Using desktop CAT tools

If your own translators are using CAT (Computer Assisted Translation) tools, you can send them translation jobs for offline editing.

CAT tools offer greater productivity for translators. They often include a translation memory and glossary management, which allow translators to produce better work on shorter schedules.

WPML’s support for CAT tools comes from the XLIFF module. You can download it from your WPML account, under Downloads.

You will also need the Translation Management module, in order to send jobs to translators.

How it Works

Your translators will receive XLIFF files to edit. These files follow the XLIFF standard, which most CAT tools can handle. They will translate offline and upload the completed translations to WordPress. The workflow follows WPML’s Translation Management. The only difference is that translators can edit offline, using their favorite tools and don’t need to translate inside of WordPress.

1. First, you’ll need to configure WPML’s Translation Management. This means adding accounts to your translators.
2. Then, enable sending XLIFF files in translator notification emails (see the next section).
3. Go to WPML->Translation Management and send jobs for translators.
4. WPML sends notification emails to your translators, telling them that there’s new work on your site. These notifications will now include a ZIP file with all the documents for translation, in XLIFF format.
5. Your translators open these XLIFF files and work on them using their favorite CAT tool.
6. When they’re done, they click on the return URL in the notification email. There, they upload back the complete XLIFF files. The translator only needs to upload the XLIFF file without choosing what it’s for. Each file includes the information that tells WPML what’s been translated.
7. WPML creates the translations on your site and sends you a notification email, saying that the work has completed.

Configuring WPML to Send XLIFF Files

Once you’ve installed the XLIFF module, go to WPML->Translation Management->Translator notifications.

Including XLIFF files in translator notification emails

When this option is selected, WPML will include a ZIP with all the XLIFF files for translation, in each notification email.

Sending Documents to Translation

Go to WPML->Translation Management, choose the documents to translate, the translation languages and the translators and send to translation.

WPML notify your translators and send them the XLIFF files to translate.

Translation Dashboard

Optionally, the translators can also go to their jobs list, select the documents that they want to download and click on Export as XLIFF.

Translating

The translators should unzip the attachment from the notification email. It will contain the different documents that you sent. They translate each of the files in their CAT tool and save.

When done, the translators can upload either individual XLIFF files, or create a ZIP and upload all at once.

Importing XLIFF files from the translation jobs page

Translators can upload as many times as they like. The first time they upload, WPML will create the translations. Next time, the translation will update.