What is the simple, easy-to-use CAT tool for my agency?
Fernando Toledo Germany Local time: 22:47 Member (2005) German to Spanish
Freelancer versus agency
Sep 22, 2011
Emal Ghamsharick wrote:
Here's why:
It's Java-based - so it runs on any operating system
And this is the problem...
Wordfast Pro, Swordfish, T Omega and some others... (I am still waiting for a good CAT in Mac iOS in Cocoa)
Big Translations Memory are a big problem, Java (my impression) is slow for big TMs (500.000 TUs )...
A agency has to handle with a lot of translations memories. As a agency you have to handle with different services, big projects, lot of files. Only a few programs can "organize" this projects and have a good workflow with collaborators.
It is not the same to handle a few word files with a simple CAT tool (as many translators usually due), than to handle with projects in a agency. You can say no to the translation of a XML file (for example) cause you have not the appropriate tools but as agency, if you want to be respect, you need a professional presence and a vaste offer of services.
It is also not the matter of the agency to "prepare" the translators. They have to be capable to offer the services the agency need. Fortunately with the standard TMX translators can use different tools and collaborate without problem.
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... the best translation agencies I work for simply couldn't care less which CAT tool I use, if any, as long as I leave no trace of having used it on my deliverables. They'll never compromise on quality, nor on deadlines being met. It's a matter of delivering on time the highest quality translation their end-client needs.
I see many translation agencies that are all about Trados. Apparently they couldn't care less about the translation itself. Their priority is quibbling over fuzzy matches. If the translator delivers poor quality, but includes that Trados-proprietary TM, they are happy.
Of course, there are countless shades between these extremes. However since the agency is yours, it's your choice. You may build it around a CAT tool, or on a team of reliable, competent translators, some of which may use the CAT tool(s) of their choice.
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Tomás Cano Binder, CT Spain Local time: 22:47 Member (2005) English to Spanish + ...
Just a question
Sep 22, 2011
Sushan Harshe wrote:
In my opinion, compared to WordFast (with it's features), Trados (with it's features) is cheaper. Secondly; As I believe, still you may buy 2009 studio freelance.
Sorry pal, but the original poster asked for a simple, easy-to-use tool. Do you really believe that SDL Trados Studio 2009 meets these two requirements, with the number of issues (caused by bugs or by difficulty learning the tool) reported by its users right here in Proz.com week after week?
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Trang Nguyen Vietnam Local time: 03:47 Member (2011) English to Vietnamese + ...
TOPIC STARTER
A tool to be effectively managed by agency and simply used by freelancers
Sep 23, 2011
Fernando Toledo wrote:
Emal Ghamsharick wrote: Here's why: It's Java-based - so it runs on any operating system
And this is the problem... Wordfast Pro, Swordfish, T Omega and some others... (I am still waiting for a good CAT in Mac iOS in Cocoa) Big Translations Memory are a big problem, Java (my impression) is slow for big TMs (500.000 TUs )... A agency has to handle with a lot of translations memories. As a agency you have to handle with different services, big projects, lot of files. Only a few programs can "organize" this projects and have a good workflow with collaborators. It is not the same to handle a few word files with a simple CAT tool (as many translators usually due), than to handle with projects in a agency. You can say no to the translation of a XML file (for example) cause you have not the appropriate tools but as agency, if you want to be respect, you need a professional presence and a vaste offer of services. It is also not the matter of the agency to "prepare" the translators. They have to be capable to offer the services the agency need. Fortunately with the standard TMX translators can use different tools and collaborate without problem.
So, dear Fernando, could you suggest a tool suitable for your advice on management capacity of agency and easy-to-use for freelancers? Thanks a lot.
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Trang Nguyen Vietnam Local time: 03:47 Member (2011) English to Vietnamese + ...
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Software and human
Sep 23, 2011
Dear Tomás, I agree with you. I've learnt to use Trados Freelance version and it was also quite complicated (maybe because I don't have quick mind!). I've just learnt about the cost of Trados Studio, that need to be considered thoroughly.
Dear José Henrique, I greatly agree with you that the high translation quality is the most important, that depends much on language capacity and expertise of translators. However, as Fernando said, I need a tool for professional management of an agency and for easy use of freelancers. Just with machine, we can go higher steps?!
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Laurent KRAULAND France Local time: 22:47 Member (2007) French to German + ...
Quite honestly... #2
Sep 24, 2011
José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:
... the best translation agencies I work for simply couldn't care less which CAT tool I use, if any, as long as I leave no trace of having used it on my deliverables. They'll never compromise on quality, nor on deadlines being met. It's a matter of delivering on time the highest quality translation their end-client needs.
I see many translation agencies that are all about Trados. Apparently they couldn't care less about the translation itself. Their priority is quibbling over fuzzy matches. If the translator delivers poor quality, but includes that Trados-proprietary TM, they are happy.
Of course, there are countless shades between these extremes. However since the agency is yours, it's your choice. You may build it around a CAT tool, or on a team of reliable, competent translators, some of which may use the CAT tool(s) of their choice.
Quite honestly, I now tend to stay away from agencies who "demand" a specific CAT tool and that's it.
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Laurent KRAULAND wrote:
Quite honestly, I now tend to stay away from agencies who "demand" a specific CAT tool and that's it.
I tend to equate them to passengers who call dispatch "demanding" a taxicab with automatic transmission and power steering (which only the driver will use), and yet they don't wince when the cabbie smashes two hubcaps against the curbside on arrival.
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Samuel Murray Netherlands Local time: 22:47 Member (2006) English to Afrikaans + ...
Can Metatexis read WFC RTF files?
Sep 24, 2011
Hermann Bruns wrote:
MetaTexis for Word is an easy-to-use, professional TM tool running in Microsoft Word.
Is the file format of Metatexis the same as that of WFC?
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Trang Nguyen Vietnam Local time: 03:47 Member (2011) English to Vietnamese + ...
TOPIC STARTER
Final decision
Sep 25, 2011
So, dear my guys, from the tools you said "Omega T, WordFast, Trados Studio, MetaTexis, Atril DéjàVu 2, Star Transit NXT, MemoQ…”, please give me the final decisive advice (you can vote!), what is the best suit for:
1. Professional management capacity of an agency and its professional face to customers;
2. Freelance translators can download it free or use free a version prepared by an agency;
3. Cost-effective for a small agency.
I need your votes for my decision. Don’t laugh at my poor knowledge. Thanks a lot with my warm regards.
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Samuel Murray Netherlands Local time: 22:47 Member (2006) English to Afrikaans + ...
No answer
Sep 25, 2011
Trang Nguyen wrote:
So, dear my guys, from the tools you said "Omega T, WordFast, Trados Studio, MetaTexis, Atril DéjàVu 2, Star Transit NXT, MemoQ…”, please give me the final decisive advice (you can vote!)...
Having read the entire thread, it would seem that you want something that:
* is easy to use for non-technie translators
* is free or cheap
* can handle Trados files.
I don't think there is such a tool. Of the list you mention above, only OmegaT and Metatexis are "free or cheap". Metatexis alone seems easy to use for non-techie translators (and OmegaT is simple to use, in a way), but neither can handle Trados files in a way that would be suitable for you.
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