Looking for a SDL Trados 2017 User's manual

Hi experts,

I have used SDL Trados 2014, 2015 and now am using Trados 2017 but have never seen a book or User's manual explaining all of those individual commands in various drop-down menus.

I couldn't find one even in Translation Zone, App store or Downloads (in my account).

Are there any official books and/or User's manual published by SDL?

If so, where from and how can I get one?

Why is this information so camouflaged? ;-))

Thanks for your help in advance.

Best regards

Shyam Gupta

  • Hi Shyam,

    The online SDL Trados Studio 2017 documentation, i.e. manual, can be found here:
    docs.sdl.com/.../pub.xql

    Pressing F1 when you're working in Studio will take you to the main SDL Documentation site, here:
    http://docs.sdl.com/SDLTradosStudio

    Click on the SDL Trados Studio 2017 link in the list, then you can use the Search window top right to find whatever you need to learn about.

    On page 15 of the Release notes that are available from a link in the same line as your Studio 2017 download link, there is a link to the above documentation (there's also a link that downloads a zip of all its web pages including a toc page that links to the others, to view locally in your web browser, but I don't find that useful).

    A new addition to the documentation, for those words and abbreviations (jargon and acronyms) that are hard to understand in the various help info available, a 'jargon buster' has just been put together, which is hopefully going to become a multilingual termbase. For now it is available as a free PDF download in English, here:
    www.translationzone.com/.../118595

    There are also lots of blogs written by SDL folk and by users. Google searching can pull out the very specific information they contain.

    The one I use the most, written by Paul Filkin is here:
    multifarious.filkin.com/

    Also, you can buy user manuals written by users, for example here:
    http://tradosstudiomanual.com/
    is a manual written by Mats Linder
    or here:
    www.packtpub.com/.../sdl-trados-studio-practical-guide
    is written by Andy Walker (also available on Amazon Kindle)

    There is a huge amount of information out there but as you say it isn't that obvious where it is ;-)
    All the best,
    Ali

    (Edited 01/06/2017)

  • Hi Ali

    Many thanks for such a big bundle of information.
    This is extremely useful for me. I would look into each link you have kindly sent to me.

    In general, instead of a scrolling through .pdf text on screen, I actually prefer to hold a hard copy of document in my hands.
    So, of course I would go through all the links you've provided, but most probably I'll go for one of the two printed versions of the book listed in your mail.

    Thanks again for your kind help.
    Best regards
    Shyam
  • You're very welcome, Shyam!
    I prefer an online or virtual manual because that way I can use the search facility to find more information than I can see via the index.
    I guess the ideal would be an online version AND a printed version!
    Glad to be of help!
    Ali :)
  • PS: I've just noticed some of my links don't work. I'll put them right in my original post, right now...
  • Hi Ali
    thanks for the information on links.

    The only link I found not working was (and still is), is the "www.translationzone.com/.../118595"
    I have tried the link as given in your message text and also to access the "jargon buster" through "search" function directly via SDL translationzone website.
    In both cases, after filling-in the required information, a click on "Download button" changes its text into "Please wait"... and then you wait and wait and wait and wait ... nothing happens.
    Seems like a dead-end road to me ;-))

    All other links are working, especially the link to Paul Filkin's blog with very interesting practice oriented information.

    Thanks and best regards
    Shyam
  • Hi Shyam,

    Sorry about that, maybe it's a question of permissions. I tested it and it worked for me. You did click on the link rather than copying it? I guess so. The full address is "www.translationzone.com/download/sdl-trados-jargon-buster/118595"

    I put that in quotes to prevent an active link forming. Anyway, here's a copy of the PDF to download directly from here.

    SDLJargonBuster_tcm125-118595.pdf

    There is one error in it that will be corrected sometime this week, see if you can find it! Ah, maybe they've taken it down to correct it.

    The reason I know this is because I wrote it [8-|]

    Hope it's useful to you! I sure learned stuff writing it!

    All the best,

    Ali

  • Hi Shyam,

    I've just remembered you wrote that you'd like an explanation of 'all of those individual commands in various drop-down menus'.

    I don't think any printed user manual would go into that much detail. It would have to be very large.

    The online manual does include explanations of all drop-down menus I believe.

    All the best,
    Ali :)
  • Hi Ali,

    I treid with the full address in the browser, but the result is same. After all inputs have been done and you press the "Download" button - you land into "Please wait" loop - which never ends.

    However, the link for direct .pdf download worked like a charm ;-))
    Thanks to you, I now finally have the pdf file.

    Thanks also for your tip about the potential advantages of using the online manual with respect to drop-down menus. I 'll certain check it.

    Thanks and best regards
    Shyam
  • You're very welcome Shyam,
    Enjoy your weekend!
    Ali