Translating SDL Trados packages

Language service providers that use SDL Trados usually send their freelance translators a translation package containing the files to be translated, one or more translation memories (TMs), and one or more termbases. This translation package has the extension .SDLPPX and serves a similar function to Wordfast Pro 5's .GLP package file.

How to extract files for translation?

In the most recent version of Wordfast Pro 5, you can use the Import SDL Package from the Project List view to extract translatable files into a new Wordfast project and then translate them.

How to convert TMs and termbases?

Sometimes, the SDL Trados package contains linguistic resources like a translation memory (TM) or a termbase. You will first need to extract them by changing the package extension from .SDLPPX to .ZIP (after you have imported the package as explained above), then unzip the file.

The unzipped file may contain a .SDLTM and .SDLTB file, a TM and termbase respectively.

If you are on a PC, you can use Wordfast Converter to convert these assets into Wordfast compatible formats (.TMX or .TXT) that can then be imported into Wordfast Pro 5 under the Project TM or Project Terminology tabs of the Current Project View. Click here to download Wordfast Converter.

If you are on a Mac, you can download a Java program written by Thomas Van Nellen from his website that will convert the SDL TMs or termbases to a Wordfast importable format (.TMX or .TXT).

What if my client sends me an .sdlxliff file all by itself?

You can import SDL Trados xliff files (.sdlxliff) by creating a Wordfast project and adding the file to it. However, your file needs to be pre-translated in SDL Trados. This creates needed target segment meta-coding for Wordfast to work with the file. Furthermore, make sure your project languages match the languages in the .sdlxliff files. For example, your client might send you a fr-FR to en-US file, while you are trying to open it in an fr to en-GB project. This will not work! The source and target language codes need to match exactly. If you are not sure, you can open the .sdlxliff with a text editor and you should see the language codes in the first line of the file (if you don’t see it, search for source-language).

Future developments

There are currently two developments that are in the roadmap for working with SDL Trados packages:

1. Ability to create an SDL Trados return package (.SDLRPX)
2. Automatic conversion of linguistic resources (TM and termbase) during the package import process

If these features are important for you, please submit a feedback ticket by clicking on the Feedback icon under the Help tab. Your input will help developers prioritize their implementation.

– Updated by Byron 01/10/2019