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 (TM), 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, however, the SDL Trados package contains linguistic resources like a translation memory (TM) or a term base. You will first need to extract them by changing the 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 term base respectively. If the files size is small, that means they are generally empty.

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 4 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).

--John — 22 November 2018