Forum: CAT Tools Technical Help
Topic: End client Looking for feedback and information on investing in a CAT
Poster: Mario Chavez
Post title: CAT tools, pros and cons of having your own
Hi, Stacie,
In my 25+ years as a technical translator, I've used a number of proprietary and off-the-shelf software packages. As an in-house translator, I've been asked at times for guidance on which CAT tool to use for our workflows. In the interest of time and space, I can't elaborate much on each and every scenario, but I'm glad you put out smart questions for us to follow through.
1) Open standards, such as TMX (translation memory) and TBX (termbases) are still the name of the game. Although many commercial CAT tools claim to support a large number of different file formats (from MS Office to AutoCAD), there are other factors to consider. If you use specialty software, such as DTP software, drawing software or the like, your translation provider (agency or individual translator) should be able to demonstrate that they're intimately familiar with those specialty software packages, not that they have a CAT tool that can process those native file formats.
Trados, to name one tool, is not the profession's standard. Anyone who claims otherwise is, well, trying to sell you something. Your company may invest in its own CAT tool (be it Wordfast, Wordbee, Trados, Déjà Vu, OmegaT, etc.) but only based on your company's own workflows, not those of the CAT company maker or a given translation vendor.
2) I suggest you get in touch with Jost Zetzsche, the author of the Translator's Toolbox. He has written extensively about CAT tools individually, their pros and cons. His website is [url removed]
3) Tech support is one of the main lifelines of any software company, and a reliable cash cow or source of revenue. If you approach any of the big players, such as SDL, expect to be offered the team or corporate version of the tool, plus annual support fees or a similar tech support scheme. I'm sure you'll factor those extra costs into the investment. Some free tools, like OmegaT for Mac, are supported by the software's creator and/or a handful of volunteers. Although many translators like to use free CAT tools, the long-term viability of —as well as tech support for— those products is in question once the author is gone or moves to other endeavors.
4) I am sure there are many reasons that could be construed as compelling. Questions like “is my CAT tool budget realistic?” come to mind. You can always download a free trial of each tool you're interested in investing and run apples-to-apples comparisons.
Should you need to discuss this more, feel free to contact me.
MC
Topic: End client Looking for feedback and information on investing in a CAT
Poster: Mario Chavez
Post title: CAT tools, pros and cons of having your own
Hi, Stacie,
In my 25+ years as a technical translator, I've used a number of proprietary and off-the-shelf software packages. As an in-house translator, I've been asked at times for guidance on which CAT tool to use for our workflows. In the interest of time and space, I can't elaborate much on each and every scenario, but I'm glad you put out smart questions for us to follow through.
1) Open standards, such as TMX (translation memory) and TBX (termbases) are still the name of the game. Although many commercial CAT tools claim to support a large number of different file formats (from MS Office to AutoCAD), there are other factors to consider. If you use specialty software, such as DTP software, drawing software or the like, your translation provider (agency or individual translator) should be able to demonstrate that they're intimately familiar with those specialty software packages, not that they have a CAT tool that can process those native file formats.
Trados, to name one tool, is not the profession's standard. Anyone who claims otherwise is, well, trying to sell you something. Your company may invest in its own CAT tool (be it Wordfast, Wordbee, Trados, Déjà Vu, OmegaT, etc.) but only based on your company's own workflows, not those of the CAT company maker or a given translation vendor.
2) I suggest you get in touch with Jost Zetzsche, the author of the Translator's Toolbox. He has written extensively about CAT tools individually, their pros and cons. His website is [url removed]
3) Tech support is one of the main lifelines of any software company, and a reliable cash cow or source of revenue. If you approach any of the big players, such as SDL, expect to be offered the team or corporate version of the tool, plus annual support fees or a similar tech support scheme. I'm sure you'll factor those extra costs into the investment. Some free tools, like OmegaT for Mac, are supported by the software's creator and/or a handful of volunteers. Although many translators like to use free CAT tools, the long-term viability of —as well as tech support for— those products is in question once the author is gone or moves to other endeavors.
4) I am sure there are many reasons that could be construed as compelling. Questions like “is my CAT tool budget realistic?” come to mind. You can always download a free trial of each tool you're interested in investing and run apples-to-apples comparisons.
Should you need to discuss this more, feel free to contact me.
MC