Document Translation formats in the Modern World

File Formats:

In order to store information into computers, it must be encoded. File formats are the standard way of encoding and storing information on computers. There are different types of formats for storing word files. PDF is the most common format of word documents. It is one of the safest ways of storing data. Adobe developed the format for presenting documents. Whether you are a Windows user or you do your work on an Android device, you would be able to read a PDF file easily. Microsoft Excel is another excellent type of document that allows people to store and share data. Every format has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some of them display word count while some don’t. There are some formats that can’t be read by any mobile application.

Some formats don’t support image files or non-Latin-based languages like Chinese and Korean. But then there are files like Microsoft Word that support several foreign languages including Italian, German, Dutch, Russian, Swedish, French, etc. The right format is the one that fulfills all of your requirements. Even PDF, the safest format, might not be useful in some situations.

Document Translation in the Modern World:

Translation has always been important for people. It not only makes it possible for people to communicate with each other but also allows companies to connect with their target audience. But the translation and localization process of today relies on technology. There are apps like Google Translate that people can download on their phones and get translations of everyday words. There are translation tools that make the jobs of linguistic experts easier.

In today’s world, ordering a translation has become so simple. People don’t have to visit the office of a translation company to hand-deliver their documents. They can visit the website of an agency and place their order easily. They can also get the project delivered to their inbox and download and print the file easily at work. You can also learn everything about an agency on the internet. You can hire the company that has native experts in the target language on their translation team. You can also make sure that they have affordable rates before you decide to send over your documents to them.

Translation and File Format Problems:

Although ordering translation has become easier, there is still the issue of the source file. When people use an app or a translation tool for linguistic assistance, they get bounded by the supported file types. If they don’t have the source file in the right format, they will have trouble getting the translation. But this problem is not limited to software programs. Even some language service providers don’t accept all kinds of files and only work with certain translation formats. Although Word Documents are easy to edit, they are not that safe. When people decide to share the source material with a third party, they want to be certain that their information will remain safe.

When agencies ask for editable formats after receiving translation requests, it can be a problem for clients. They have to find conversion software and change the existing format. Sometimes, a file does not only contain plain text but also images that have to be localized. In that situation, it can be difficult to change the original file into the right format. It can be an even bigger problem if different formats cannot read the source language.

What’s the Solution?

There are a few methods of storing encoded data that are ideal for localization and translation. XLIFF is one of the best localization formats which is loved by linguistic experts all over the world. XLIFF source files make the job of the localization teams simpler and easier. With the help of XLIFF files, localizable data can be easily passed between different tools. But XLIFF is mainly helpful for the localization of global websites and e-commerce stores.

When it comes to translation formats, there are other options available like gettext PO, Mozilla DTD Format, WordFast Translation Memory, etc. The right format can be picked depending on the type of source material. For instance, if there are multilingual files or the source language is unique, then the format which supports most languages will be selected. If localization is also needed to connect with the target market then XLIFF is the best option.

But whether you need translations in English or a lesser-known language, it should not be up to you to find the supported formats. Even if the client needs help with a unique language combination, a linguistic expert should be able to handle every format type. If you pick the right service provider, you won’t have to worry about the translation process or the standard formats.

A good service provider will not only accept the source material as it is but also provide you with proper translations in the file type of your choice. You should be able to connect with your target market in the best way possible, and document conversion should not take up too much of your time. If you hire a reliable service provider, you would be able to share bilingual files with them too. They would also be able to localize original graphic files for you so you can publish your multilingual website as quickly as possible.

Things to know about translation formatting:

Every linguistic expert has to learn about common localization file formats. They cannot use tools and desktop publishing software programs like Adobe InDesign, Transifex, Quark, SDL Trados Studio, etc. The translation process cannot be efficiently completed these days without the help of the right tools. But in order to use the tools, the translator should know how to handle digital content. Whether they are doing website translation for international mobile users or creating targeted advertising, they will have to make sure that the translated file is in a format that can be easily understood by the client.

When people require document translation services, they need results that will be accepted by the authorities. They may not have the source document in an editable format, but they should still be able to get the help that they require. A qualified and experienced professional would know how to handle a translation project in the best way possible. An agency that handles global operations cannot expect its clients to provide it with documents in different formats.

What are common localization source file formats?

If you want to do software translation so you can provide high-quality results to your clients, then you should make sure that you have the source material in the right type of files. For instance, if you are using SDL Trados Studio for localization, then you can work on XLIFF, XML, OpenDocument files, source code files, straight text files, etc.

Transifex is another software that linguistic experts use. It has a template file feature that can be really helpful for translators. It supports all the basic types of documents, as well as, Apple Strings, Java, and YAML. So, if you have downloaded the right software for localization, you will be able to use any type of documents.