Failed to save target content. Unable to locate original file.

Question

Hi 
 I am trying to save a file in idml format by selecting File > Save Target as > Save 
 but keep getting this error message:

Can someone please help? 
 
 Thank you in avance.

Paul · Accepted Answer

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.

RWS Community AI · Answer

Probability score: 0.8 
 Question improvement suggestion: Provide the exact version of Trados Studio you are using and any specific steps you have already attempted to resolve the issue. 
 In the meantime, based on the information you have provided, here is a suggested answer to your question: 
 Hello, 
 It seems you are encountering a common issue when trying to save your target content in IDML format. Here are some steps you can take to resolve the "Failed to save target content. Unable to locate original file" error: 
 **Step 1:** Ensure that the original source file is present in the project. If the SDLXLIFF file came from a Word file, check for any errors in the original file. 
 **Step 2:** If you have access to Adobe InDesign, open the IDML file and try saving it again using the "Save As" option, selecting the InDesign CS4 or later (IDML) format. 
 **Step 3:** Check if the "Extract content of the master page" option is disabled. You can do this by going to File > Options > File Types > Adobe InDesign CS4-CC IDML > Common, and ensuring that the option is unchecked. 
 **Step 4:** If the issue persists, consider using the workaround of renaming the target file from DOCX to IDML, as this has resolved similar issues for other users. 
 **Step 5:** If you are using Trados Studio 2021 SR1 or earlier, consider upgrading to Trados Studio 2022, where this defect has been fixed. 
 **Step 6:** If you have already tried these steps and the issue continues, you may want to recreate the SDLXLIFF file by opening the original source file in Trados Studio and using the Perfect Match or Pre-translate tasks to generate a new target document. 
 I hope these steps help you resolve the issue! If you have any further questions or if the problem persists, please feel free to ask. 
 I hope this answer addressed your question. If not, please reject the answer, add the question improvement suggestion information, and click the RWS Community AI checkbox on the right to try again. 
 RWS Community AI

Paul · Answer

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.

Paul · Answer

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obert\OneDrive\Documents\customerfiles	hesource.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.

Paul · Answer

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: 
 
 provide you with the original IDML so you can point Trados Studio to it, or 
 provide you with an SDLXLIFF that embedded the IDML into it (they clearly didn't do that initially), or 
 create the translated IDML themselves from the SDLXLIFF you return. 
 
 No bugs, no problem, just the way things work.

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Failed to save target content. Unable to locate original file.

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