Translation before source, how to do it? | Preparation of document for dual-language translation

Forum: CAT Tools Technical Help
Topic: Translation before source, how to do it?
Poster: Stanislav Okhvat
Post title: Preparation of document for dual-language translation

Hello, Heinrich,

I assume your source document is in Microsoft Word format. If so, you can use a free tool called Dual-Language Document Assistant which is part of TransTools for Word add-in. Using this tool, it is very easy to convert the original into one of 2 formats: 1) a dual-language table with two columns, one for the original and another for the translation, 2) dual-language text with a delimiter between the original and the translation (this is the format preferred by your client).

First, you need to convert selected text with Dual-Language Document Assistant: select the text to prepare for dual-language translation, open the tool, expand the options under "Convert selected paragraphs to dual-language text" section, and choose "Translation will be on: Left Side" option + Yellow highlight color (since the target needs to come first according to your client's requirements). Then press "Convert to dual-language text" button. When you do this, the original text will become duplicated, and the left side (before the paragraph or line break) will be highlighted in Yellow. Then, use Hide / Unhide Text tool in TransTools to hide everything except highlighted text (choose Hide Everything Except Colored Text option, Yellow highlight color). The tool will hide the non-highlighted parts (original copy). Then, import into the CAT tool, translate, export, then use Hide / Unhide Text tool again with Unhide Everything option to reveal the previously hidden original text.

Best regards,
Stanislav Okhvat
TransTools – Useful tools for every translator