Trados GmbH was founded as a language service provider (LSP) in 1984 by Jochen Hummel and Iko Knyphausen in Stuttgart, Germany. The company began developing translation software in the late 1980s, and released the first Windows versions of two of the suite's major components in the early 1990s MultiTerm in 1992, and Translator's Workbench in 1994. In 1997, the company received a major boost when Microsoft decided to use Trados for its internal localization needs. By the end of the 1990s, it had become the clear market leader in desktop translation memory software.
Trados was acquired by SDL in 2005.
Configuration
As of 2009, the freelance edition of SDL Trados contained three principal components:
SDL Trados Studio
An application for translating files, creating and managing translation memories, for automated project creation and automated translation.
MultiTerm
A terminology tool that interacts with Translator's Workbench to populate translations with approved terminology.
SDL Trados 2007
The previous version of the software which is included as part of the new product giving access to previous components such as Translator's workbench, TagEditor and SDLX.
Studio also contains a specialized tool for translating graphic interfaces and one aligning source documents with existing translations.
Supported source document formats
Formats supported by SDL Trados Studio 2009 include TTX, ITD, Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, OpenOffice, InDesign, QuarkXPress, PageMaker, Interleaf, Framemaker, HTML, SGML, XML, and SVG.
Handling of translation memories and glossaries
The translation memory (TM) format of Trados is SDLTM.
When creating a new (file-based) translation memory, SDL Trados Studio creates a database file in which all translation units are stored. The translation memory also stores structural and context information to link all the different segments and their position in a document. This allows the tool to select the most relevant translation memory segment.
Main translation memory database file: .sdltm
In previous version of Trados a neural network of files that enable fuzzy search capability was also created. A new translation memory consists of five new files:
Main translation memory database file: .tmw
Neural network files: .mdf, *.mtf, *.mwf, *.iix
When copying a translation memory, you must copy all five translation memory files. Otherwise, Translator's Workbench displays an error message when opening the copied translation memory.
Trados can also work with server-based translation memories.
Glossaries are handled by the MultiTerm application. Glossaries can be bilingual or multi-lingual.
Market share
According to a 2004 survey by the world Bank, Trados held an estimated 75% global market share with SDL holding an additional 10%.
According to the ICU Translation Memory Survey from 2006, about 35% of freelance translators used Trados, while further 15% used SDL Trados.
Documentation and help
SDL Trados manuals can be downloaded online from the company's website. Basic training is available in the form of webinars delivered free of charge on a monthly basis, while there are also onsite trainings at SDL and partner (Authorized Training Center) locations. A calendar can be found on www.translationzone.com in the Event section.
Criticism
Trados has been criticized for lack of backward compatibility, and poor user support. Defenders reply that competing commercial translation memory (TM) products are also expensive, and that on-line support is available from a large user community.
A number of solutions have been created to be able to handle the different versions of Trados file formats, but the process is not foolproof.
References
^ a b "Translation Memory Survey 2004". Localization Industry Standards Association (registration required). http://www.lyriclabs.com/worldbank_report.pdf. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
^ a b Garcia, Ignacio. "Long term memories: Trados and TM turn 20". The Journal of Specialized Translation. http://www.jostrans.org/issue04/art_garcia.php. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
^ DePalma, Donald A. (July 2005). "SDL-TRADOS: Language Service Provider Reaction to SDL Purchase of TRADOS". Globalization & Localization Association. http://www.gala-global.org/en/resources/downloads/2005Q3_GALA-SDL-TradosReport.pdf. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
^ "Imperial College London Translation Memories Survey". http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/portal/pls/portallive/docs/1/7307707.PDF. Retrieved 2009-02-02.
^ "How to run SDL Trados 2006 on Windows Vista and Windows 7". Trados How-To. 2008-01-30. http://capitalhead.com/articles/how-to-run-sdl-trados-2006-on-windows-vista-and-windows-7.aspx. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
^ a b Garca, Ignacio. "Standard Bearers:TM brand profiles at Lantra-L". http://www.accurapid.com/journal/26tm.htm. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
^ "Using & Installing Multiple Versions of Trados on the Same Computer". Trados How-To. 2008-01-30. http://capitalhead.com/articles/using--installing-multiple-versions-of-trados-on-the-same-computer.aspx. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
External Links and White Papers
How to run SDL Trados 2006 on Windows Vista and Windows 7
Using & Installing Multiple Versions of Trados on the Same Computer
Official SDL Trados page
Categories: Language software | Computer-assisted translation
