Could someone help? Not an AI response, please

Robert Cheyne 

You have left the AI response as a verified answer.  If it didn't help then you should "Reject Answer" and even better explain why it didn't help?  At least this bit is worth checking - "Ensure that the original source file is present in the project."  If your project came from someone else and they didn't embed the original IDML into the sdlxliff or provide the IDML in the project then you have no chance to create the target file.

It would also help if you provided the full error stack as the high level message seems quite explanatory and matches what the AI suggested you check at the start:

To get the full stack click on the small disk symbol, save the file to your desktop and then attach it to your reply.

Hi Paul, thanks for answering. The source file is displayed as an idml file in files view and an idml.sdlxliff file when I click on it. The source is present as I have translated the file. I 

I can save it to my desktop as an idml.sdlxliff file but not as an idml file...

Robert Cheyne 

Robert Cheyne said:

The source file is displayed as an idml file in files view and an idml.sdlxliff file when I click on it. The source is present as I have translated the file.

That's not what I mean.  Within Studio everything you look at is an SDLXLIFF.  It might tell you it's an IDML but it's an SDLXLIFF.

You say you translated the file.  Do you mean it was you who created the project and then translated the file?  If so then what is the full path to your IDML?  For example, is it something like this:

c:\Users\robert\OneDrive\Documents\customerfiles\thesource.idml

Can you provide the compete path to the IDML you started with in creating your project.  This is the file that Studio cannot find.

No, I was sent the project then translated the file. This is the file I imported:

Robert Cheyne 

ok - so the problem is clear.  You don't have the source file, it's obviously not been embedded in the sdlxliff, and that's why the message is correct and explanatory:

You cannot recreate the IDML because Trados Studio needs the original source file to generate the final translated document.  An SDLXLIFF on its own does not contain everything required to rebuild an IDML.  It only holds the extracted translatable text plus some structural information.  The non-translatable layout, styling, and design elements remain in the original IDML file.

Since you were only sent the SDLXLIFF and not the original IDML, Trados Studio has nothing to merge your translated text back into.  Only the person who created the SDLXLIFF and still has the original IDML file can generate the final translated IDML.  Your responsibility is simply to translate the SDLXLIFF and return it to them.  They will take your translated SDLXLIFF, combine it with the original IDML on their side, and produce the finished translated document.

If you are expected to recreate the translated version of the IDML then your client needs to either:

1. provide you with the original IDML so you can point Trados Studio to it, or
2. provide you with an SDLXLIFF that embedded the IDML into it (they clearly didn't do that initially), or
3. create the translated IDML themselves from the SDLXLIFF you return.

No bugs, no problem, just the way things work.

Robert Cheyne 

ok - so the problem is clear.  You don't have the source file, it's obviously not been embedded in the sdlxliff, and that's why the message is correct and explanatory:

You cannot recreate the IDML because Trados Studio needs the original source file to generate the final translated document.  An SDLXLIFF on its own does not contain everything required to rebuild an IDML.  It only holds the extracted translatable text plus some structural information.  The non-translatable layout, styling, and design elements remain in the original IDML file.

Since you were only sent the SDLXLIFF and not the original IDML, Trados Studio has nothing to merge your translated text back into.  Only the person who created the SDLXLIFF and still has the original IDML file can generate the final translated IDML.  Your responsibility is simply to translate the SDLXLIFF and return it to them.  They will take your translated SDLXLIFF, combine it with the original IDML on their side, and produce the finished translated document.

If you are expected to recreate the translated version of the IDML then your client needs to either:

1. provide you with the original IDML so you can point Trados Studio to it, or
2. provide you with an SDLXLIFF that embedded the IDML into it (they clearly didn't do that initially), or
3. create the translated IDML themselves from the SDLXLIFF you return.

No bugs, no problem, just the way things work.

Robert Cheyne 

I do have a question though.  You said this:

Robert Cheyne said:

I was sent the project then translated the file. This is the file I imported:

What was in the project you were sent?  If it wasn't a package (.SDLPPX) and it was just a zipped folder with the full Studio project inside then was there an .SDLPROJ?  If there was then you might have circumvented the intended use here and completely ignored all the associated settings, and possible original source file by not using Open Project and selecting the .SDLPROJ.

Hi Paul, thanks for your answers. I really appreciate it. I was sent the idml.sdlxliff document containing a TM and an idml document, no sdlproj inside. I am happy to do a quick call to screenshare.

Robert Cheyne 

No need.  You have what you need then.  See if this helps you?

You should be able to do this with your translated sdlxliff.  No nothing lost.