Question 1

What types of files can DTP Labs convert for localization?

Accepted Answer

DTP Labs converts virtually any file format into CAT-tool-compatible formats ready for translation and localization. This includes editable and scanned PDFs, Adobe InDesign and FrameMaker documents, Microsoft Office files (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), AutoCAD drawings, Articulate Storyline and Rise 360 courses, image-based files requiring OCR, XML and HTML content, LaTeX documents, and proprietary formats from various content management systems. Our content engineering process preserves all formatting, styles, cross-references, and structural elements during conversion. For scanned documents and image-based PDFs, we use advanced OCR technology combined with manual verification to achieve 99%+ accuracy. The prepared files integrate seamlessly with all major CAT tools including Trados, memoQ, Phrase, Memsource, and Wordfast, enabling efficient translation memory leverage and terminology management throughout the localization workflow.

Question 2

What is file preparation for localization and why is it important?

Accepted Answer

File preparation is the critical first step in any localization workflow where source files are analysed, cleaned, and converted into formats that translation tools can process efficiently. Without proper file preparation, translators may encounter formatting issues, broken tags, incorrect segmentation, or missing content that leads to errors, delays, and increased costs. DTP Labs content engineers examine each file for potential issues including embedded fonts, linked graphics, text in images, hidden layers, locked content, and complex formatting that could cause problems during translation. We then optimise the files by fixing segmentation rules, correcting reading order, extracting translatable text from non-standard elements, and preparing reference materials for linguists. This upfront investment in file quality typically reduces overall project timelines by 20 to 30 percent and significantly improves translation quality by ensuring linguists work with clean, properly structured content.

Question 3

Can you recreate documents from scanned PDFs or images?

Accepted Answer

Yes, DTP Labs specialises in reconstructing fully editable documents from scanned PDFs, photographs, and image-based files. Our process combines advanced OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology with skilled manual reconstruction by our DTP operators. For text-heavy documents, we achieve 99%+ OCR accuracy and then manually verify and correct any recognition errors, particularly for special characters, mathematical formulae, tables, and multilingual content. For complex layouts including brochures, catalogues, and technical drawings, our operators recreate the document from scratch using the appropriate design software, matching the original layout, typography, colours, and graphic elements as closely as possible. The recreated files are fully editable and ready for translation, saving clients the cost and time of sourcing original design files. We handle documents in any language including complex scripts like Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Indic languages.

Question 4

Which CAT tools do you support for file preparation?

Accepted Answer

DTP Labs prepares files optimised for all major Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools used in the localization industry. Our primary tool expertise includes SDL Trados Studio, memoQ, Phrase (formerly Memsource), Wordfast, Across, Smartling, and XTM. We understand the specific file format requirements, filter settings, segmentation rules, and tag handling conventions for each platform. When preparing files, we configure extraction settings to maximise translation memory leverage, ensure proper tag protection for formatting elements, and set up terminology databases for consistent translations. We also handle round-trip workflows where files move between CAT tools and DTP software multiple times during the localization process. Our team can work within your existing CAT tool environment or recommend the optimal tool configuration for your specific file types and language combinations to maximise efficiency and reduce costs.

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