It is very common text for translation comes with length limitation. Also common is that in Excel spreadsheet. Furthermore, our customers would like it translated via TMS / ManTra. In order for us to meet their requirements, we generally set up a TMS configuration with Bilingual Excel file type settings with length limitation column set up. 

Here are a few issues with this typical scenario.

Translator cannot tell what the length limitation set for each string or cell. The only thing visible is the current translation length at the bottom right hand side corner of Editor. In order for them to see the length limitation set, they will need to add a lot of text in translation and run Verify to trigger an error message, which would saying something like this.

“Paragraph unit exceeds maximum allowed length (30), current length is 42.”

One way to make length limitation visible in Editor is to add length limitation column to Comments window. We can do so by adding such column to "Comment Information" of Common settings for Bilingual Excel file type settings. HOWEVER, length limitation column cannot be added more than once. Once length limitation column is added to "Columns" option, it cannot be added again to "Comment Information" option. Can we please have this as an option???

Another thing related to "Comments" window in Editor is that information does not present itself automatically as translator move to next segment. The Comments window expands information for the first segment when SDLXLIFF file is opened and stays there. Translator will need to actively click on the items in Comments window to expand and collapse information for each segment in order for them to see the information.

In Summary, can we please add length limitation information to "Comments" window and have it automatically visible for translator without losing capability to check for length limitation errors?

Thank you for considering,

Naoko