Translation provider does not support this language pair

Question

Hello, 
 
 I want translate a short single file - I drag the file into the welcome screen and click 'translate as single file'. I then want to use a TM that I have previously created, so I click on 'use' rather than 'create' translation memory. The following error message pops up: 
 
 'Translation provider does not support this language pair' 
 I have also noticed that are no flags in the TM 'language' column - why is this? 
 
 When I try to click enabled on a particular TM, a red cross pops up and I can't use it! 
 
 Any ideas please? 
 Thank you, 
 Claire

Paul · Answer

Hi Claire King 
 Unknown said: 
 The following error message pops up: 
 
 'Translation provider does not support this language pair' 
 
 This is probably because your TM contains a language pair that doesn't match the languages of your project. Open it in your Translation Memories View to check what it is. It's not enough for the main languages to match (English, Spanish), you have to match the sub-languages too (en(GB), es(MX) for example). If the main languages are the same then you will be able to add this TM and use it if you choose AnyTM when you add it, so don't use File-based TM. 
 Unknown said: 
 I have also noticed that are no flags in the TM 'language' column - why is this? 
 
 When I try to click enabled on a particular TM, a red cross pops up and I can't use it! 
 
 They are also greyed out. This suggests that they are memories in your default template and none of them match the languages of your project. Unfortunately Studio displays them anyway, but greys them out. It would be better if Studio didn't even display non-matching TMs. 
 Perhaps check that your lanugages all match first and then we can take it from there. Perhaps a tip, if you're interested. I always use a naming convention with my TMs so I know what the languages are. This would be for example: 
 en(GB) - es(MX).sdltm 
 de(AT) - fr(CA).sdltm 
 etc. 
 This way I can recognise the languages from the name as the flags are generally unhelpful for me because I need to know before I add them to Studio. You can add any other details to the name after the code and then they also sort in a sensible order, if language order is important for you.

Ana-Maria Matefi · Answer

Claire King 
 
You need to use the language flavor that was used at the creation of the document and also of the TM. 
 
The language pair of the document is recognized automatically by Studio. 
 
The Tm setting cannot be changed after the creation. In order to see the language pairs of your TM, please go in Studio > Translation Memory view > Open there your TM > right click it on the left window and press "Settings" --> you will have a new window with the Source Language and the Target Language. 
 
Regards, 
Ana-Maria Matefi

Paul · Answer

Hi Claire King 
 Unknown said: Have you any suggestions on whether I should use modern or international Spanish if I create any more TMs? 
 This is either going to be something based on demand to suit your clients, so if they send you packages, or XLIFF files with predetermined languages for example then you'll want to be able to work with them in their preferred variants. Or, if you think there are important differences in how numbers, dates etc are handled between variants of the same major language then choose the most appropriate. Or maybe just base it on the are you live and work. There is no hard and fast rules for this, it all depends on your needs. 
 Unknown said: I'm still not too clear on why or when to use AnyTM 
 AnyTM is a great application if you don't care about the differences in variants because you can use one TM for all your work. This article might be helpful, and the one linked from it at the start: 
 https://multifarious.filkin.com/2014/02/12/supertm/ 
 Unknown said: On another point, how do I make sure the TM updates when translating a new file? 
 Just make sure that the Update box is checked in your settings where you added the TM and then confirm every segment as you work your way though the document. If you arrow up unto any segment you have translated you should see the result in your TM results window if it was added and it will probably be a CM match. 
 Unknown said: Update main TM? 
 You would normally do this if you received SDLXLIFF files fro a colleague or your client for example. This would allow you to update your TM with the contents of the SDLXLIFF. If you never share these files then you probably won't need to use this task. Won't hurt if you do, but if you are working for yourself and confirming segments every time you translate one then it's unnecessary. Having said this you might find it useful if are asked for your TM by a customer. You don't want to share your own TM with all your years of work so you could create a new TM for that project and then run the Update TM batch task to populate it with only the work you have just done for them. Given you are providing the translation anyway you just save them an alignment job... so maybe charge them for it too ;-) 
 Unknown said: Upgrade? 
 As your TM grows, or if you import other TMs into your own you may need to Upgrade the TM to be able to take advantage of UpLift which is a subsegment matching technology that can help with your productivity. Also, if someone sent you a TMX file you can Upgrade it to an SDLTM. 
 Unknown said: And to enlarge a TM could I use word documents to add into it by going to import, or should I import a SDLillx bilingual doc? 
 If you have source and target Word files then you can align them to import into a TM, or add to a new TM. If you have bilingual DOCs, which are not SDLXLIFF files they are the old format that was used by Trados a long time ago, and still used by Wordfast today. You can open these in Studio and Update your Main TM with the contents. If you have SDLXLIFF files you can either use the Update Main TM batch task or you can directly import the SDLXLIFF files into your TM. 
 You have asked a lot of questions here and I'd recommend you read the material in the Welcome View for Studio as your'll probably find it helpful. The high level answers I gave you are correct (I think) but may not be too helpful given you asked about these features in the first place. But I hope there is enough information to help you find what you need to know in more detail.

Trados Studio > 1. Trados Studio

Translation provider does not support this language pair