Hello,

for what it is worth (since we don't know each other): I would support
Jost's opinion. 12 months ago I was desperately seeking doc2xml2doc
roundtripping solutions. There are people out there doing this but it is
expensive to buy (in particular if you wanted a thin server based
solution). But of course the next MS Office version will change the
world (at least of non-OpenOffice users) in terms of conversion to XML.
I guess that is why I agree with Jost on the prediction that there will
be a change in Trados' approach.

I agree also with him to focus on XLIFF conversions (though Heartsome
has done quite a bit there). So that would be filters for non-MS Office
applications (because MS will release free filter and conversion tools
(doc2xml, xls2xml etc) with the next Office version. If you focus on
roundtripping any kind of xml format to xliff and then back to the
original xml, then you are onto something.

But if you want to build filters for third party tools, then you will
have to deal with inline formats in a way that all or most XLIFF tools
can deal with them. Our xls files, for example, aren't well received by
Heartsome because of the encoding of the inline formatting.

Another area I can think of is that the way that Trados7 and SDLX2005
supports XLIFF is rather sketchy, which is sad for us, because we want
to enable our translators to use their tools.
To me the major problem with the way Trados, SDL and Deja Vu currently
use xliff is that they don't display <alt-trans> content - which means
that the translator basically misses out on a very important feature. So
in terms of Deja Vu, this would mean that the <alt-tran> need to find
their way into the project (the lexicon seems to be a great starting
point for a work-around).

Anyway - this was just a quick brainstorm. I would be very interested if
you happen to look into the DV issue because that'll be a cool one.

Best wishes from sunny and hot Hamilton
Christof

p.s.: just a bit of perspective on what I said: I work for a couple of
companies and as a freelance translation workflow consultant - for one
of my clients I am very involved in developing a xliff based java
translation productivity tool (aka "Translation Environment Tool" aye,
Jost!?)



Jost Zetzsche wrote:

>Hello Jos:
>
>I would advise you not to invest time and effort into building filter
>packs. I think that the Trados RTF format is on the way out and being
>replaced with TTX of Trados' side and, more importantly, XLIFF for
>all tools. The only tool that would make sense right now is a tool
>that would handle conversions to and from XLIFF.
>
>As far as converting between terminology databases, this is supposed
>to be done with TBX, and one positive aspect of the Trados-SDL deal
>is that TBX will now quickly supported by Trados as well (I think).
>
>Jost
>____________________________
>Jost Zetzsche
>International Writers' Group, LLC
>www.internationalwriters.com
>P.O. Box 1098
>770 Beach Boulevard
>Winchester Bay, OR 97467
>Tel.: 541-271-0503
>Fax: 541-271-9252
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Have you seen my free technical newsletter for translators?
>Try it out at www.internationalwriters.com/toolkit
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>--- In ts2000_users@yahoogroups.com, "josbailleul"
><jos.bailleul@p...> wrote:
>
>
>>Hi Terry,
>>
>>Well, actually, I have been very busy the last 2 years. I'm now
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>proud father of a really cute boy. That took some of my time :-)
>>I've also programmed some things for network administrators.
>>
>>In fact, I have been thinking about bringing some new stuff to the
>>market, but I don't really now what. I still have some parts of
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>unfinished version 2 of Trans Suite.
>>
>>Building a new version of TS2000 doesn't seem to be such a good
>>idea. And now that I hear SDLX and Trados have merged, the battle
>>would be even bigger to get a piece of the large cake.
>>
>>I have been thinking about writing Filter Packs. If that pack
>>supports Trados RTF, it can be used by several translation suites
>>(also wordfast), machine translation software (like systran), ...
>>
>>The only thing that is stopping me for the moment is that I do not
>>have a clue how many people would be interested in such a thing?
>>
>>
>And
>
>
>>if many people are interested how much would they be willing to pay
>>for that?
>>
>>I would not like to spend months programming the stuff and then see
>>that I can only sell for example 20 licenses at 99 Euro in a year.
>>
>>I would like to start small (small tool packs), and give it a
>>
>>
>chance
>
>
>>to grow. If that works out good, I can then consider to work full-
>>time again on my software developments.
>>
>>Anyway, if you are anyone else has some good idea, please tell me.
>>
>>P.S. The best to your family and friends too.
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>Jos
>>
>>--- In ts2000_users@yahoogroups.com, TexasT <terry.texast@g...>
>>
>>
>wrote:
>
>

--


= = = = = = = =
Christof Schneider
BA, GradDipTransStud


Landline +64(0)7 853 9901
Mobile +64(0)27 250 0725
Fax +64(0)7 853 9903
www.tailor-made-communications.com

Hamilton Kirikiriroa
New Zealand Aotearoa