Backups and Cloud Sync

Wordfast Pro does not get along with programs that create automatic back-ups and/or sync your files with the cloud such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, iCloud, etc. If you are using this method to create back-ups of your TMs, glossaries, or projects, stop immediately. Either move your TMs, glossaries and projects outside of the backed-up/synced folder or remove the folder from the respective program's back-up/sync list.

Why is this? Wordfast Pro requires exclusive access to your TMs, glossaries, projects while working with/on them. A back-up/sync program will violate this and there will be a conflict. If your back-up/sync program is active, it will probably start the synchronization process as soon as a change is made to your TM/glossary/project – and you make changes all the time while translating/editing. As it attempts to back up/sync or restore the file(s) from their cloud copy, this will interfere with Wordfast Pro writing the changes to the same file. Eventually, this conflict will result in your TM/glossary/project files becoming corrupt and unsuable. It might be possible to rescue them, but you should not leave things to chance.

NB! If you are using Windows 10/11, OneDrive is active by default and it will automatically sync to the cloud anything on your Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music and Video folders. Do not put any of your TMs, glossaries, blocklists, or projects in these folders or, if you do, change OneDrive's settings to not sync the respective folder. It might be best to completely uninstall OneDrive (if you are not using it for anything else) or at least disable it from starting automatically when you boot Windows.

The same goes for Mac where iCloud is enabled by default.

But I want to back up my TM/glossary/project, what should I do?

Use the following procedure to create back-up copies of your TMs, glossaries, or files.

TM backups

1. Create a "TM back-ups" folder somewhere on your computer's drive. This folder should be different from the folder where you keep the TMs you use in Wordfast Pro.
2. Start Wordfast Pro and open the project whose TM you wish to back up, then go to the Project TM tab.
3. Select the TM by clicking once on its name.
4. Click Export TM.
5. Select TMX as the file type (it should be selected by default).
6. Choose the TM to export from the drop-down list if more than one TM is added to your project.
7. Choose a location to export the TM to. You can export the TM directly to the dedicated "TM back-ups" folder you have created.
8. That's it! Your Dropbox/Google Drive/MS OneDrive/iCloud app can now sync the exported file(s) without interfering with Wordfast Pro.

Glossary backups

1. Create a "Glossary back-ups" folder somewhere on your computer's drive. This folder should be different from the folder where you keep the glossaries you use in Wordfast Pro.
2. Start Wordfast Pro and open the project whose glossary you wish to back up, then go to the Project Terminology tab.
3. Select the glossary by clicking once on its name.
4. Click Export Glossary.
5. Choose the glossary to export from the drop-down list if more than one glossary is added to your project.
6. Choose the TBX format (selected by default).
7. Choose a location to export the glossary to. You can export the glossary directly to the dedicated "Glossary back-ups" folder you have created.
8. That's it! Your Dropbox/Google Drive/MS OneDrive/iCloud app can now sync the exported file(s) without interfering with Wordfast Pro.

Project backups

1. Create a "Project back-ups" folder somewhere on your computer's drive. This folder should be different from the folder where you keep your Wordfast Pro projects.
2. Start Wordfast Pro and on the initial Projects screen (without opening a project), select the project you wish to back up by clicking once on its name.
3. Click Export Package.
4. At the bottom of the dialog window, choose a location to export the project as package to. You can export the package directly to the dedicated "Project back-ups" folder you have created.
5. That's it! Your Dropbox/Google Drive/MS OneDrive/iCloud app can now sync the exported package files (.glp format) without interfering with Wordfast Pro.

Read the relevant section on how to import a TM/glossary/project package.