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I couldn't agree more. I too had that very experience with a specific
vendor whose name will go unmentioned. They were great. Then all hell
broke loose when their project manager (I was managing the project from
our side) walked off the job. I am sure she had good reasons because I
had found her to be very responsible and responsive for years.
Well, long story short, there were many angry, upset people and they
lost us as a customer from that point on.
Candis
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+ccondo=c-cor -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+ccondo=c-cor -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf
Of Thomas Johnson
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 8:10 AM
To: ceffyl -dot- aedui -at- comcast -dot- net; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Translation service
Hi Kim,
I'll answer #2 first. I would pick three or four translation
vendors/companies that you think might be good. Perhaps from
recommendations
you get on this list. In addition to bids for the project, I would ask
them
to provide a sample of their work based on a short section of the
manual.
This might be one or two pages. Then, I would have someone fluent in the
target language review the document. I would use this process as a trial
run
to see how well the translation company works for you and maybe work out
a
few of the inevitable kinks in the process. Hopefully, you can use that
process to help you answer question #1.
As for services I'd recommend, I'll refrain.
<war story>I worked with one vendor who did a very good job for us on
several projects--maybe 7 or 8 over a few years' time. They were
responsive,
did great work, and required a very little involvement on my part until
the
project from Hades. Apparently, a key member of their staff (project
manager
or translator) just picked up and left in the middle of the project. We
lost
all momentum on the project and it went from a four week project into
something like three or four months. Besides creating a strained
relationship between my employer and our customer because the docs were
very
late, it turned into a huge mess between them and our purchasing
department.
I was ready to turn it over to another vendor, but they refused to turn
over
what they had completed. In the end, they finished the project and did a
good job, but the time element and lack of communication in the midst of
the
chaos was terrible. From what I've gathered through the grapevine, that
company has gone out of business. I suspect the person that left during
our
project was a symptom of some deeper underlying problem that the vendor
just
couldn't bring under control. All that to say, "Don't always rely on
past
experience--yours or anyone else's--as an indicator of future
performance."</war story>
Tom Johnson
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+tajohnson=microlinetc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+tajohnson=microlinetc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
On
Behalf Of ceffyl -dot- aedui -at- comcast -dot- net
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 10:40 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Translation service
Greetings.
A client of mine is interesting in having a software manual translated
from
American
English to Spanish and French. He asked me for any recommendations. I
have
limited
experience with translation services (and it's been a while).
My question is threefold:
1. What should be done to prepare the manuals for translation?
(Vernacular
has been
removed.)
2. Any advice or guidelines for choosing a translation service?
3. Any translations services you would recommend?
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Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help & Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com
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