"Export files" is the only batch task available

Question

For some reason, for several files in a project the only batch task available is "Export files", which is pretty useless when I want to finalize the translation. (I can't tell any difference between the files that have all relevant batch tasks available and those with only Export files.)

Stepan Konev · Accepted Answer

Mats Linder , Marie-Pierre Lavoie The fact that only Export is available may mean that the file has been already finalized. Click that file and see if the Revert to SDLXLIFF icon turns active. If so, the file is finalized. And if you want to finalize all project files, you can go to the Projects view, click the project and run Finalize from the Batch Tasks menu. This would finalize all the files within that project. If you want to finalize selected files, then just click the files that are not finalized yet (the Revert to SDLXLIFF icon greyed-out) with Ctrl key kept down and run Finalize from the Batch Tasks menu. Btw, why do you need to finalize your projects? I can't remember that I ever did it. Unfortunately there is no way to distinguish between the finalized and un finalized files (or I am not aware of that) other than by referring to the Revert to SDLXLIFF icon status. I have described how to finalize all files in one go above (run Finalize against the project). To unfinalize all you can select all files (Ctrl+A) and click Revert to SDLXLIFF . However, you would not be able to do that when you have both finalized and unfinalized files in your project. In this case, you have to finalize all first, and only then use Ctrl+A to unfinalize all.

Jerzy Czopik · Answer

Stepan Konev said: Unfortunately there is no way to distinguish between the finalized and un finalized files 
 In the files view the finalized files do show the original file name extension, the unfinalized files have *.sdlxliff as file name extension. 
 The finalization of files and closing projects plus removing them from the projects view is my standard procedure. It makes the way of working clear and easy to maintain. This way I have a short projects list in Trados Studio. And a finalization of a file means having both the target file and an updated translation memory. As I do always create project TMs, this is the only way of keeping my main TMs updated. Trados Studio is the only tool on the market giving you the possibility to work in a way you want. There is no "optimal" process and luckily no processes are written in stone here like in many other tools, where you can work their way or no way. 
 As for your remark on reverting to sdlxliff, selecting individual files is quite simple. Press CTRL and click the files you want to revert to xliff. So you can do that without the need to select all files by CTRL+A.

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"Export files" is the only batch task available

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