SDL Passolo
Encyclopedia
SDL
Passolo is an award-winning specialised visual software localisation tool developed to enable the translation of user interfaces. They currently have a newly released 2009 version.
, Germany
, in 1990 and it proved crucial to provide localised medical software. Due to the lack of appropriate tools for doing this, they began to develop their own localisation tool which they called Passolo. After first being used internally within their own company, Passolo became available as an independent localisation tool in 1998.
In June, 2007, SDL acquired PASS Engineering.
(What You See Is What You Get) mode. Should the length of a text string change as a result of the translation (i.e. become longer or shorter), any necessary layout modifications to dialogs and forms can be made directly within the application.
The application offers the tools required to localise all the elements contained in the software, including strings, menus, dialogs, bitmaps, and icons, without requiring access to the source text files or the development environment used for developing the software, as well as providing automatic test functions, interfaces to the major translation memories, and the option of working with all the major Windows
formats as well as text files and tagged formats such as XML
and HTML
.
The Translator Edition is a free editor that can be downloaded from the company website. It allows translators to edit the bundles created with the Team or Collaboration Edition. It offers all functions except parse source files or generate target files.
SDL Passolo Essential is included as an application within the latest version of SDL Trados. This edition allows users to create and translate projects, as well as generate localised target files.
The Professional Edition is a stand-alone solution which is particularly suited for localisation projects of a medium to large size. It supports operations covering compound modules. As the edition is integrated with SDL Trados and SDL MultiTerm, translation data can be exported in order to use while translating relevant manuals and online help. It can also be used for data exchange with other systems. The integrated script development environment also makes it possible to change or add functions to SDL Passolo.
The Team Edition offers the same functions as the Professional. In addition, it can be used to create and administer a certain number of licensed translation bundles. These translation bundles can be processed using the free Translator Edition.
The Team Edition has three different options, depending on the number of translation bundles used in a particular project, with the option of 5, 10 or unlimited bundles.
The Collaboration edition offers the same functions as the Team Edition. In addition it can create translation bundles that can be synchronized with the original project via a network folder or FTP server. When the "Synchronize Exorts" function is called all source file changes are sent to the translation bundle and all current translations are send back to the project. There is no need to import and re-export the bundles to have the project and the bundle up-to-date.
application
and can therefore be used only on Windows XP
, Windows Vista
or Windows 7. It is also able to localise software for Windows 9x.
SDL International
SDL plc is a global company with headquarters based in Maidenhead, UK that provides language localization services and translation and content management software...
Passolo is an award-winning specialised visual software localisation tool developed to enable the translation of user interfaces. They currently have a newly released 2009 version.
History
The company PASS Engineering GmbH was founded as a medical analysis system provider in BonnBonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, in 1990 and it proved crucial to provide localised medical software. Due to the lack of appropriate tools for doing this, they began to develop their own localisation tool which they called Passolo. After first being used internally within their own company, Passolo became available as an independent localisation tool in 1998.
In June, 2007, SDL acquired PASS Engineering.
About SDL Passolo
SDL Passolo is a software localisation tool that is customisable to the users' needs; requiring no programming experience. It allows users to concentrate on the translation by accelerating the many technical aspects of software localisation, and it is possible to work in a WYSIWYGWYSIWYG
WYSIWYG is an acronym for What You See Is What You Get. The term is used in computing to describe a system in which content displayed onscreen during editing appears in a form closely corresponding to its appearance when printed or displayed as a finished product...
(What You See Is What You Get) mode. Should the length of a text string change as a result of the translation (i.e. become longer or shorter), any necessary layout modifications to dialogs and forms can be made directly within the application.
The application offers the tools required to localise all the elements contained in the software, including strings, menus, dialogs, bitmaps, and icons, without requiring access to the source text files or the development environment used for developing the software, as well as providing automatic test functions, interfaces to the major translation memories, and the option of working with all the major Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
formats as well as text files and tagged formats such as XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
and HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
.
Key Benefits
SDL Passolo allows the user to:- Use the visual localisation environment to see which translation is best when no context is available
- View the translation of dialog boxes and menus in real-time (WYSIWYG) and adjust them accordingly
- Fully customise SDL Passolo to meet their needs with an integrated development environment
- Integrate SDL Passolo into their workflow management systems or development environment
Editions
- SDL Passolo Translator Edition
The Translator Edition is a free editor that can be downloaded from the company website. It allows translators to edit the bundles created with the Team or Collaboration Edition. It offers all functions except parse source files or generate target files.
- SDL Passolo Essential
SDL Passolo Essential is included as an application within the latest version of SDL Trados. This edition allows users to create and translate projects, as well as generate localised target files.
- Professional Edition
The Professional Edition is a stand-alone solution which is particularly suited for localisation projects of a medium to large size. It supports operations covering compound modules. As the edition is integrated with SDL Trados and SDL MultiTerm, translation data can be exported in order to use while translating relevant manuals and online help. It can also be used for data exchange with other systems. The integrated script development environment also makes it possible to change or add functions to SDL Passolo.
- Team Edition
The Team Edition offers the same functions as the Professional. In addition, it can be used to create and administer a certain number of licensed translation bundles. These translation bundles can be processed using the free Translator Edition.
The Team Edition has three different options, depending on the number of translation bundles used in a particular project, with the option of 5, 10 or unlimited bundles.
- Collaboration Edition
The Collaboration edition offers the same functions as the Team Edition. In addition it can create translation bundles that can be synchronized with the original project via a network folder or FTP server. When the "Synchronize Exorts" function is called all source file changes are sent to the translation bundle and all current translations are send back to the project. There is no need to import and re-export the bundles to have the project and the bundle up-to-date.
System requirements
SDL Passolo 2009 is a UnicodeUnicode
Unicode is a computing industry standard for the consistent encoding, representation and handling of text expressed in most of the world's writing systems...
application
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
and can therefore be used only on Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
or Windows 7. It is also able to localise software for Windows 9x.
External links
- www.passolo.com - Official Passolo website