cognitas GmbH uses the technical editing system FrameMaker+SGML for the translation of Fujitsu Siemens server systems documentation. The Siemens German-language manuals are prepared in MS Word and translated into as many as 21 languages.
With a requirement to prepare the multi-language documentation more quickly and in a wider variety of languages, as well as to reduce costs, the decision was taken to apply a CAT-tool.

cognitas GmbH evaluated those available on the market, particularly in respect of their ability to process FrameMaker+SGML files. The company has many years of experience in the field of computer-assisted translation systems (CAT-tools) and had been using TRADOS for the translation of the multi-language PC documentation of Fujitsu Siemens Computers GmbH since 1996.

The following systems were selected for testing:

• TRADOS 5.0 - Trados (www.trados.com)
• SDLX 4.0 - SDL International (www.sdl.com)
• Déjà Vu 3.0 - Atril (www.atril.com)
• Transit 3.0 - Star (www.star-ag.ch)

The following criteria were applied:

General/Technical attributes (availability of tools for terminology administration and alignment, importation of FrameMaker files, hardware requirements)
User-friendliness/interface ergonomics (type and breadth of function of the editor for processing translation, training time required, intuitive operational use, timescale required for translation procedures)
Diagnostic support in the case of errors (evaluation of error logging, technical support, vendor documentation)
The extent of correction tasks required (are index markers, fonts, paragraph formats and SGML structure retained?)
cognitas concluded that version 4.0 of SDLX was clearly convincing in respect of all the criteria applied. With a substantially better cost/efficiency performance, SDLX proved itself to be a reliable and stable system using average resource requirements in all test scenarios. The user-friendly interface also indicated a shorter training time for editors. The processing of FrameMaker+SGML files ran without problems and there was one fewer conversion process compared to TRADOS during the import of project files. The requirement for any corrective tasks was minimal.

The comprehensive SDLX package includes a high-performance terminology database (TermBase), which can be applied during the translation process, as well as a tool for aligning existing translation and transferring them to the database. Importing existing TRADOS data into SDLX succeeded without any problems. The Professional Version of SDLX also offered a solution for project monitoring and project scope analysis. All modules of this translation management system are easily accessed via a central menu. The user interfaces are clearly-structured and retain their clarity, despite the impressively comprehensive functions. Unlike competitive products, they facilitate a swift start of processing. In the case of queries or problems, free Technical Support was given rapidly by telephone and e-mail. A flexible licensing option over the Internet, which provides for limited licence-extension to be granted to external translation service providers, also proved attractive.

Since these positive test results were confirmed in the actual implementation of the documentation for the Fujitsu Siemens NT servers, cognitas concluded that SDL International is well-qualified both as a translation company and a software solutions provider.

About cognitas

cognitas is one of the largest service providers in the technical documentation sector of the IT/ communications technology industry. Our roots are within the Siemens corporation, giving us global player know-how.
International corporations such as Fujitsu Siemens Computers rely on our quality. Going forward, we plan to achieve even more. We shall offer our professional services to further clients, in order to enable them to concentrate on their core competencies and extend their advantages on the market.
For further information please visit our web site: www.cognitas.de.