Hi Michiel,

Good questions, and they relate to a useful part of the software that I think is not well used.  So, I'll give you my take and perhaps someone who does make use of this will add to the information.

Unknown said:

1. How do I setup trados / a project up in a way that automatically a project-TM will be created and maintained and that this also the main TM will be updated (if there is none, like in my case, how do I create one, one big TM file which contains all TMs of all projects?

This is controlled through the use of the appropriate batch task.  So when you create your Project and you reach the last stage and can select a Task Sequence, you select Prepare instead of Prepare without Project TM which is the default:

The idea here is that a TM is created that will contain only segments relevant to your Project.  As you work only the Project TM will be updated, but you can still lookup your Main TM as well.  Then when you have completely finished, and are happy the translation is perfect you run a Batch task to update your Main TM as well.

If you want to create a Main TM now that contains all of your TMs then you have a couple of options.  You can merge all the SDLTMs together as demonstrated in this video : Merging SDLTMs.  Or you can export all of your SDLTMs to TMX, then import them or merge them.  Or you can create your Main SDLTM and then add it to each of your Projects, make sure you tick the update box and then run a Batch Task to update your TM.  I reckon the first way is probably the easiest.

Unknown said:

2. When I am done with a project and I want to have a project TM, and seemingly I do not have one yet, how do I create one? Also with a project with many files in it.

If you forgot to create one and you specifically want one then there are at least two options.

1. Create a new TM, attach it to the Project and then run a Batch Task to update it. (not the Project TM Batch task because this is not really what is meant by Project TM - see the first question)
2. Create new TM, and then import the translated SDLXLIFF files directly into it.

Unknown said:

3. Why does studio, when you create a new project, not ask the user what the name and location of the project-TM should be? That seems to make a lot of sense

If you select the appropriate Task Sequence when you create the Project then Studio will do this automatically for you and place the Project TM into a folder within the Project.

Unknown said:

4. When I create a new project and I create a new TM file (while creating the project), is this then the project TM?  I have the feeling it is not...

You're right... it's not.  You can use it as a Project TM if you like, but it's not a Project TM in the sense we mean it.  So if you do this it won't be affected by the Project TM batch tasks.

Unknown said:

5. When I do not create (consciously) a TM project file and I choose the batch operation "update project TM" what exactly happens then? I have the feeling nothing happens. The same for the batch operation "update Main TM". It would make sense to me that Studio warns the user that there IS no project TM or Main TM, but it does never do that....

The first thing to note is that if you are confirming your translations as you work then Update Project TM (if you are using one) and Updated Main TM (if you are not using a Project TM) are almost irrelevant because the TM will already be updated.  So the usual usecase for these tasks would be these:

1. If you send work out for another Translator/Reviewer to work on and they send you back changed files then this task allows you to update your own TMs with the changes
2. If you are using a project TM then the Update Main TM task will update your Main TM with all the translations as these would only be added to the Project TM as you worked.

Unknown said:

6. how do I delete all target segments with the source copied to them by pretranslate, I read once that there is a shortcut for that, a key-combination

If you have the file open in the Editor View then Alt+Shift+Delete will clear all the unconfirmed target sentences.  If you are working with certain filetypes, such as Bilingual DOC filetypes, then there is a setting in the filetype options that can clear all 0% matches as the file is brought into Studio and then you don't have to do this.

You can also use the SDLXLIFF Toolkit which will allow you to clear any type of segment across an entire Project if you like:

I hope this is all clear, but feel free to ask again if something is not clear.

Thanks a lot, Paul, this helps a lot! I still have some questions though.

1. Does every user automatically have a Main TM? And if so, where is it located?

2. Do I understand correctly that a project either uses a project TM, or a Main TM? So to answer question 5 of the questions above, if you do not created a Project TM, and you choose "update project TM" exactly nothing happens... I think Studio should warn the user that there IS no project TM, instead of going through the procedure and reporting "finished".

3. Your answer to question 2 above is not clear to me. It does not contain enough details/steps to do it. Could you please make this clearer? Both ways? My guess on the first option: create it in "Project Settings". And then? How to update it?

Thanks in advance.

Unknown said:

1. Does every user automatically have a Main TM? And if so, where is it located?

Hi Michiel, no you never automatically have a Main TM.  You have to create it, or add an existing one, to your Project when you start.  However, if you add the TM you want to use on all of your Projects to your Global Options, which is in File -> Options in Studio 2014, and Tools -> Options in Studio 2009/2011 then it will always be selected automatically every time you create a new Project.

It may be worth you looking at two things that you have at your disposal.  First in the Welcome View of Studio in the Get Started tab there are a a number of useful videos.  Take a look at the Creating and managing projects video.

Secondly take a look, in the same Get Started tab, but scroll to the bottom.  Here you will find the "Quick Start Guides".  The Project Management guide covers this subject in detail.  But I'd recommend you read them all.  Easy reading and will clarify many things for you.

Unknown said:

2. Do I understand correctly that a project either uses a project TM, or a Main TM? So to answer question 5 of the questions above, if you do not created a Project TM, and you choose "update project TM" exactly nothing happens... I think Studio should warn the user that there IS no project TM, instead of going through the procedure and reporting "finished".

Not quite.  You select a TM when you start.  This is your Main TM, or could even be multiple TMs if you like.  Then if you prepare the project with a Project TM then this is created automatically and will be the TM that is updated as you translate.  So if you use a Project TM then the Main TM is only updated when you run the Update Main TM batch task.  But you can still search it as you work.

On the batch task not warning you if you don't have a Project TM... point taken and our Product Manager will be able to see these comments and act as he sees fit.  But why would you even run it if you are not using Project TMs in the first place?

Unknown said:

3. Your answer to question 2 above is not clear to me. It does not contain enough details/steps to do it. Could you please make this clearer? Both ways? My guess on the first option: create it in "Project Settings". And then? How to update it?

Create a new TM, attach it to the Project and then run a Batch Task to update it.

1. Go to your Project Settings,
2. Click on Language Pairs -> All Language Pairs -> Translation Memory and Automated Translation
3. Click on Create -> New File based Translation Memory
4. Make sure all the boxes are enabled:
   
5.  Now run a batch task to update the content of your Project so it populates this new TM.  Note that this is not a Project TM because it was not automatically created by Studio when you first created the Project.  You may well be using it as what you refer to as a Project TM, but in Studio parlance this is not a Project TM:
    

Create new TM, and then import the translated SDLXLIFF files directly into it.

Presumably you know how to create a Translation Memory so I'll skip that part.  All you need to do is go to your Translation Memories View, select your TM and then Import:

Then just click on Add Files and navigate to the target language folder of your Project and select all your target SDLXLIFF files:

\

That's it.  These will import and populate your TM.

If you don't know where the target language folder is then in the Projects View of Studio just select your Project and then click on Open Project Folder in the ribbon (right-click and select the same if you don't have Studio 2014):

When the folder opens you will see the language codes for the source and target folders.  Open the target language code and in there you will find the target SDLXLIFF files that contain your translated content.

I hope this is all a little clearer now?  I would definitely recommend you take some time to review the help information you have in Studio.  I think this will answer many of your questions in addition to giving you a broader understanding of the concepts involved.