Handling tags in MemoQ and DV X

Sometimes in a document there is formatting that needs to be maintained but cannot be displayed on the translation view of CAT tools. MemoQ and DV X use the same solution to show these formatting changes: a tag is inserted there where there is a formatting change. These formatting tags look like this {1}. Files cannot be exported unless the same amount of tags appear in the source an in the target.

In DV X these tags can represent bold, italics, underlined, non-breaking spaces, superscript, hyperlinks and others. it is therefore important to place them somewhere that resembles their position on the source. For example:

La {1}voiture{2} de John est rouge

needs to be translated by putting the tags around the same word since it represents a formatting change specific to that word.

John's {1}car{2} is red

Putting both tags at the beginning of the segment one next to the otherwill give a result a translation where the formatting is lost.

{1} {2} John's car is red

This is to be avoided.

There are other cases when clearly the tag stands for a non breaking space. Such as when translating from French and a tag systematically appears before a question mark, or a colon. In that case, if the target language does not allow a space between the work and the question mark, the tag should be put after the question mark, or before the last word. For example:

Où est la voiture{0}?

should be translated

Where is the car?{0}

or

Where is the{0}car?

This will ensure that the translation is grammatically correct on the target language too.

In MemoQ the same thing applies, however since MemoQ allows the use of bold, italics, and underlined tags should be fewer. The use of MemoQ’s preview will also help the translator know where to place a specific tag.

Working on DV X’s external views

For some projects, specially multilingual localization projects, Lexcelera works with DV X; a very powerful CAT tool that allows the creation of exports that can be translated on other CAT tools or no tool at all.

These exports come in two formats, both of them RTF, that can be opened in Microsoft Office Word.

Two-Column external view

If you don’t use any CAT tools this is the file that you need to use. The file will usually have the _2col.rtf extension and once opened it will look like shown below:

DV X"

In the first column you will find the codes needed for reimportation into DV X. These should not be replaced, modified or deleted under any circumstance since by doing so reimportation becomes impossible.

In the second column you will find the source – the text to be translated. This column should not be modified either. The translation needs to be inserted into the third column. You might already find in this column some translated text. This text is to be edited since it can range from fuzzy to exact matches extracted from the memory.

In the fourth column you will have the possibility of adding any commentary that you consider relevant for the Editor, Project Manager or client. Please tells us that you have added comments when you deliver the files so that we check them.

When translating please pay special attention to tags (See this post)

Trados RTF external view

For those translators that work on MemoQ, Wordfast, Trados or other there is the possibility of using your own CAT tool on the file sent. You will receive a Trados segmented RTF file that can be translated on any of these tools.

Note: if you are working on Trados please do not use TagEditor, nor send TTX files.

The file will usually have the _trados.rtf extension and once opened it will look like shown below:

DV X"

The files that you will deliver need to follow exactly the same formatting as the one sent to you. No changes, modifications, deletions anywhere are permitted, this includes cleaning the file.

Adding extra spaces anywhere in the code will also damage the file. Only modify the target section of the segment. The file that we need for importation needs to be in RTF format, unclean and without changes in the font style or code.

When translating please pay special attention to tags (See this post)

Contact the CAT department if you have any issues.