Overview

SDL Passolo 2007 is a specialized software localization tool developed to enable the translation of User Interfaces.

SDL Passolo 2007 is very easy to use and optimizes the software localization process. Users require neither time-consuming and expensive training nor programming experience. Software localization can be done without the access to the source code and can begin even before the final release of the software is available.

SDL Passolo 2007 is tightly integrated with SDL Trados 2007 to maximize leverage of translation memories through the different phases of a software localization process: UI, help and documentation.

SDL Passolo 2007 is fully compatible with the Microsoft .NET framework. It can directly handle a large number of software specific file formats, including executable programs, resource files and XML based files. Text strings can be translated into numerous languages including Asian languages (Unicode) and right-to-left scripts like Hebrew and Arabic.

SDL Passolo 2007 ensures easy compilation, exchange and processing of translation data. The Pseudo Translation checks the application for localization suitability before actual translation begins. It contains several editors to adapt the user interface of a software. This includes editors for dialogs, menus, bitmaps, icons, and cursors. The user interface can be adapted without any danger of accidentally deleting or changing existing elements or structures. 

Software localization is part of a process which involves a number of experts, who generally all use different tools. SDL Passolo is tightly integrated with SDL Trados 2007 and supports common used data exchange formats to maximize leveraging and consistency. 

A QA feature can check the spelling of the texts and enables automatic recognition of truncated or overlapping text and incorrect allocation of shortcuts, accelerators and access keys. Many potential errors which occur during a software localization are avoided or automatically recognized by SDL Passolo 2007.

System Requirements

SDL Passolo 2007 will be delivered as a Unicode application only and therefore can be used only on Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista. A multilingual Windows XP is recommended for projects with Asian languages. SDL Passolo 2007 can also localize software for Windows 9x.

New Features

SDL Passolo 2007 greatly optimizes both manual and automated localization workflows, either as a stand-alone application, or when integrated with other SDL products such as SDL Trados and SDL MultiTerm. The enhanced add-in for .NET 3.0 supports localization of Microsoft WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) applications in a fully visual environment.

Corporations, Language Service Providers (LSPs) and translators can now benefit from cutting edge technology, which enables localization of software created on the most recent Windows development platforms. The new SDL Passolo 2007 offers the most comprehensive integration with SDL Trados products, both desktop or server. Additionally, SDL Passolo 2007, to deliver superior performance, is fully compatible when translating XML and HTML SDL Trados tagged formats.

The seamless integration of SDL Passolo 2007 with SDL Trados and SDL MultiTerm brings maximum leverage and improved consistency throughout all the stages of software development projects to:

• Boost efficiency
• Drive additional revenue
• Complete software localization projects faster
• Increase the number of simultaneously translated target languages

Translation quality and consistency depends significantly on terminology management and the context information provided. Apart from direct access to SDL MultiTerm terminology databases, SDL Passolo glossaries can also be used to highlight terminology in segments to be translated.

New text render add-ins allow to view segments of text files, XML files and Java files in context. Links can be added to any segment to provide even more context.

Top 10 New Features

1. Full visual editing environment for the latest Microsoft localization technology – Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).
2. Direct access to SDL Trados translation memories for untagged and tagged file formats.
3. Concurrent and direct access to multiple SDL MultiTerm databases. Term submission on-the-fly.
4. Newest parser technology supporting all Windows development platforms including .NET 3.0, Windows 64 bit and Delphi 2007.
5. Direct display of source files for additional context information when working on XML, Java and text files without visual support.
6. Enhanced navigation during translation of active links in comments or other feature fields.
7. Simplified localization of non-Windows based User Interfaces, such as hardware devices or embedded systems,  through selected typeface display and maximum width checks. 
8. TMX Level 2 support.
9. Further cost reduction by automatic exclusion of repeated content.
10. Simplified management of large translation teams when distributing translation bundles.

Editions

SDL Passolo 2007 Edition

As a stand-alone solution, the Professional Edition is particularly suited for localization of medium to large sized projects. Its extended functionality supports operations covering compound modules.

Through its integration with SDL Trados 2007 and SDL MultiTerm, translation data can be exported for use in translating the relevant manuals and online help.

It includes a Microsoft VBA compatible script language and comes with a complete development environment with editor and debugger. Moreover, the Professional Edition can be used for data exchange with other systems.

SDL Passolo 2007 Team Edition

As a stand-alone solution, the Team Edition offers the same functions as the Professional Edition.

Additionally, the Team Edition can be used to create and administrate a certain number of translation bundles. These translation bundles can be processed using the free Translator Edition, which includes all the required functions. Thus, with a single software license it is possible to delegate entire projects to external translators, including the task of adapting and testing the dialog layouts. This is the ideal solution for the localization of large projects involving numerous external translators.

Translation bundles are then exported and distributed, and subsequently reimported following translation. Depending on the workload, there are versions available with different numbers of translation bundles (5, 10 or Unlimited) that can be generated at any given time.

SDL Passolo 2007 Freelance Edition

The Translator Edition is a free editor for translators. It can be downloaded from our Web site. Only translation bundles created with the Team Edition can be edited with the Translator Edition. Thus, all the members of a project team can make use of PASSOLO's powerful functionality without having to purchase a software license.

The Translator Edition cannot parse source files or generate target files, but it offers all the other functions for processing translation bundles. It includes all the editors and test functions required to guarantee top quality translations.

Optional Add-Ins

Using the optional file parser Add-Ins, it is also possible to process other types of resource files directly in SDL Passolo 2007. These Add-Ins enable SDL Passolo 2007 to localize the following file formats:

Add-In for Microsoft .NET programs
All resources, generated with Microsoft .NET can be localized with this Add-In. This includes binary files (EXE, satellite DLLs und Assemblies) and resource files used for development (RESX und RESOURCE). In addition to the localization of text strings in table form, this Add-In provide WYSIWYG editors for displaying and processing dialogs, menus and bitmaps. Also Custom Properties of control elements can be localized. The dialog editor suports private, public and external inheritance, and is able to visualize third party controls and is able to localize user defined properties.

Add-In for Borland Delphi/C++ Builder programs
All binary files (EXE, DLL, BPL) for programs generated using Borland Delphi and Borland C++ Builder. PASSOLO supports both the multibyte format used in Delphi 5 and UTF-8 format for Delphi 6. In addition to the localization of text strings in table form, this Add-In provide WYSIWYG editors for displaying and processing dialogs, menus and bitmaps.

Add-In for Java programs
All Java platforms (J2EE, J2SE, and J2ME) are supported. The resource data formats can be processed not only in Java source files, but also in compiled binary files and compressed JAR files.

Resource Property files have the file extension PROPERTIES and contain a simple list of IDs and strings.

• ListResourceBundles are Java classes derived from the base java.util.ListResourceBundle or from another class derived from ListResourceBundle. The Java Add-In can process source files (JAVA) as well as compiled binary files (CLASS).
• ArrayResourceBundles are Java classes, but their setup is slightly different. ArrayResourceBundles were introduced by Inprise Borland and Oracle. Once again, the Java Add-In can process both the source files and the compiled binary files.
• JAR files can contain a complete Java application in compressed form, which simplifies the distribution and administration of components. The Java Add-In can extract property files and ResourceBundles from the files contained in a JAR file, and can insert the translations into the JAR file in compliance with the Java conventions.

Add-In for OBDC Databases
Using this parser the content of different databases can be translated. Supported are databases, where an appropriate OLE DB Provider is available e.g. MS ACCESS, MS Excel, MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL and IBM DB2. The translations can be stored in new records, in different columns or the text can be exchanged.

Add-In for Palm OS Software
Using the parser for Palm OS all localizable text strings from PRC files can be extracted and localized using PASSOLO. Beside the translation of text strings in table form, this Add-In provide WYSIWYG editors for displaying and processing dialogs, menus and bitmaps.