Wordfast vs Trados Thread poster: Marcus Coombs
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Can anyone tell me how good Wordfast is and would it be perfectly compatible with Trados? I've heard of TMX but don't know much about it. A client of mine has just purchased Trados but I'm a bit reluctant to buy it - high price, loads of functions to learn etc. I've been thinking of going for Wordfast. I do most of my stuff in Word docs anyone and thought it might do the job. Am I right or is it ultimately better to have the same memory as the client? | | |
Sonja Tomaskovic (X) Germany Local time: 10:29 English to German + ... Wordfast vs Trados | Jun 17, 2005 |
Marcus, you will find very different opinions on this issue. Some argue that Wordfast will be more than enough, others will tell you how inferior Wordfast is compared to Trados, etc. The truth is that WF segments documents differently than Trados. The differences in segmentation are not that big because you can still expand or shrink segments, in both Trados and Wordfast. The questions you should ask yourself are: a) Is my client insist... See more Marcus, you will find very different opinions on this issue. Some argue that Wordfast will be more than enough, others will tell you how inferior Wordfast is compared to Trados, etc. The truth is that WF segments documents differently than Trados. The differences in segmentation are not that big because you can still expand or shrink segments, in both Trados and Wordfast. The questions you should ask yourself are: a) Is my client insisting on Trados (and only Trados) and, if so, am I willing to have my client tell me what tool to use? b) Am I prepared to invest 700 to 800 EUROs compared to 180 EURO for Wordfast only? Remember that Trados may pay off for itself if your client provides you with regular work. c) Will my client send me a lot of TagEditor files? Wordfast cannot work on TagEditor files. There are certainly a couple of more questions you could ask yourself, but before you go on I suggest you simply try Wordfast before buying a licence. It is fully functional and only restricted in size (i.e., when you reach a certain no. of TUs or TM size, WF will tell you to purchase a licence). Trados can also be used in demo mode with some restrictions on TM size (or no. of TUs?). Some people argue that Trados is difficult to learn and heavy-loaded. Likewise, others claim that Wordfast damages the formatting of a document and is therefore not worth its money. You should really try it and judge for yourself which software is more suitable for you. HTH. Sonja ▲ Collapse | | |
Wordfast vs Trados | Jun 17, 2005 |
Hi Sonja, Many thanks for your comments which are very useful. The client in question has been sending me quite a bit of work lately and hopefully that will continue, so Trados should pay for itself. I'm no technological whizz and this is what frightens me most about Trados. That said, I've probably been procrastinating far too long and should probably just go out and get it. Ultimately once you've got a TM you just have to make the most of it. I'll let you... See more Hi Sonja, Many thanks for your comments which are very useful. The client in question has been sending me quite a bit of work lately and hopefully that will continue, so Trados should pay for itself. I'm no technological whizz and this is what frightens me most about Trados. That said, I've probably been procrastinating far too long and should probably just go out and get it. Ultimately once you've got a TM you just have to make the most of it. I'll let you know! Marcus ▲ Collapse | | |
Edward Potter Spain Local time: 10:29 Member (2003) Spanish to English + ... Free WordFast | Jun 17, 2005 |
As of a few months ago you could still get an old version of WordFast for free. There was a web site out there that let you download it. If you want the newest version you will have to pay for it. | |
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Diplom-Übersetzerin Elisabeth John (X) Germany Local time: 10:29 English to German Try Wordfast for free | Jun 17, 2005 |
Edward Potter wrote: If you want the newest version you will have to pay for it. You can still try Wordfast for free: Wordfast works without license with translation memories up to 110 Kbytes, and/or 500 TU (translation units). In other words, Wordfast can be used for short to medium jobs, for free, with all features activated. See http://www.wordfast.net. | | |
Tekkie (X) English to German + ... Consider SDLX 2005 | Jun 17, 2005 |
SDLX 2005 is fully TRADOS-compatible and far better than TRADOS (and WordFast). The only restriction is that Word files have to be presegmented ("translated" with copying all source segments into target segments) with TRADOS Translator's Workbench if your client wishes "uncleaned" Word files. However, this presegmentation could be done by your client within a few seconds. (I have TRADOS myself but only use it for presegmenting, if required. I never use TRADOS for translating any mor... See more SDLX 2005 is fully TRADOS-compatible and far better than TRADOS (and WordFast). The only restriction is that Word files have to be presegmented ("translated" with copying all source segments into target segments) with TRADOS Translator's Workbench if your client wishes "uncleaned" Word files. However, this presegmentation could be done by your client within a few seconds. (I have TRADOS myself but only use it for presegmenting, if required. I never use TRADOS for translating any more.) With EUR 545.00, SDLX 2005 costs considerably less than TRADOS. You can download an uncrippled trial version (runs for 30 days) of SDLX 2005 from: http://www.sdl.com/products-translation/products/sdlx/products-downloads-sdlx/downloads-sdlx-evaluation.htm ▲ Collapse | | |
My humble opinion | Jun 17, 2005 |
I find Wordfast very simple to use, less of a hassle than TRADOS and whenever possible I send an uncleaned Wordfast file back (for the client to clean and add to a TRADOS memory). TRADOS hassle: I tend to change the doc. name when translating and TRADOS then refuses to clean it; I tend to add terminology to a glossary while translating, not easy in TRADOS, super simple in Wordfast. Yes I have TRADOS for some projects (esp. tag editor) although I also hate tag editor. I prefer SDLX for tagged tex... See more I find Wordfast very simple to use, less of a hassle than TRADOS and whenever possible I send an uncleaned Wordfast file back (for the client to clean and add to a TRADOS memory). TRADOS hassle: I tend to change the doc. name when translating and TRADOS then refuses to clean it; I tend to add terminology to a glossary while translating, not easy in TRADOS, super simple in Wordfast. Yes I have TRADOS for some projects (esp. tag editor) although I also hate tag editor. I prefer SDLX for tagged text. SDLX will also handle/extract text from an XML doc without any problems. Not the same in TRADOS. Oh well. As I said - just my very own experience... And yes - 'in general' I do prefer SDLX, just have not found out yet how to import and export TRADOS TM's. If you are looking for an easy to use CAT it's SDLX. Although one thing - not so easy to add terminology to a gloss, but it has such a good concordance feature that you hardly need a gloss.
[Edited at 2005-06-17 14:22] ▲ Collapse | | |
Tekkie (X) English to German + ...
Anjo Sterringa wrote: I do prefer SDLX, just have not found out yet how to import and export TRADOS TM's. Although one thing - not so easy to add terminology to a gloss, but it has such a good concordance feature that you hardly need a gloss. You can exchange (import and export) TMs between SDLX and TRADOS as TMX files extremely easily by using the Maintain program of the SDLX software suite. Adding terms to an opened TermBase is as easy as highlighting the source and target terms, and holding CTRL while pressing F11. | |
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Samuel Murray Netherlands Local time: 10:29 Member (2006) English to Afrikaans + ... Rather try the new version of WF | Jun 20, 2005 |
Edward Potter wrote: As of a few months ago you could still get an old version of WordFast for free. There was a web site out there that let you download it. I assume you're referring to version 3.35x, yes? Some WF users might have a copy which they might be willing to send you, but keep this in mind: Version 3.35x is an OLD version which, although fully compatible with the latest version, lacks many of the new cool features. If you want the newest version you will have to pay for it.
You only have to pay for it if you want to do large projects. The "try-before-buy" version of WF is not time-limited. You can use it indefinitely if you want to (and if you only do small projects). | | |
Translation memories | Jun 21, 2005 |
Thanks everybody for all your comments. Some very useful pointers here. Now I just need to come to a decision! Marcus | | |