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Website translations can be done in most cases as effortlessly as text file translations.

A website is usually composed of a series of different file formats in which text and other contents are incorporated. Depending on the file format, it can take some time for the preparation and post-processing of translations.

Websites today are based ever more frequently on a content management system, as a result of which the preparation and post-processing cost for website translations can increase.

The Different File Formats of Websites and Their Translation

Whether specifically referred to, translation memory systems and terminology databases can be used with the individual formats in the same way for cost reduction and quality assurance as you the customer are accustomed to seeing them used with Word or XML documents.

HTML

HTML files are available on the webserver unchanged from the way that they are sent to the browser. HTML files can be translated as effortlessly and at the same price as Word files. Website translation results consist of technically and structurally identical HTML files translated into the target language.

HTML files are available on the webserver basically unchanged from the way that they are sent to the browser, but they also contain codes from programming languages like PHP, Perl, Python, JSP, etc. If text modules are to be incorporated in the programming code of these programming languages, these text modules for website translations must be processed separately. This processing can be performed by our experts or your own programmers. If no text modules are incorporated in the code of these programming languages, translations are just as easy as with pure HTML sites.

HTML files are generated on the basis of a content management system (CMS).
Depending on the CMS, there are several options:

• Translation of a CSV- or XML-based export and reimport of the finished website translation into CMS.
  Advantages: Here, the lowest cost for both translation and management of the CMS can be counted on, provided the export and import are trouble-free. The translation memory system and terminology database technologies can be used to their fullest capabilities to reduce costs and assure quality.
  Disadvantages: None.

• Copying the contents via copy-and-paste from the CMS into Word, translating the contents in Word and copying back.
  Advantages: The translation memory system and terminology database technologies can be used to their fullest capabilities to reduce costs and assure quality.
  Disadvantages: The back and forth copying of contents makes work and presents potential sources of the error.

• Translating in the CMS' (browser) interface.
  Advantages: The contents stay in the CMS and its workflow; no cost is incurred for copying processes.
  Disadvantages: The translation memory system and terminology database technologies cannot be used. As a result, the expenditure of time is substantively higher in part because the translator does not get repetitions suggested automatically by the system and prior similar translations or terminology have to be manually looked up. Software does not support the repeatedly same translation of the same text passages or expressions. Translators have to be come acquainted with a new work environment that is often not set up for the requirements of efficient website translations. These three aspects increase the cost considerably and complicate efficient quality assurance substantially.

Images, Flash and JavaScripts That Include Text

The text included in the files has to be extracted into a Word file and translated in this format. After the translation the text is reincorporated into the web graphics, Flash applications or JavaScripts. The masters are needed for this purpose in the case of web graphics and Flash. Extracting and incorporating texts can be done by Transline or by your web agency.

PDF Files Supplied for Download

Analysing PDF files during the bidding phase does not present us with any difficulty at all. The source of the PDF files (e.g. Word files) should be available to Transline for the translation.

Localising the Website

If requested, we will be glad to perform an advanced localisation of your website too. Our localisation professionals analyse your website in terms of suitability of structure, graphics, contents and messages within the context of the particular target language and culture. Barely outside the European cultural environment, it can happen that some images or messages have an effect different from the one intended by the website's creator – an effect that can sometimes be exceedingly undesirable.
In consultation with you, we will make useful or necessary changes to your website thus to increase the responsiveness and usability of the website within the context of the target language and culture.