In software localization, good tools are important. Without specialized tools, localization of software is very difficult and time consuming, with many repetitive tasks. Fortunately, there is a variety of specialized tools available today.

The main source and target formats: resource files (RC) or binary files such as EXE or DLL usually do not contain long translatable text strings surrounded by non-translatable code. Localization tools have to extract these short strings properly, provide a convenient graphical user interface (GUI) for the translation of the strings and save the translations correctly back into the surrounding code. Examples of specialized software localization tools are Alchemy CATALYST and Passolo.

In contrary, software documentation files (HLP, HTML, CHM, HTML or PDF) contain much more translatable text in much longer test strings. These files are usually better handled by a translation memory software ™, which memorized already used phrases, typically segmented by full-stops, and enable their recycling. Examples of translation memory software are Trados Studio, DejaVu, Wordfast.

I use Passolo, Catalyst, LocStudio, Trados Studio and Wordfast, of which I like some better than the others. For example, from a translators point of view I like Passolo, Wordfast and Studio the best. Which tools do you use and like? Which ones do you not like and why?

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