the chapter level, so when we make updates to a manual, I compare each of the modified chapters (File > Utilities > Compare Documents) to its most recently translated version. For example, if the current English version is rev 4, and the most recent translation of that chapter is rev 2, I compare rev 4 in English to rev 2 in English. I send all of the comparison documents and
summaries to the translator.<BR><BR>The compare documents feature is not perfect. It doesn't seem to compare text in tables, and many times, it indicates that a graphic has changed, but I can't see any difference between the graphic that's marked as "inserted" and the one marked "deleted". Regardless of its quirks, it's still a beneficial tool! Just last week, this process saved us a good chunk of money. The translators charge a certain amount (per page or word, I think) to run documents through the TRADOS translation memory. It turned out that several of the files had changes that were so minor, it was more efficient to do the changes manually. If I hadn't done the comparisons, the price would have been much higher.<BR><BR>I hope this helps.<BR><BR>Warm regards,<BR>Lisa B.<BR><BR><BR><BR>
<DIV><SPAN class=gmail_quote>On 11/24/05, <B class=gmail_sendername>Sivia Atar</B> <<A href="mailto:satar@mercury.com">satar@mercury.com</A>> wrote:</SPAN>
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<P><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I would like to hear how other companies manage the process of localizing documentation (workflow, communication, and tools). </SPAN></FONT></P>
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