pdf file conversion

Question

Since I moved to SDL TRADOS 2015, I have been experiencing a lot of difficulties processing pdf files. I had not experienced such conversion difficulties with previous TRADOS versions. 
 I actually use a pdf conversion tool to be able to process files and convert them in Word files when impossible to convert them with TRADOS. 
 In some occasions, when TRADOS manages to convert the pdf file, the original lay out is in most cases ruined. 
 This morning, I had to decline a 10,000 words job because TRADOS was unable to convert the pdf file. I checked this file and it appeared it did not have any security protection of any kind. 
 While I am writing this post I am waiting for TRADOS to convert the pdf file and TRADOS is prompting a dialogue box stating: Please wait. Opening xxxxxx.pdf. I have been waiting for more than 30 minutes so far for 10,000 words! 
 Did anyone experience such an issue? Thanks. 
 SDL TRADOS eventually processed the pdf file but the layout has been modified

Walter Blaser · Answer

Patrice 
 
You cannot expect to keep the layout of a PDF document after having converted it to Word! 
Converting PDFs for translation is always a "workaround" task with varying outcome and should only be used as a last resort if it is really not possible to get the original document. The result depends a lot on the complexity of the formatting of the PDF document and the layout usually cannot be preserved anyway. 
 
Studio uses its inbuilt PDF converter (Solid PDF), which you can also control with settings (in the File Type options) and these settings influence the resulting Word document. For complex PDFs, it is usually inevitable to manually tidy up the converted document before opening it in Studio. 
 
Walter

Paul · Answer

Hi Patrice,

So we won't know if this file is problematic in earlier version too... my feeling is that it probably would be. However, I agree with you, PDFs should always attract a higher rate for translation because of the potential problems in handling them initially and because of the dtp work that is probably necessary afterwards too. I also think if you do a lot of work with this format then a dedicated tool designed specifically for handling files of this nature is essential.

The Studio PDF filter is not bad... but it can't handle everything. Just the nature of the these file formats.

Regards

Paul

Paul Filkin | RWS Group

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pdf file conversion