SDL International, (London Stock Exchange: 'SDL'), the world’s leading provider of multilingual solutions offering scalable translation technology and services, has announced a technology-breaking advance in the Globalization Management Systems market (technology for the management of multilingual content).

 The system is unique in offering both forms of translation technology – “Translation memory” (‘TM’) and “Real-time Translation” (‘RTT’). TM re-uses human translations, once captured in a database, when matched to new content. This reduces the cost of managing foreign-language websites and intranets substantially. RTT is the result of many years research into the software necessary to automate translation, offering an immediate understanding of the material being processed.

The new version - SDLWorkFlow 2003 - includes the capacity to manage any format of content within a seamless translation process, dramatically reducing the overall timescales within which foreign language information can be posted online.

One of the major enhancements to the system is the incorporation of the latest Translation memory engine technologies from the SDLX Translation memory engine, already adopted by a growing number of corporate and freelance users. One of the key features is support for the TMX file format, the new industry standard for file format data-exchange across Translation memories.

Other new features include support for ‘Translation memory sequencing’, where reference libraries of translation memories can now be used to automate the translation of matched sentences, specific to any particular translation project. This reduces the amount of content requiring translation – reducing costs still further.

Additionally, when working offline, translators can now choose to download TMX file format or legacy formats such as Trados TTX® format files. This means that SDLWorkFlow 2003 can manage all forms of translation content within a single workflow – dramatically enhancing the overall speed of project deliverables.

There is a variety of other enhancements to this enterprise-level system:

• SDLTermBase Online is now available to Translators for immediate terminology research – improving the accuracy of their translations
  
• Customized workflow scripting can now be executed from any point in the workflow management – this allows personalized actions at specific stages in the translation process
  
• Reporting has been re-designed to accommodate more customization and scheduling – the system can therefore be tailored to individual customer needs.
  

Keith Mills, SDL’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “The management of translation workflows has become a critical part of managing digital assets for the international company. SDLWorkFlow 2003 is now the most advanced system available to support this investment.”

Mark Lancaster, SDL’s CEO, confirms: “The management of translation workflows is key for international companies delivering and managing all forms of content, where substantial investment has been made in recent years into online processes. SDLWorkFlow 2003 is crucial as the final piece in the puzzle - it allows companies to capitalize on that investment and complete their support for their international revenues.”

The result of substantial investment, SDLWorkFlow is already in use in a variety of major international corporations, such as Sun Microsystems, Morgan Stanley and William Hill, as well as being integrated with content management systems, such as Microsoft’s Content Management Server 2003, Tridion R5 and Interwoven TeamSite.