Translation of manuals is a core area of activity that overlaps with other translation areas and disciplines. Content developed for print may also be used online. Product information that appears in manuals may coincide with promotional print and web site information.

To begin with, a successfully localized product depends upon carefully defining the target market pre-translation OffiService's translators make terminology, style, and localization decisions based not only on the geographic target, but also on the demographic target and the intended use of the manual.

For instance, a manual for system engineers installing a program is written and translated at a different level of technical vocabulary than a manual for the end user. A manual intended to support an application for business users has a different tone than information to support a gaming application.

Of course, much of this information is derived from the type of source document and the industry it serves, but clients are encouraged to provide any supporting information available on the target market along with the source document.

When is translation localization?
The difference is one of scope. Localization begins with translation, but is more extensive. Details such as date format, character sets, currency and industry acronyms may need to be converted to local common usage. Translation of words is not enough when you want to effectively communicate in another language. The goal is to consider all visual elements, the document style, and the nuance of the message in order to provide a “translation” that does not appear to be a “translation.” OffiService is able to provide information that helps clients determine whether localization is preferable or translation is sufficient to meet objectives for their manuals.


Translation Memory
Translation memory capabilities are often important to clients translating manuals. If there is significant terminology duplication within the project or preexisting glossaries and translation memories that clients wish to leverage, the use of a translation memory system can reduce turnaround and cost, while ensuring greater consistency. The translation memory system OffiService uses also protects the layout of the source files during translation so that the final product mirrors the source without needing extensive desktop publishing.

read more about translation Memory

Production Capabilities
OffiService has a team of production specialists well versed in multilingual formatting and publishing in all major programs. Our standard document formatting process recreates all graphics so that they mirror the source document, with only the target language present in the graphics. Because of our broad experience in production of technical documents that regularly contain graphics such as schematics, diagrams, graphs, tables, charts, flowcharts, etc., our production staff expertly and efficiently reproduce custom-formatted and desktop-published material.

read more publishing capab Memory 


Project Management
A Project Manager is assigned to projects entailing localization of manuals. She coordinates glossary preparation and works with clients to determine the usefulness of pre-existing translation memories. Project files are analyzed so that content and production questions can be discussed in advance. The Project Manager also manages communication between clients and translators regarding translator questions or client-requested change orders that arise during translation. She can assist the client in developing timelines suggested to include an in-country review.


Quality Assurance
Projects are translated by native speakers who capture the essence of the message and communicate it in the target language. All OffiService translations are edited by a second native speaker, with open discussion between translator and editor teams producing the final version of the document translation. This is reviewed for quality once more by a proofreader who ensures that editorial comments are implemented and reviews for completeness.


Delivery
Our clients who have ongoing document translation work with us can request work electronically via email, online ordering forms, FTP, or all three, depending on convenience. Clients may receive work electronically via email or FTP.

Our custom FTP sites are secure and extremely easy to use. Once your FTP account is set up, it is simply a matter of dragging and dropping files.


Localization Kit
A localization kit is a great checklist to help client and vendor make sure that the project is organized and streamlined for processing. 

A sample localization kit check list