These are the most frequent projects, with content ranging from very simple to very technical.
A simple documentation project would typically involve leaflets, CVs, general announcements, corporate documentation, marketing brochures, etc. Some of the source materials may be available only on paper.
A more complex documentation project can involve different types of documents with various file types. The information contained by these projects documents may be highly technical, such as user manuals for printers, cameras, or medical equipment.
(Adapted from Matis, 2003-2004)
Components
The files in a documentation project - its component parts - are usually created using either desktop publishing (DTP) software or word processors (QuarkXPress, Adobe Framemaker, MS PowerPoint, MS Word). Other files include image files created using Adobe Illustrator, PaintShopPro or simply PDF files.
Documentation project in DVX – source texts (.mif, .doc) and related material (.fm)
The translation of software applications falls under the category of localisation. Localisation means "adapting a product to meet the language, cultural and other requirements of a specific target market locale" (eCoLoRe glossary). For more information about this subject, go to the eCoLoTrain Software Localisation Module.
The localisation of a software application involves, in most cases, the translation of both the application itself and the related material, such as help files, user manuals, and packaging.
Components
In localising a software application, the translator will have to handle - besides the software application itself - resource files, graphics, images and icons, help files, read-me files, user manuals, packaging, legal disclaimers, etc. File types can vary from .exe, .rtf, .dll, and .rc to .hlp and .chm.
These projects are becoming more and more popular, with the growing demand for each enterprise, business or institution to have a dedicated multilingual website.
A simple web project may comprise no more than a few HTML files to be localised. Nevertheless, since websites are now designed using very advanced technologies, more often than not they will include flash animations, images, interactive components and e-learning content.
Components
While HTML files are the most common component, web projects can also consist of more complex components, including animations, illustrations, images and various forms of documentation having extensions such as .xml, .swf, .gif, .exe, .elp or .js. As such, each component has to be treated individually and then integrated into the target web product.
Web project with one .htm source file in DVX
Audiovisual content falls into this type of project. The translation of such content can take the form of subtitles: "translation of the spoken source language text of an audiovisual product – generally film dialogues – into a written text, which is superimposed onto the image of the original product, usually at the bottom of the screen" (Perego, E., 2003 in Across Languages and Cultures 4 (1)). Other multimedia projects may involve dubbing - replacement of source language dialogue & narration into the target language- and voice-over. There are other types of multimedia projects, but they will not be discussed in this section.
Components
The creation or editing of time-coded subtitle files can be made in formats such as EBU (European Broadcasting Unit) files .stl, and .stx, or .txt, .idl, .l32. These files are usually processed using dedicated subtitling software, but some files, such as EBU files (.stl), can be handled using TM applications such as DVX Workgroup.
Dubbing software will handle most major media files, such as .avi, .mpeg, .vhs, as well as specific formats, such as .dub or .sew.
Multimedia project - producing subtitles in ISIS