Hi Amlaku Eshetie

The first thing to note is that if you translate a source PDF file, the target file you save from the SDLXLIFF is always a Word document.

However, if the client requires a PDF then you have the option to open your Word file in Word and then choose 'Save as' and select PDF from the list of save options. (That is, so long as you can open the Word file... ;-)

If the PDF file is very complex or large and you have the appropriate software (Adobe Acrobat for example), it may work better to open it in that then export it to Word before you set up your project, then add the Word file to a new translation project.

This being said, with PDF files whose content is readable/accessible, I use the following method:

1. Create a translation project with the PDF as the translatable file.

2. Open the resulting sdlxliff then go to File > Advanced Save > Save as Source.

    This creates a Word file.

3. Open that in Word and tidy up the layout/simplify/standardise etc. 

4. Create a new project based on that Word file, your termbase/s and your TM/s.

5. Before you start translating, try saving to source via File>Advanced Save>save Source as

6. If the save fails, you know that you need to smooth out the Word file. This can be done in a number of ways. One that is simple is to just 'Save as' in Word to a new filename then repeat the process with that file. If it saves to Source without a problem you should be able to process it right through to the final target Word file.

Then you can open that and save it to PDF if that's what the customer requires.

I hope I've explained this OK, it's late here in the UK and I'm veeeery tired.

Good night,

All the best

Ali

PS Amlaku Eshetie I edited my post. Item 5 changed to:

5. Before you start translating, try saving to source via File>Advanced Save>save Source as

Saving as Target will only create a source content file if no pretranslation has taken place... ;-)

I was tired...

Have a good day

Ali

PS Amlaku Eshetie I edited my post. Item 5 changed to:

5. Before you start translating, try saving to source via File>Advanced Save>save Source as

Saving as Target will only create a source content file if no pretranslation has taken place... ;-)

I was tired...

Have a good day

Ali