Localization Engineering
CSOFT’s localization engineering professionals ensure your software, website, and multimedia content is delivered seamlessly across languages
Across the global digital landscape, businesses of all kinds are realizing the power of interactive content to drive their global communications, and with this discovering the need for localization engineering support whenever translating between languages. Along with the benefits of using software, apps, websites, and multimedia come new challenges for adapting that content across languages, requiring support from localization engineers trained in the tools and processes needed to structure translated content into final digital outputs.
What is localization engineering, and why is it such an important step in many of the most commonly requested translation projects?
When it comes to delivering translations for content elements like subtitles, UI strings, and multiple choice quizzes, it is important to consider not only the language but also the layout, formatting, and even file types appearing in your source content. This is where localization engineering becomes an essential final step in so many translation projects. While it is easy to extract language for translation at face value, localization engineering ensures you can put it back together in the same polished format as the source language content, whether that is a video, app, or eLearning interface.
Localization engineering is more than just formatting expertise. Given the different parameters of different languages, fully implementing translated content may require workarounds to account for varying lengths or directionalities of text that the original source format was designed around. Without localization engineering to implement translations or request further changes from teams of linguists, none of this is possible.
CSOFT provides comprehensive localization engineering services in over 250 languages. One of our key strengths is our strong technical capabilities. We have one of the largest localization engineering teams in the industry for pre- and post-translation processing, programming, encoding, and bug fixing. Our localization engineers are thoroughly trained on L10N processes and best practices, with extensive experience working with software GUIs (graphical user interfaces), online help, documentation, websites, CMS and TMS.
If I am only looking for a translation service, why do I need localization engineering?
Localization is not mere translation of the words in a file. Text extractions, translation memory (TM) leverage, fuzzy match analysis, file format conversions, terminology mining, and resource file compiling all require technical know-how and experience. Expert localization engineering ensures a localization project runs more efficiently, ultimately leading to reduced turnaround time and translation costs.
Our team excels in pre- and post-translation processing which includes programming in HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, ASP, PHP, C, C++, C-Sharp, Java and others. Our engineering team uses a variety of tools and technologies to increase both translation and engineering efficiency. Specifically, our localization engineers excel in the following:
Localization is not mere translation of the words in a file. Text extractions, TM leverage, fuzzy match analysis, file format conversions, terminology mining, and resource file compiling all require technical know-how and experience. Expert localization engineering ensures a localization project runs more efficiently, ultimately leading to reduced turnaround time and translation costs.
- HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, VB, C, C++, Java, ASP, XML, PHP, Perl, SQL, C# and ASP.Net
- OS/Platforms we work with include all Microsoft OSs, Mac OS X, Linux and Unix
- Development Environments include MS Visual Studio 6.0, Visual Studio.net, Delphi, Borland Builder, Borland J Builder, My SQL, Oracle, X-code
- CAT Tools
- Trados, SDLX, Front desk, Catalyst, RC-Trans, WIN-trans, multilizer, lingual byte, déjà vu, powerglot, ilocalize, QT Lingustic
- CMS, WorldServer, TMS
We have the tools to do the job right?
In addition to employing industry best practices in our localization productions, our engineers have created more than 300 tools that allow our team to automate many of the most common L10N tasks such as text extractions from customized file types and re-use of engineering memory. The various tasks conducted by our localization engineers include:
- File prep and analysis (word count, TM leverages)
- Post file processing
- Programming in C, C++, .NET, Java, HTML, XML, JSP, Perl,and others
- Compilation and engineering (software builds, dialog box resizing)
- Cosmetic testing
- File conversion (clean/un-cleaned files, preparation for DTP)
CSOFT’s localization engineers also excel at the following:
- Installation/configuration of multilingual OS and platforms
- A full rangeof development environments and programming languages such as Microsoft Visual Studio, Java and Linux
- Internationalization (i18n), Unicode,and multi-byte character issues in software development
- Database systems, scripting languages, and software graphical interface development
- Installation programs such as InstallShield, WISE and InstallerMaker across different platforms
End-to-end Multilingual Desktop Publishing (DTP) Support
As well as localization engineering for digital outputs, CSOFT offers desktop publishing (DTP) to ensure the proper structure and polished appearance of each project or file we handle. Whether adapting old documents into a new layout and design scheme or adjusting for fundamental differences in how languages are written, multilingual DTP ensures your final deliverable arrives in the ideal format and aesthetic you require. For businesses with existing templates, CSOFT can use these to implement your translations with maximum consistency and brand visibility document to document. Where needed, we can help to generate options for your final output in a target language, and work to update your outputs with final touches or revisions per request.
Learn more about our multilingual DTP solutions.
Software Localization and Testing
Along with localization engineering to implement and fine-tune digital content translations, CSOFT’s software localization practices include linguistic and functional testing for each target-language version of your app or interface. In this process, native linguists in the target language will navigate your software in an end-to-end simulation of the actual user experience, noting inconsistencies and impediments to intuitive use, as well as outright errors. With comprehensive localization testing, you can be sure that your content is not only published attractively for the format you require, but also works seamlessly, down to every prompt, button, or widget.
We cover:
