Not Considering

Enable processing of password-protected MS Office files

More of my clients are sending documents (mostly Word, Excel and PPT) that are password protected. Many other apps I use (e.g., Goodreader and VoiceDream) will prompt for passwords when I attempt to open files, but Trados, after several versions and upgrades, still generates an oblique error message, so I have to remove the password to run the file through Studio, then re-encrypt the final translated file. 

Is there no way to add a password prompt when opening password-protected files to make the whole process smoother? I know it is a small thing with an easy workaround, but I don't want a workaround -- I want a more seamless experience. Any little thing that will save a few minutes on each project adds up to hours over the months and years. For freelancers like me, time is literally money. Please consider. 

Joel Dechant

  • Solution: The client has provided you with the password. Open the source file, remove the password, translate the document in Studio, then reset the password in the target document.

  • 1) Okay, so why can I open a password-protected Word file sent to my iPhone (where Word is not installed) in a third party app (i.e., GoodReader) with a simple prompt? (No need to answer that -- I'm not the tech expert, I'm just slightly exasperated by this.)

    2) More organizations are password protecting files before sending them out to translators as a matter of security (or perhaps the illusion of security), and I don't see this trend changing. Some of the kinder ones do send password protected ZIP files, for the record. In any case, I think SDL should at least be aware of this trend. Surely I'm not the only one with this issue.

  • Come to that, is there a way to hack the password - that must be small beer to the hackers. In the mean time, this is at all events a very sensible suggestion. Thank you, Joel.