Convert TMX to SDLXLIFF or use another technique to achieve this re-reading task?

Question

Simply: 
 A client has sent me a 20,000 word document: the source and the target, both Word documents. The source is in French target is in English and the job is a "re-read". 
 By converting all tables to text in both files, then converting all text to tables, then making these two vertical columns in the same Word file, I then made an Excel file. 
 I tried converting this to tmx using something like Olifant... or was it using something in SDL itself? Can't recall. Half the units failed. Not unexpectedly (since this is SDL) the "error results" failed to be visible. 
 Then I found an online spot to convert from Excel to tmx. This file is larger and on examination it appears to contain all TUs. Everything (i.e. source and text) appears to be perfectly "aligned". 
 Now I want to do an EXTREMELY simple thing: produce an sdlxliff (the memory can be a blank one) so I can go through the file segment by segment in SDL. 
 I have tried to do this several times ... but to no surprise whatsoever, nothing appears to be able to achieve this. 
 Any suggestions?

Paul · Accepted Answer

Mike Rodent Mike Rodent said: You mean in Olifant? It says "Source: FR" and "Target: EN". That's all it says. Yes... and probably in a text editor too. You don't need Olifant just to look at a TMX. Does the file look like this:

Bonjour Hello Or this:

Bonjour Hello If it's not the latter then that might be your problem. Just edit with a text editor - search and replace the language codes. Excel is probably easier for you.

Paul · Answer

Mike Rodent 
 Mike Rodent said: And as ever, with a substantial document (20k) aligning the segments (even when you have the hang of it, and I have no prior experience with this) is no trivial task. 
 There are tricks to making alignment easier and faster. Over 11-years ago I created a video that still gets watched today so might be helpful. It does show a very early version of the alignment tool, and the UI is horrible (me messing with some UI apps are to blame for that!!), but it might be helpful if you want to give it another go: https://youtu.be/EKlkZEkLL8E?si=vOgyUi390fyfjLj4 
 Alternatively, a decent, free, and simple alignment tool worth a look would be this one: https://sourceforge.net/projects/aligner/ 
 Mike Rodent said: PS ALSO: every single time I come to this forum I am asked whether I want to use "AI" (I don't accept that acronym). I always have to click "No", but there is also a checkbox to say "never ask again". This box does not work. Please can you somehow tweak things so that this question is not asked? 
 It seems you triggered an unusual situation, probably through leaving the page open without ever clicking away the initial message for at least 60 minutes. That triggered the 60-minutes "no more editing" rule which we have in place to prevent users from changing posts long after having created them that may then make follow up replies a nonsense. We checked in our logs to find this as it was an unusual scenario. Perhaps your love of AI is how you got there! 
 So we're going to address this to make sure that in the unlikely event anyone else ever does this we will force a decision around the use of AI before the no-edit rule kicks in in the background. If you act on the message the first time it does work. I'm pretty sure we would see a lot of complaints in here if it didn't!

Jesús Prieto · Answer

Mike Rodent 
 You can use this plugin https://appstore.rws.com/Plugin/61 to create XLIFF files from TMX files. Please don&rsquo;t forget to read the Documentation tab.

Paul · Answer

Mike Rodent 
 Just a suggestion... 
 Mike Rodent said: By converting all tables to text in both files, then converting all text to tables, then making these two vertical columns in the same Word file, I then made an Excel file. 
 Once you have the Excel file why don't you just open that in Trados Studio as a bilingual Excel? That would be by far the easiest solution to what you're trying to do.

Paul · Answer

Mike Rodent 
 Mike Rodent said: Now trying to find out about the "bilingual Excel file" solution. I currently have no idea how that works... 
 This might be useful - https://multifarious.filkin.com/2015/09/28/bilingual-excel-and-stuff/

Paul · Answer

Mike Rodent 
 I also think you might be making hard work for yourself down the line based on the requirement: 
 Mike Rodent said: A client has sent me a 20,000 word document: the source and the target, both Word documents. The source is in French target is in English and the job is a "re-read". 
 Once you've re-read it what is the task? Just tell them which bits you'd change, or provide a marked up version of the English with tracked changes? If the latter you could do this: 
 
 align the French and English word files in Trados Studio to create a TM
 
 or create one from your TMX (the import can ignore language variations so that would easier for you)

Create a project with the French source Word file 
 Pre-translate from the TM and now you have a populated version of the English to review. 
 Open for Review instead of Translate, or just manually turn on Tracked changes. 
 Read and make your changes. 
 Save the target file and that Word file will be in English with tracked changes.

Trados Studio > 1. Trados Studio

Convert TMX to SDLXLIFF or use another technique to achieve this re-reading task?

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