Crystal Reports Translator FAQs

What are the benefits for translators?

• It is easier to localized reports with Crystal Translator, because it extracts the translatable texts and properties. There is no need to buy or learn the comprehensive Crystal Reports development tool. Also, it removes the risk to forget translating some hidden texts( such as formula or report summary).

• Thanks to the built-in translation memory database, you have to translate only what has changed since the previous version. With an average update, 90% of the text is identical to previous version. You do the math.

• You can obtain an immediate word count. This allows you to estimate the translation cost beforehand. 

What are the benefits for report designers?

• You can obtain an immediate word count of all your source reports at once, allowing you to estimate the translation cost beforehand.

• If you do not have the linguistic skills onsite, you can export all the translatable text of a report into an-Excel sheet and send that to an external translator. You can then import the translated Excel sheet to generate a translated report.

• Thanks to the built-in translation memory database, you can re-create all the target reports in a few seconds after updating the source report formula, SQL, grouping, sorting. This means that you have to maintain just the source reports. Crystal Translator will maintain the target reports for you. For instance, suppose you have 100 reports in 4 languages. Before, had to maintain 400 reports. Now with Crystal Translator, you can concentrate on the 100 original reports.

• You can re-use the translations at each new version of your source reports--and between reports. The considerably reduces the translation cost.

• You can import reports you previously translated and start re-using these translations in the new version of your source reports. This allows you to retrieve previous investment.

How does Crystal Translator pre-translate?

• By default, it first checks that a translation exists specifically for the report by checking the report filename, field name, property type and source text.

• If no translation is found, then it checks if a translation exists for the field name, property type and source text (in case the source report has been renamed).

• If no translation is found, it checks if a property type and source text match from any reports.

This process ensures the same translation each time a report is pre-translated, but also allows to re-use translation between reports. This pre-translation process can be customized by changing the pre-translation options.

Can context mismatch between reports occur?
Yes.

For example, you have 2 reports with the same source text--but the translation should be different. When translating the second report, Crystal Translator will retrieve the translation of the first report and marks its status with an asterisk (*) to indicate that this is a new translation. You can easily review these translations using the modified (*) filter.

After editing, you can then save the second report and the database will now contain two translations for the same source text but with an indication to which report the translation belong to. Therefore, the next time you pre-translate these reports, Crystal Translator will select the translation specific to the report being pre-translated. You can also turn off translation re-use between reports in the pre-translation options.

Which text is extracted?
Crystal Translator extracts translatable text from:

• Text object, data fields in text objects are supported.
• Text in graphs
• Text in report parameters

• Formula returning text value. Translated formula are validated automatically after input.
• Text in report summary such as title, keywords
• Text in alerts

What happens if a text object contains a data field?
The translator will see a tag such as {1} in the translatable text. He/she will be able to move this tag in his/her translation. If there are many fields in the text object, then the translator will see many tags {1}, {2} for instance and can position each tag independently.

What happens if the translated text needs more space?
The preview will be automatically refreshed as you translate. If you notice that the translated text is truncated or overlaps another object, you can resize and re-position it by activating the "size" and "position" property filter.

Why do we need to localize dates, numbers, currencies and fonts?
Depending on the target country, dates and numbers need to be displayed using different format.

For instance in the US, you would use MM/DD/YYYY, while in the UK you would use DD/MM/YYYY.

The report designer can also select to use the system local settings of the user ,but this would not allow (for example) a French user to generate a US report with a US date format to send to his/her US client.

The same applies to currency. In addition, to display the target text properly, the report may require a specific font that contains the relevant characters. Therefore, the font may also need to be localized. Crystal Translator allows you to localize all of these.

Can I export the translatable text to Excel?
Yes, you can with the Professional version. You could send the Excel sheet to an external translato, and then re-import the translated Excel sheet into Crystal Translator. However, note that you may have to re-format the target report after the import.

What is the purpose of importing previously translated reports?
If you have translated some reports before acquiring Crystal Translator, you can import these reports to populate the TM database from your previous translations. Now, you can re-use these translations with the new version of your source reports. This allows you to retrieve past investment.

Does Crystal Translator save the translation in the original .rpt file?
No, it creates a different .rpt file for each target language, adding a suffix to the filename. This is because localizing a report is much more than just translating the text. You may need to resize and re-position labels, localize date formats or change fonts for each target. This would quickly become unmanageable in one report. Crystal Translator does not edit your source report in any way.

What is the compatibility with Crystal Reports?
Crystal Translator is compatible with Crystal Reports 7, 8, 8.5, 9 and 10. It creates target reports in the same format as the original source reports.

Can I create several TMs?
Yes. With the Freelance edition, you should create one TM for each target language. We also recommend that you create a different TM for each product your are localizing.

What is TMX?
TMX is an export/import standard between translation memories (TM). It is based on XML and allow various TM such as Deja Vu, Trados, SDLX, and Crystal Translator to exchange data. You can find more information at www.lisa.org/tmx.

How can I convert a translated report version 9 into 8.5?
If your source report was version 8.5 and you translated it manually with Crystal Reports 9 or with Crystal Translator for CR 9, then you would obviously now have a translated report version 9. Follow these steps to convert it to version 8.5:

A) If you did the translation with Crystal Translator for CR 9:

• Launch Crystal Translator for CR 8.5.
• Open the Translation Memory (TM)  you used to do the translation.
• Open your source report 8.5.
• The software will recreate the translated report.
• Save the translated report. This copy will be version 8.5.

• Launch Crystal Translator for CR 9 .
• Create a new Translation Memory (TM).
• Select your target language in the TM.
• Open your source report version 8.5.
• In the File menu, select "import translated report."
• Select your translated report version 9 and follow the wizard.
• The TM will now be populated with your translations.
• Close Crystal Translator for CR 9.
• Follow the steps of phase A).

Hardware:

• 300Mhz Pentium or AMD processor
• 64Mb of memory
• 100Mb of disk space available
• 800x600 monitor
• Mouse

• Microsoft Windows 98, NT 4 Service pack 6, Windows 2000 or Windows XP
• MDAC and Jet 4.0
• Microsoft Excel for XLS Import/Export (Professional version only)
• Internet Explorer for registration

Do I need to uninstall before upgrading?
No. Just download the new version and install it over the previous version. The new version will give you another 30 days evaluation period if you haven't registered yet. Please note that uninstalling and reinstalling the same version will not extend the evaluation period.

What are the limitations of the Trial version?
The trial version is limited to 30 days. You can translate as many reports as you want during this period, and use the translated reports freely. The software does NOT add watermarks to your translated reports. The Import/Export functions are also limited.

How can I buy Crystal Translator?
Click here.

What about product support?
This is free. We usually answer any support request sent to support @ softlang.com within 24 hours (excep on of weekends and UK holidays). Obviously the support is limited to our software; we cannot be held responsible for issues in Microsoft or Business Object products.