Users can access the CAT Tool through a number of entry points in the Smartling platform. Depending on your user role and the method in which you access the CAT Tool, the content displayed can have varied results. The CAT Tool offers different feature sets depending on whether the user is within the context of a Job, referred to as Job Mode, or Outside a Job Mode.
The table below provides guidance on how each user role can access the CAT Tool and the expected results displayed.
Job Mode is the preferred CAT Tool experience. Refer to the table below for the recommended method for each user role to access the CAT Tool in Job Mode.
User Role | Method of accessing the CAT Tool | CAT Tool result |
Translation Resource | Jobs Dashboard > Open | The CAT Tool opens on the workflow step, and content is filtered for the Job that was displayed in the Jobs Dashboard. Recommended for user role. |
Translation Resource | Strings View > Actions > Edit in CAT Tool | The CAT Tool opens for the chosen language in the selected string's workflow step. Note, this is capped at 100 strings. |
Translation Resource | Project Summary Page > Workflow Summary > Click the blue link showing the number of strings (and words) | The CAT Tool opens all project strings in the selected workflow step, allowing you to access all strings from the same workflow step and project at once, even if they are in different Jobs. |
Agency Account Owner / | Jobs Dashboard > View Details > Actions > Open in CAT Tool | The CAT Tool opens for the chosen language and workflow step. Recommended for user role. |
Agency Account Owner / | Strings View > Actions > Edit in CAT Tool | The CAT Tool opens for the chosen language in the selected string's workflow step. Note, this is capped at 100 strings. |
Agency Account Owner / | Project Summary Page > Workflow Summary > Click the blue link showing the number of strings (and words) | The CAT Tool opens all project strings in the selected workflow step, allowing you to access all strings from the same workflow step and project at once, even if they are in different Jobs. |
Account Owner / | Job Details > Languages > Actions > Edit in CAT Tool | The CAT Tool opens for the language and filtered for the Job that was displayed in the Jobs Dashboard. |
Account Owner / | Strings View > Actions > Edit in CAT Tool | The CAT Tool opens for the chosen language in the selected string's workflow step. Note, this is capped at 100 strings. |
Requesters | n/a | Requesters do not have access to the CAT Tool. |
Differences in Modes
The CAT Tool has a different feature set depending on whether the user is within the context of a Job. This is known as Job mode. Job mode also has variations in features and functionality depending on if the Job has more than 2,000 strings.
When the CAT Tool is accessed from the Strings View, the strings are loaded in the CAT Tool outside the Job. This is reflected is a different feature set.
If a Job has over 2,000 strings, the features will revert to outside a Job state. The maximum limit of strings in the CAT Tool is 10,000 strings.
The following table highlights the differences of some important features between each mode. Scroll down on the table to view the entire list.
Feature | Job Mode (fewer than 2,000 strings) | Job Mode (2,000 - 10,000 strings) | Outside a Job |
Filters | Top left in the editor:
| Reverts to outside a Job 👉 | Top center in the editor:
* Current Status > Saved must be filtered by a Job first to view any saved strings. |
Sort | Top center in the editor:
| Reverts to outside a Job 👉 | Top center in the editor:
|
Search | Two separate fields: Source and Target | Reverts to outside a Job 👉 | One field: Search source and target |
Auto-Propagation |  propagation is done in batches of 100 strings | ||
Pre-Population | |||
Find and Replace |  the first 2,000 strings only | ||
Progress bar | |||
Pagination | |||
String Numbers |  the first 2,000 strings only | ||
Show Locked Strings | |||
For a walk-through of all the CAT Tool features, see CAT Tool Overview.