Product Brief 2011

Passolo Product Brief 2011

The Perfect Tool for Software Localization Key Features Releasing software for various different markets at the same time presents a real challenge for many companies. Keeping on Top of Every Project SDL Passolo saves the source text for all files to be translated in Localization is one of the most important process steps when a multilingual project database along with their translations, developing software for international markets. During the modified layouts, comments about the files and other localization process, software products are modified in order data. Multiple users are able to work on the same project to meet the linguistic, cultural and technical requirements simultaneously in Multi-User mode, and external translators of a target market. Software localization is generally a work- can download a free version of the software and edit intensive and time-consuming process for the development translation packages created in the full version. teams involved in the project. Localizing elements of a graphical user interface (GUI), such as dialog fields and menus, Should a new version of software need localizing, the Update can often be particularly hard to accomplish without a visual function is used to compare the content of the new software display of the changes made and support from the software files with the project database and transfer new and modified developers. text into the project. All existing translations and the layout remain untouched, as the translator only needs to process A tool that has been developed to fulfill the exact requirements the new and modified text. In comparison with traditional of the software localization industry is vitally important when it translation memory software, this project-based method of comes to simultaneously releasing software products onto the working saves time and translation costs. global market. If the software has already been translated, the Alignment SDL Passolo® has been designed to meet the specific demands function can be used to automatically import all translations of the software localization industry. The software provides and layout adjustments from the translated software files into a visual translation environment that not only speeds up the the project database. Subsequent software updates can then localization process, but also increases quality and efficiency. be localized on the basis of the translations that have already been delivered.

Project preparation simplifies communication between the software manufacturer and the translators. The localization manager can work together with the developers and add files requiring localization to the project. If necessary, specific sections of text can be extracted from the translation and explanatory comments for the translator or notes regarding the maximum length of the translation can be added.

Pseudo-Translation Globalization comprises all of the work carried out by developers in making a piece of software fit for the foreign market. Pseudo-translation allows developers to test the software to make sure that it has undergone a sufficient level of preparation for localization. The prevention of globalization errors, e.g. discovering hard-coded texts or displaying and handling foreign character sets correctly, at an early stage reduces correction costs further down the line.

Internal and External Translation Memories used to ensure that freely selectable texts (e.g. special SDL Passolo features an internal translation memory placeholders) are protected in the translator‘s editing (TM), which is supported by the concordance search and field and are not taken into account in the statistics fuzzy matching features. This internal TM can be used for the automatic pretranslation and interactive translation Visual Localization of individual text entries and allows existing translations Translating in context means that menus and dialog boxes to be reused. QuickIndex™ technology speeds up the appear as they would do when the software is running. Visual pretranslation process and calculation of fuzzy matches, localization improves the quality of the translation. In contrast even with extremely large projects and glossaries. to a simple list, the user is able to work out the meaning of a text much easier and faster if the text is displayed in its graphical Simple text glossaries can be used to highlight context. terminology and help the translator produce a consistent translation. The supplied glossary editor can convert a Visual localization can be implemented on all file formats that wide range of standard file formats, e.g. TMX, TBX and save the static layout information (e.g. Windows, .NET, WPF, some Microsoft glossary formats, so that they can be Delphi, HTML etc.). used with SDL Passolo. Using the dialog box editor, control elements can be moved SDL Passolo can be connected to external TM systems and changed in size. Other features can also be modified, and termbases via various interfaces. All versions of SDL depending on the programming language used. Test functions Passolo can be connected to SDL Trados Studio®, SDL help to ensure that access keys are uniquely assigned and to find Trados® and SDL MultiTerm®, provided these programs truncated texts and overlapping control elements. have been installed on the computer. As a result, SDL Passolo can use translations and terminology from other Extensive Quality Tests programs during software localization. Translators and localization managers have access to a wide

Machine Translation If the TM does not provide any matches, machine translation programs open to the public, e.g. Google Translate and Microsoft Translator can be accessed automatically. All translations that have been taken from these machine translation systems are identified accordingly to allow these entries to be post-edited.

Faster Translation Process SDL Passolo features a wide range of functions to increase productivity:

• The Auto-Propagation feature makes it easy to translate reoccurring text entries and automatically range of test functions. As part of the continuous quality inserts unique access keys, thereby improving monitoring process, each text entry is checked immediately after consistency it has been edited and is highlighted if it contains an error. In • If longer texts are repeated (e.g. error messages), batch mode, tests can be carried out on selected sections of text these can be standardized across the entire project, or the entire project. which means that only one instance of the text entry needs to be translated. This reduces translation costs • User interface tests find truncated texts, overlapping • QuickIndex can be used to find subsegment matches control elements, missing or inconsistent access keys and transfer their translations across to the project. etc. Short texts that have already been translated in other • Depending on the programming language used, parts of the project are highlighted when they appear placeholders are checked for correct usage. User- in longer text entries. These features increase the defined placeholders can be found and checked consistency of the translation thanks to inline patterns • Savable filters, as well as the Find, Replace, Sort and • Technical consistency checks find missing Group functions, facilitate navigation in large projects translations, are able to monitor the correct usage and make it easier to find specific text entries of tab and space characters and indicate whether • Thanks to inline patterns, regular expressions can be incorrect characters have been used for the target code page • Linguistic consistency checks monitor the correct usage of specified terminology, find prohibited words in the translation and inconsistencies in the translation of reoccurring text entries • If Microsoft Word™ is installed on the computer, SDL Passolo can use the program’s spell checker, thus ensuring that incorrectly spelled words are highlighted in SDL Passolo with a red wavy line environment for software production. The COM object model and the integrated development environment allow for the Supporting Agile Development Processes automation of recurring tasks or complete integration in The new Collaboration Edition of SDL Passolo supports agile external systems. The SDL Passolo software development kit development processes. New or modified software modules gives users the chance to develop their own add-ins, e.g. to are prepared in a relatively short period of time by the localize user-defined file formats with simultaneous display of development team. New or modified texts in the software the software interface. interface are integrated into the ongoing translation process. In order to reduce the workloads of localization managers and Editions of SDL Passolo translators, the Collaboration Edition features an easy-to-use The various editions of SDL Passolo ensure that there Synchronization function. This Synchronization function also is a cost-effective solution available for a wide range imports the latest translations, which means that projects are of applications and workflows. Add-ins for specific file always kept up-to-date. formats can be purchased as added extras. Instead of using special server software, SDL Passolo employs Professional Edition a freely selectable FTP server, which is used to automatically The single-user version to be used on build servers, manage the files required for synchronization. This process in development teams or by localization engineers. If lowers IT costs and reduces the amount of time spent on translation agencies are using their own version of SDL administrative tasks. Localization managers are able to Passolo, the localization manager is therefore able to configure the settings within the SDL Passolo user interface. export translation packages (partial projects) for the The appropriate configurations can be used to synchronize translation agencies. data with translation agencies or directly with external Team Edition translators. This allows the new Collaboration Edition to be The single-user version to be used by localization used by both the software manufacturer and the commissioned managers. Translation packages created using the Team translation agencies. Edition can be edited using the free Translator Edition. This means that entire projects can be sent to external Embedded Systems translators using only one Team Edition license — this also Large machine control units, small devices and household includes the modification and testing of dialog boxes. appliances all now feature graphical software interfaces. SDL In addition to the Team-unlimited Edition, with which Passolo facilitates localization by means of special testing and an unlimited number of translation packages can be display functions, which allow the translator to see whether managed, Team 5 and Team 10 starter versions are also the translated text fits in the limited area of the screen. These available. In these starter versions, the total number of functions significantly reduce the time and effort spent on translation packages that can be exported is restricted to 5 testing and making corrections. or 10, depending on which version you opt for. Collaboration Edition Tracking Changes A single-user version that shares the same functionality In SDL Passolo, the complete change history of each localized as the Team-unlimited Edition, but translations packages text can be displayed, thus allowing the user to restore each can also be automatically synchronized with translation text to one of its previous forms. This is especially helpful agencies and translators via an FTP server. if changes have been made that subsequently need to be reversed, as the entire project can be restored to an earlier Translator Edition version or earlier point in time. A free editing environment for translation packages that have been created using the Team Edition or Collaboration Automation and Customization Edition. It does not contain any project management All full versions of SDL Passolo can be automated via the functions for analyzing source files or creating translated command line, and therefore integrated into a build server target files. All translation and production functions, as well as visual localization and quality tests, are available and are the same as those included in the full version. Supported Languages SDL Passolo supports all languages supported by Microsoft Windows via the Unicode standards. This includes Eastern European, Asian and bidirectional languages (Arabic and Hebrew), as well as Indian languages. When installing the corresponding code pages, these languages will also be supported in files not programmed with Unicode (e.g. ANSI).

Supported File Formats SDL Passolo supports a wide range of software file formats, including executable Windows programs (EXE, DLL), resource files (RC), Microsoft® .NET assemblies up to framework version 4.0, resource files (RESX), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Silverlight, Java Properties, Java source code (JAVA) and binary files (CLASS), Java projects (JAR, WAR), Visual BASIC 6 (FRM, VBP), Qt translation files (TS), Linux Portable Object files (PO), Microsoft installers (MSI, ISM), XML, XLIFF, HTML, CHM, text files, Delphi® 3 – 2009, Excel, databases (Access, Oracle® 11, SQL Server, MySQL, IBM DB2), mobile software (iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile).

System Requirements SDL Passolo runs on Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, as well as on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 operating systems. Minimum recommended hardware: PC with a Pentium IV processor, 1 GB RAM and a screen resolution of 1280x1024. For optimal performance, we recommend 2 GB RAM and one of the latest Intel Core Duo processors or any compatible processors.

Further Information For further information on SDL Passolo, please visit: www.sdl.com/passolo

SDL is the leader in Global Information Management. Global Information Management enables companies to engage with their customers throughout the customer journey –from brand awareness, to sales and after-sales support– and across languages, cultures and channels.

SDL’s best-of-breed Web Content Management, eCommerce, Structured Content and Language Technologies, combined with its Language Services drive down the cost of content creation, management, translation and publishing. SDL solutions increase conversion ratios and customer satisfaction through targeted information across all customer touch points.

Global industry leaders who rely on SDL include ABN-Amro, Bosch, Canon, CNH, FICO, GlaxoSmithKline, Hewlett-Packard, KLM, Microsoft, NetApp, Philips, SAP and Sony. SDL has over 1500 enterprise custotmers, has deployed over 170,000 software licenses and provides access to on-demand portals for 10 million customers per month. It has a global infrastructure of more than 60 offices in 35 countries. For more information, visit

www.sdl.com.