In the era of globalization, it is almost essential to have a website that is translated into at least one other language, but more likely several languages. This applies to large customers and multinational corporations as well as to small entrepreneurs who want to sell their products or services to a target audience that was previously impossible to reach.
Our customers are faced with the dilemma of how to submit their websites for translation and how to calculate the cost of translation within their budget. It’s actually much simpler than it appears. Any website that does not contain passwords or protection can be downloaded just through its URL, using software developed for this purpose. Once we have all the files on our local computer, we can make a quote based on word count, taking into account all elements of the site that contain text to be translated: navigation buttons, shortcut bar, metatags (for SEO), body text of pages, text within Flash animations, among others. Once the client approves the budget, the next step, if possible, is to convert the original files to editable formats such as HTML, ASP, XML or PHP. If there are animations or animated “intros”, the best case scenario is to have the FLA (Adobe Flash) files, which then give us .SWF, or the final animation that is displayed within the website. To understand this better, we can make a comparison with Microsoft Office, where the FLA file would be the editable file, such as a MS Word, and the SWF, the PDF version.
When the work is more complex, as is the case of localization of a website with a database, it is preferable to send the website, complete with its original structure, through an FTP address of your web server, which houses all your files. This information is kept confidential and used only by members involved in the project and it will also be used to upload the localized site in its final version.
Not everything is limited to downloading files using software or an FTP. Some sites are designed under the content management system (CMS) allow translators and proofreaders have direct access to an online text editing panel for all and/or each of the pages to directly save them for the client’s final approval. The websites created in this type of system have the advantage of being translated or localized into several languages simultaneously. It also reduces the file handling to a minimum, which directly impacts on reducing costs and delivery times.
(Versión en español: https://www.trustedtranslations.com/el-dilema-de-como-enviar-a-traducir-un-sitio-web-2011-09-19.html)
