Setting up filters

A filter defines the working parameters for different types of files received for translation. A filter can be selected from the available list or a new format created. Please note that the process to add MS Excel files is different from the other file filters. Additionally, Wordfast Pro supports only those TTX files that are translated and segmented using tag editor. The TTX files must be renamed to match the source format if they need to be viewed in tag editor.

Find below the procedures for the following tasks:

Selecting filter settings

There are two common filter settings that can be enabled by navigating to Edit > Preferences > Translations > Filters as shown in the screenshot below.

Viewing default file filters

A number of filters are pre-configured for your convenience. For example, if you choose the Default Java Properties Filter, the Encoding UTF-8 is automatically selected.

 

To view a default file filter:

  1. Open Wordfast Pro and click Edit > Preferences > Translations > Filters > Formats.
    The Formats dialog box appears. The default filters appear in the Available formats box.


     

  2. Select a default filter of your choice. For example, if you select Default HTML Filter, the options for HTML files appear in the Options box as shown below.


     

  3. If required, you can modify the default options.

Adding new file filters

If the filter of your choice is not available in the default option, you can add a new filter. For example, for XML and Excel filters you will need to provide additional information.

 

To add an XML filter:

  1. Follow steps 1 and 2 from Viewing default file filters.
    The Formats dialog box appears. The default filters appear in the Available formats box.

  2. Click New.
    The New Format dialog box appears.

  3. Select the Text based Filter Type and click OK.
    The New Text based Filter appears in the Available Formats box.

  4. Select the filter and click Rename, to change the filter name.
  5. Select the Encoding as UTF-8.
  6. Browse and select the Conversion rules file.
    Note
    : The conversion rules file includes commands describing the content to be translated in the XML files. Find below an example rules file.


     

  7. Click Apply and OK.
    A new XML filter is set up.

Adding an Excel file filter

To add an Excel file filter:

  1. Follow steps 1 and 2 from Viewing default file filters.
    The Formats dialog box appears. The default filters appear in the Available formats box.

  2. Select Format Type as Default Excel Filter.
    The Excel Filter options appear.


     

  3. Click Setup.
    The Choose Excel file... dialog box appears.


     

  4. Select an Excel file and click Open.
    The Excel column selection wizard Instructions page appears.


     

  5. Read the instructions carefully and click Next.
    The Select wizard type page appears.


     

  6. Select the wizard type. You have two options:

Simple wizard

To run the Simple wizard:

  1. Follow steps 1 to 6 from Adding an Excel file filter.

  2. Select Simple wizard and click Next.
    The Preview page appears.


     

  3. The content in the Preview page is selected for translation.
    The Preview page models an Excel file. There are tabs corresponding to each Excel sheet. Each tab contains the following:

  4. Click Finish.
    The configuration and sample file path appears in the Formats Options box as shown in the screenshot below.


     

  5. Select Translate Sheet Names checkbox to include sheet names as translatable text.

  6. Select Translate hidden rows and columns checkbox to include rows and columns hidden in the Excel file as translatable text.

  7. Select Translate cell with formulas checkbox to include cells with notes and formulas as translatable text.

  8. Select Treat numbers stored in text format as real numbers checkbox to include numbers as translatable text.

  9. Click Apply and OK.
    An Excel file filter is set up.
    Note
    : You can now directly open Excel files of this type. While opening files you must choose the correct filter, when prompted. You can also rename the filter using the Rename button.

Advanced wizard

To run the Advanced wizard:

  1. Follow steps 1 to 6 from Adding an Excel file filter.

  2. Select Advanced wizard and click Next.
    The Preview page appears.


     

  3. The Preview page models an Excel file. There are tabs corresponding to each Excel sheet. Each tab contains the following:

  4. Click Next.
    The Selection page appears. If you have selected the Use header checkbox, the Excel sheet headers appear as column names.

  5. In the Translate column, select the columns for translation.
    The corresponding Column name appears in the Target column as shown in the screenshot below.



    Note
    : The Target column includes names of columns where the translated text will appear.
     

  6. If you wish to select all columns in the currently open sheet, check Select all columns.

  7. If you wish to select all columns across all sheets, check the corresponding checkbox.

  8. Click Next.
    The Regular expression page appears.


     

  9. Enter a Regular Expression for the Excel analysis.
    Note
    : A regular expression provides a pattern to markup any embedded HTML tags or variables in a column as tags.

  10. Click Finish.
    The configuration and sample file path appears in the Formats Options box as shown in the screenshot below.


     

  11. Select Translate Sheet Names checkbox to include sheet names as translatable text.

  12. Select Translate hidden rows and columns checkbox to include rows and columns hidden in the Excel file as translatable text.

  13. Click Apply and OK.
    An Excel file filter is set up.
    Note
    : You can now directly open Excel files of this type. While opening files you must choose the correct filter, when prompted. You can also rename the filter using the Rename button.

Adding a PPT file filter

To add a PPT file filter:

  1. Follow steps 1 and 2 from Viewing default file filters.
    The Formats dialog box appears. The default filters appear in the Available formats box.

  2. Select Format Type as Default PowerPoint Filter.
    The PowerPoint Filter options appear.


     

  3. Select Translate master slide checkbox to include master slide content as translatable text.

  4. Select Skip Notes Pages checkbox to exclude notes as translatable text.

  5. Click Apply and OK, to confirm the PPT filter preferences.

Selecting FrameMaker filter preferences

The FrameMaker filter preferences must be set before using this filter option.

 

To set FrameMaker filter preferences:

  1. Open Wordfast Pro and click Edit > Preferences > Translations > Filters > FrameMaker Filter Preferences.
    The FrameMaker Filter Preferences dialog box appears.
    Note
    : The MIF versions supported are 7, 8 and 9.


     

  2. Select the required FrameMaker filter preferences.

  3. Click Apply and OK, to confirm the FrameMaker filter preferences.