The borders especially between translation memory systems and L10N tools are increasingly disappearing (Reineke, 2005:73).
However there are some trends that are still current:
- Tools used in the localisation of software – e.g. machine translation systems, translation memory systems, or terminology management tools – are used mainly for translating continuous text documents.
- Since when using TM systems all user interface texts are extracted and stored in special translation files, their contexts are lost. This could have as consequence that a 100% match in a translation memory database is not such to a source language segment because of the context. TM systems do not offer an option for checking the context (or viewing it) – except for SDL TRADOS and across.
- In opposition to TM systems, software L10N tools always store IDs which are also part of the context. IDs are always the same within a project and are stored in L10N tools with their corresponding translation for each project.
- Some software L10N tools allow for showing the different IDs in a project according to context (depending if they refer to buttons, dialogues, etc.) by changing the view (e.g. PASSOLO).
- Translation of binary files is mostly done by using software localisation tools. However, it is possible to use some TM systems such as SDL TRADOS or across to edit binary files.
- As a rule, TM systems do not offer functionalities such as the creation of a running version of the software in the target language, whereas L10N tools do.
- TM systems generally support only standard-Window resources, while software localisation tools allow users to edit a series of software formats and programming languages (as seen previously). However, TM system developers are constantly widening the scope of supported formats.
- By using either resource code files or binary files, software L10N tools offer users a WYSIWYG mode to see the "final look" that graphical user interface elements will have in the target language. This "preview" functionality is also present in some TM systems such as SDL TRADOS (from 2006 version upwards) and across.
- When using software L10N tools it is also possible to resize the graphical elements of the user interface in the target language, so that they do not overlap each other. This functionality is not present in TM systems (except for across).
- L10N tools are normally project oriented unlike most TM systems (some exceptions are across and the SDL TRADOS Synergy and Teamwork packages). A solution for this when using TM systems for localising can be to create a unique TM per localisation project.
(Adapted form: Reinke, 2005:8; Freigang et. al 2005:62; Ottmann, 2002:162, and PASSOLO, 2007)