Tips and Tricks
1. Projects
Custom Solutions
If your project localization supports a variety of procedures, our experienced project managers will be happy to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of the alternative methods with you. Our aim is always to work with you on developing an individual solution customized to your needs - whether those needs are updating existing documentation, processing unusual file formats or localizing highly complex software packages!
Directory Structures and Special Features
Localization projects frequently comprise far more than one or two documents for translation. They may consist of complete directory structures with multiple files (e.g. web sites, FrameMaker books). That's why we recommend that you supply us with all the supplementary files needed (e.g. linked graphics) in their directories right from the start of a project. We also ask you to kindly inform us of any special features in the individual files. That way you can help us to compile your quotation or complete your project more quickly and more swiftly.
Glossaries, Specific Terminology and Internal Standards
Do you require specific company or product terminology to be used in your documents? Do you, or does your corporate policy, have specific requirements (e.g. names of software buttons and menus always given in inverted commas)?
Please be sure to supply us as early as possible with any available terminology lists, keys to acronyms, etc., together with your specific project specifications. This will help us to complete your localization exactly the way you want it.
Target Language and Market
Please be sure to specify the target language(s) when submitting a quotation inquiry or translation order. That may sound obvious but it's our experience that this information is often forgotten! If the target language exists in several forms (e.g. US or UK English), please also specify the target market for your product.
2. Files and File Transfer
Compressing E-Mail Attachments
With few exceptions, it is generally useful to compress all e-mail attachments before sending. This saves not only time and Internet traffic. It also enables you to ensure that any specific directory structures required are retained.
The tool we recommend is the standard proprietary WinZip.
Are there cases where it is NOT worth compressing attachments?
Yes - if for example you are sending a single document as a small-size file (e.g. 50 KB). In addition, some file formats (such as PDF, JPG, etc.) are already intrinsically compressed so further compression using WinZip may not result in effective savings.
However compressing, say, MIF files or PowerPoint presentations with lots of graphics, or Word or RTF documents that incorporate graphics can be highly effective.
What can I do with a data volume that is too large to send by e-mail?
Many projects contain data volumes that far exceed the normal capacity of an e-mail transmission (10 MB upwards). In these cases, we offer the option of data exchange via our FTP Server, which allows for uploads and downloads of almost unlimited size. Our project managers will be happy to supply you with access data and assist you in carrying out the FTP transfer if necessary.
