Smartling allows you to translate Microsoft Word documents while benefiting from all of the advantages of using a Translation Management System, like flexible workflows, linguistic assets and a Translation Memory.
In this tutorial, we will walk through the process of dragging and dropping Microsoft Word files for translation.
Tip: If your organization uses Google Docs instead of Microsoft Word files, we would recommend speaking to your Customer Success Manager about Smartling’s Google Drive Connector. This integration allows you to send files for translation directly from your Google Drive.
Alternatively, Google Docs can be downloaded in a Microsoft Word format and then uploaded to Smartling.
Step 1: Creating a localization-friendly Word file
To achieve the best results, the source file to translate should be created in a way that facilitates an easy and efficient localization process.
Step 2: Creating a translation Job
This short video shows how to create a translation Job for a Microsoft Word file.
Note: If your Word file contains any text that should not be sent for translation, please watch our video on Excluding content from translation before creating a translation Job.
If you would like to provide instructions or character limits for the translation of your file, learn more about Providing translation instructions.
Tip: The upload and parsing behavior can be customized with file directives when Word files are uploaded via API. For example, directives can be applied to translate comments or hyperlinks. For more information, visit our article on Translating Microsoft Office Documents via API.
Translating Word files in the CAT Tool: What your translators see
Learn more about the translator experience in Smartling's CAT Tool.
Hyperlinks in Word files
Learn more about how hyperlinks are handled during the translation process.
Tip: If you would like to localize the link URLs, you can make use of Smartling’s File Rewrite Rules. Rewrite Rules allow you to make the same type of change to all files in your Smartling project. For example, you could change the hyperlink URLs for all French output files to use .fr instead of .com.
Alternatively, if Word files are uploaded via API, a file directive can be applied to translate hyperlinks.
Step 3: Downloading translated Word files
Learn how to download the completed translations once a Word file has been fully translated.
Tip: For more information on all download options, please visit our documentation on Downloading Translated Files.
Excluding content from translation:
The "NOTRANSLATE" formatting style
This video shows how to exclude unwanted content from translation, such as internal notes, metadata or instructions.
Tip: For more detailed information about the "NOTRANSLATE" formatting style, please visit our documentation on Preparing Microsoft Office Files for Translation.
Providing translation instructions
To provide verbal instructions for the translation of your file, or character limits for specific strings, please follow this tutorial.
Tip: For more information about translation instructions, please visit our documentation on File and String Instructions.
For more information about character limits, please visit our documentation on Setting Translation Length Limits.