The original post is here.
An employee at Adobe suggested that I copy my rant (which I had originally posted on G+, which is where he saw it) onto an post on Adobe's blog, so I did. That post was one of the things that "inspired" my rant in the first place, so it seemed fitting.
Just this last week, a representative from SDL (makers of Trados, the leading translation tool in the industry) posted a reply. It said basically what I expected it might, that a lot of people might not understand the filters well enough, that generic XML filters might not give the segments to the translators in an "optimal way," and that other information relevant to the document (formatting, etc.) might be difficult or impossible to obtain with a generic filter.
They do admit, though, that "a generic filter could have some value where no specific filter exists." And a major producer of translation tools responded to my comment. Which is awesome.
I still think that variations on a zipped XML filter would be valuable. One could create specific filters for Docx, Xlsx, Idml, etc. and translate those files directly in the original format instead of a middle format, which is what virtually every translation tool that isn't a Word macro does. Trados, Wordfast, Lingotek, Idiom WorldServer, OmegaT... All of them convert your original document into some middle format, usually XML-based itself. Why not create a tool that would take out the middle man? It might be something to look into some time in the future, but it might not be enough of a selling point if the other tools' middle formats can be satisfactorily converted back to the original formats. But then I think of those Word files that we translated in class, not too complex, whose formatting got mangled by the various translation tools that we subjected them to...
Ok. This rant is over. The moral of this post: People listen to you in unexpected ways sometimes.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
A thought on localization
Here's a l10n thought I had the other day, and I'm sorry if it gets too technical:
Why is it so hard to add a supported file format to translation tools? A lot of formats, including the current Microsoft Office formats (PPTX, XLSX and DOCX) and IDML, the current export format for InDesign, are simply ZIP files renamed. What's inside of those ZIP files? XML files. That's right: plain text.
It's relatively easy to set up a filter for any sort of plain text file, be it XML, HTML, TXT or whatever, as long as you know a few things: Where is the translatable text? Are there patterns to find the translatable text? What do I do with the non-translatable text? (For example, is it interior formatting information, etc.) What's the encoding?
Most translation tools have filters set up for HTML already, and for TXT as long as everything's translatable. Most will even have some sort of customizable XML filter. It wouldn't be that hard to set up an interface that would let you define a compressed (ZIP) file extension, define which folders and/or files the translatable text would be found in, and define where in those XML files the translatable text is. So why has nobody done this? Sure, there are filters for the MS Office files, but most tools that I'm familiar with, if they support InDesign at all, are stuck back at only supporting INX files, which are the previous export file type, and they're XML to begin with!
What I want is a generic "compressed file" filter that will allow you to find the content. Java JAR files with translatable content are compressed files that (if they're done right) contain PROPERTIES files, which are a type of plain text. The above mentioned file formats are all compressed files that contain XML files. Who knows what files in the future will simply be compressed files that contain plain text information? If there were a generic way in some tool to define where and what is translatable, it would make our lives easier.
While we're at it, we need a better plain text filter. Some image formats contain translatable text information, but as far as I know there are no tools that support those file types.
Maybe I'll work on this stuff eventually, at least in pseudo code. Maybe someone in the right place will come to the same conclusion and make this widely available. Maybe.
Ok, I'm done ranting now.
Why is it so hard to add a supported file format to translation tools? A lot of formats, including the current Microsoft Office formats (PPTX, XLSX and DOCX) and IDML, the current export format for InDesign, are simply ZIP files renamed. What's inside of those ZIP files? XML files. That's right: plain text.
It's relatively easy to set up a filter for any sort of plain text file, be it XML, HTML, TXT or whatever, as long as you know a few things: Where is the translatable text? Are there patterns to find the translatable text? What do I do with the non-translatable text? (For example, is it interior formatting information, etc.) What's the encoding?
Most translation tools have filters set up for HTML already, and for TXT as long as everything's translatable. Most will even have some sort of customizable XML filter. It wouldn't be that hard to set up an interface that would let you define a compressed (ZIP) file extension, define which folders and/or files the translatable text would be found in, and define where in those XML files the translatable text is. So why has nobody done this? Sure, there are filters for the MS Office files, but most tools that I'm familiar with, if they support InDesign at all, are stuck back at only supporting INX files, which are the previous export file type, and they're XML to begin with!
What I want is a generic "compressed file" filter that will allow you to find the content. Java JAR files with translatable content are compressed files that (if they're done right) contain PROPERTIES files, which are a type of plain text. The above mentioned file formats are all compressed files that contain XML files. Who knows what files in the future will simply be compressed files that contain plain text information? If there were a generic way in some tool to define where and what is translatable, it would make our lives easier.
While we're at it, we need a better plain text filter. Some image formats contain translatable text information, but as far as I know there are no tools that support those file types.
Maybe I'll work on this stuff eventually, at least in pseudo code. Maybe someone in the right place will come to the same conclusion and make this widely available. Maybe.
Ok, I'm done ranting now.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
A Series of Pleasant Events
- This last week, I found all sorts of nerdy stuff to occupy my time, such as Google Labs's App Inventor, which allows you to create your own Android apps without a great amount of programming knowledge. It's kind of limited, but it's kind of fun, too! (I also found, or re-found, a development environment for making games called Game Maker and some apps that will hopefully allow me to use scripting languages on my Android tablet, but I haven't really had a chance to play around with those yet.)
- Today started without an alarm clock. It was still kind of early, but I woke up on my own schedule, and not on that of incessant beeps that usually go off at the same time each morning.
- I made breakfast for my wife, and got to serve it to her in bed. I also pulled some bread dough out of the freezer so that it could thaw and rise.
- Then I got breakfast for myself and ate it in bed with my wife.
- A bit after breakfast, we walked to McDonald's and each got a Happy Meal with a Pokémon toy.
- From McDonald's, we walked to the aquarium, where we were amazed by an updated exhibit and got to wonder all over again at the marvels that live in and around the sea.
- We rode most of the way home on a free trolley service that runs during the summer.
- After resting up for a bit, we drove to the shopping center to do some window shopping.
- We weren't going to buy anything, but we noticed that Patricia Briggs's Masques, which has been out of print forever, has been re-released with some edits, along with its sequel, written after 20 or more years more of experience as an author. We had to get both.
- We also took note of a couple of other books that we are going to request from the library.
- I got a gumball from a gumball machine.
- At the game store, we noticed that a used copy of a game that we had kind of wanted to get for a while was only $10, so we got that, too.
- The rest of the day will include a homemade dinner, a relaxing evening, and probably some reading.
- Edit: After the original posting of this, I decided to make peach cobbler, which is currently in the oven. And we're going to get ice cream to go with it.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
A shock and a revelation
Today I found out that my grandpa could not be awakened. He was still alive, still breathing, but they just couldn't wake him up.
This news would likely come as a huge shock to most people. However, Grandpa has been fighting cancer for some time now, and has long since gone through all viable options of treatment. For him, it's a matter of time. In fact, it's been a lot longer than anyone has really realistically expected.
Still, although the shock wasn't as big as it otherwise would have been, there was still a shock, and I started preparing myself for a trip that may come at any time, to Grandpa's funeral.
It turns out that it wasn't the cancer at all. There was some mixing of medications that multiplied the effect of his Tylenol PM. They couldn't wake him up because he was sleeping it off.
I don't know whether to be relieved that Grandpa's alright or upset at the apparent lack of information that led to this medical mix-up. I think that I'll go with "relieved," though.
Edit: Grandpa has woken up and is doing a lot better.
Note: Abrupt change of topic, one blog post. I'm still working on transitions.
On Sunday, we were reminded about Christ's parable of the talents, and how by using our talents, we can multiply our blessings. How many of us hide our talents, or let them decay like an abandoned building... I play the violin, and could be good at it if I tried. I have a knack for languages, and at a time was at a near-native level in Spanish. I can think through problems a step at a time, and can sometimes transform those steps into computer code. I'm not a horrid writer. I like to doodle, but can only really do stick figures. What do I do with these talents?
My violin's case is a great dust collector. I still speak Spanish on occasion, but my Spanish language books are in about the same condition as my violin case, and though I've thought about trying to pick up another language, it ends there. I do still occasionally write some code if it will save me some time, but I know that there are some things that are still beyond me when it comes to programming. My writing is usually limited to short responses to emails and the occasional Facebook update. A couple of years ago I bought a drawing pad and some pencils, but since then, they're in my closet. Remember the violin case? My art supplies are even better at collecting dust.
Instead I fill my time with nonsense. Sometimes I find myself switching between Facebook, my email, and the one forum that I visit, hoping that one of them has updated. Sometimes I'm playing games, leveling up my characters, deleting them and creating new ones. Sometimes I sit, wondering what to do...
I tell myself that I don't have time for my talents, that there's no time to practice my violin, no time to study another language, no time to really get serious about programming, writing or drawing. But the truth? While still getting a full 8 hours of sleep, I have about two and a half hours between when I wake up and when I go to work. Sure, some of that is spent getting ready for work, so to give myself plenty of time to get ready at a nice, relaxed pace, we'll say that I have one and a half hours. After work, there are about four hours between when I get home and when I go to bed. There is dinner to consider, and getting ready for bed. There is also helping to get dinner ready, helping with housework, etc. Let's give me two hours. That's three hours per weekday that I could be doing something productive to better myself. Add in all day on Saturday, and even a few hours on Sunday, as long as it's something spiritually uplifting, and that's quite a few hours a week.
So, here's what I'm going to do. I'm not going to give up Facebook or games, but they are going to take a backseat to other things. I'm going to read in Spanish every day, at least a little bit. I'm going to at least get my violin out on Saturdays and Sundays. I may even find a time in the evening that's not too late to annoy neighbors. I'm going to write more consistently in this blog, but I'm also going to write short stories and try to expand their length, little by little. I can do that in any short period of time. And, on weekends, I'm going to find some scenic place to sit, and I'm going to try to draw it. It's going to be ugly at first, and it may stay that way, but I am going to work on drawing. I'm not sure how I'm going to work on language acquisition or programming skills, but I'll find a place to fit those in.
Hopefully I can spend a little less time regretting the neglect that I've shown regarding my talents and more time developing them so that I can become a better me.
This news would likely come as a huge shock to most people. However, Grandpa has been fighting cancer for some time now, and has long since gone through all viable options of treatment. For him, it's a matter of time. In fact, it's been a lot longer than anyone has really realistically expected.
Still, although the shock wasn't as big as it otherwise would have been, there was still a shock, and I started preparing myself for a trip that may come at any time, to Grandpa's funeral.
It turns out that it wasn't the cancer at all. There was some mixing of medications that multiplied the effect of his Tylenol PM. They couldn't wake him up because he was sleeping it off.
I don't know whether to be relieved that Grandpa's alright or upset at the apparent lack of information that led to this medical mix-up. I think that I'll go with "relieved," though.
Edit: Grandpa has woken up and is doing a lot better.
Note: Abrupt change of topic, one blog post. I'm still working on transitions.
On Sunday, we were reminded about Christ's parable of the talents, and how by using our talents, we can multiply our blessings. How many of us hide our talents, or let them decay like an abandoned building... I play the violin, and could be good at it if I tried. I have a knack for languages, and at a time was at a near-native level in Spanish. I can think through problems a step at a time, and can sometimes transform those steps into computer code. I'm not a horrid writer. I like to doodle, but can only really do stick figures. What do I do with these talents?
My violin's case is a great dust collector. I still speak Spanish on occasion, but my Spanish language books are in about the same condition as my violin case, and though I've thought about trying to pick up another language, it ends there. I do still occasionally write some code if it will save me some time, but I know that there are some things that are still beyond me when it comes to programming. My writing is usually limited to short responses to emails and the occasional Facebook update. A couple of years ago I bought a drawing pad and some pencils, but since then, they're in my closet. Remember the violin case? My art supplies are even better at collecting dust.
Instead I fill my time with nonsense. Sometimes I find myself switching between Facebook, my email, and the one forum that I visit, hoping that one of them has updated. Sometimes I'm playing games, leveling up my characters, deleting them and creating new ones. Sometimes I sit, wondering what to do...
I tell myself that I don't have time for my talents, that there's no time to practice my violin, no time to study another language, no time to really get serious about programming, writing or drawing. But the truth? While still getting a full 8 hours of sleep, I have about two and a half hours between when I wake up and when I go to work. Sure, some of that is spent getting ready for work, so to give myself plenty of time to get ready at a nice, relaxed pace, we'll say that I have one and a half hours. After work, there are about four hours between when I get home and when I go to bed. There is dinner to consider, and getting ready for bed. There is also helping to get dinner ready, helping with housework, etc. Let's give me two hours. That's three hours per weekday that I could be doing something productive to better myself. Add in all day on Saturday, and even a few hours on Sunday, as long as it's something spiritually uplifting, and that's quite a few hours a week.
So, here's what I'm going to do. I'm not going to give up Facebook or games, but they are going to take a backseat to other things. I'm going to read in Spanish every day, at least a little bit. I'm going to at least get my violin out on Saturdays and Sundays. I may even find a time in the evening that's not too late to annoy neighbors. I'm going to write more consistently in this blog, but I'm also going to write short stories and try to expand their length, little by little. I can do that in any short period of time. And, on weekends, I'm going to find some scenic place to sit, and I'm going to try to draw it. It's going to be ugly at first, and it may stay that way, but I am going to work on drawing. I'm not sure how I'm going to work on language acquisition or programming skills, but I'll find a place to fit those in.
Hopefully I can spend a little less time regretting the neglect that I've shown regarding my talents and more time developing them so that I can become a better me.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
A New Start
I had a thought the other day. That thought was that I should start blogging again. That I should really be keeping some record of my life, and it's easier to do that here. If I do it in a physical journal, it takes up space and I run the risk of not being able to read my own handwriting. If I do it in a conventional word processor, my computer may explode or something, and then I'd be out of luck. So I choose to write here, where I can share my life with the people who choose to read about it.
It's almost the start of a new era for my little family. I'm about to get a masters degree and start my first real career. I've been at this company for a while now as an intern, and I've recently decided to accept their offer to hire me full time once I graduate. Things are looking up.
Endings and beginnings can be tough sometimes, but that's what leaps of faith are for, right?
It's almost the start of a new era for my little family. I'm about to get a masters degree and start my first real career. I've been at this company for a while now as an intern, and I've recently decided to accept their offer to hire me full time once I graduate. Things are looking up.
Endings and beginnings can be tough sometimes, but that's what leaps of faith are for, right?
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Vacation Time!
My school has what they call "J Term," which is this: During January, there are hardly any classes for "regular" students. Instead, they hold a bunch of seminars and certificate classes. Most students, including myself, take this opportunity to have an extra long winter break.
Between January 4 and 19, my wife and I took advantage of the extra time off to visit our families in Utah. I had to also take the time off from my internship, but sometimes the sacrifices are worth it. :)
It was great. We visited both my family and hers, and we also had a chance to visit some friends. It was pretty low key other than that.
I did take the chance to send my resume out to a few companies, and even got an offer for when I graduate in May! And, as of today, another place that I sent my resume out to called to express some interest.
So, as always, life is good.
Between January 4 and 19, my wife and I took advantage of the extra time off to visit our families in Utah. I had to also take the time off from my internship, but sometimes the sacrifices are worth it. :)
It was great. We visited both my family and hers, and we also had a chance to visit some friends. It was pretty low key other than that.
I did take the chance to send my resume out to a few companies, and even got an offer for when I graduate in May! And, as of today, another place that I sent my resume out to called to express some interest.
So, as always, life is good.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
My Awesome Day
It's been a while since I've posted!
Today was a really good day! It started out much like a typical Saturday: I woke up slightly later than usual, watched some cartoons (Yes, I still do that), checked FaceBook, etc.
But then, my wife and I went on a walk to the nearby mall. There's a Whole Foods market on the premises, so we got what has become one of my favorite things there: freshly ground peanut butter. It's really good. It's just peanuts, and maybe a little salt, and the best part is that it doesn't have much of a difference in cost compared to "regular" peanut butter! After we got home, we split a peanut butter and jam sandwich (homemade strawberry jam, to be precise).
On our way home, we saw another grocery store, Trader Joe's, that has great pizza crust. We decided that we would be having pizza for dinner. I didn't know it until we had decided that, but I was really craving pizza.
Later, we went to get one of the toppings that we needed for dinner (pepperoni). While we were there, we noticed that clementines were on sale for about half their usual price. We got some. Clementines are delicious.
As we left to do this shopping and other errands, we noticed that California's oldest theater, which isn't usually open to the public, had its doors wide open as part of Monterey's "Christmas at the Adobes" thing that they do each year. We mentally crossed our fingers, hoping that it would still be open when we got home. It was. Apparently, you're supposed to sign up for a tour or something, but we explained to the volunteer that was there that we always pass by, and we've always wanted to see the inside, and he said something along the lines of "Just walk in like you belong there. No one will know the difference." It was pretty awesome. Apparently, they did plays there as recently as 10 years ago. They allowed people into the lobby area, but the theater part itself is currently too dangerous to allow anyone to enter. Apparently, it would cost around $4 million to repair, according to the volunteer that told us, and the state just doesn't have that kind of money. It was still a great experience.
When we got home, I helped make the pizza. I sliced the mushrooms and shredded the cheese. It was so delicious that, even though we were both not hungry anymore after two pieces, it was hard to stop eating it.
I also got to spend the entire day with my wife, which is always a good thing.
Today was a really good day! It started out much like a typical Saturday: I woke up slightly later than usual, watched some cartoons (Yes, I still do that), checked FaceBook, etc.
But then, my wife and I went on a walk to the nearby mall. There's a Whole Foods market on the premises, so we got what has become one of my favorite things there: freshly ground peanut butter. It's really good. It's just peanuts, and maybe a little salt, and the best part is that it doesn't have much of a difference in cost compared to "regular" peanut butter! After we got home, we split a peanut butter and jam sandwich (homemade strawberry jam, to be precise).
On our way home, we saw another grocery store, Trader Joe's, that has great pizza crust. We decided that we would be having pizza for dinner. I didn't know it until we had decided that, but I was really craving pizza.
Later, we went to get one of the toppings that we needed for dinner (pepperoni). While we were there, we noticed that clementines were on sale for about half their usual price. We got some. Clementines are delicious.
As we left to do this shopping and other errands, we noticed that California's oldest theater, which isn't usually open to the public, had its doors wide open as part of Monterey's "Christmas at the Adobes" thing that they do each year. We mentally crossed our fingers, hoping that it would still be open when we got home. It was. Apparently, you're supposed to sign up for a tour or something, but we explained to the volunteer that was there that we always pass by, and we've always wanted to see the inside, and he said something along the lines of "Just walk in like you belong there. No one will know the difference." It was pretty awesome. Apparently, they did plays there as recently as 10 years ago. They allowed people into the lobby area, but the theater part itself is currently too dangerous to allow anyone to enter. Apparently, it would cost around $4 million to repair, according to the volunteer that told us, and the state just doesn't have that kind of money. It was still a great experience.
When we got home, I helped make the pizza. I sliced the mushrooms and shredded the cheese. It was so delicious that, even though we were both not hungry anymore after two pieces, it was hard to stop eating it.
I also got to spend the entire day with my wife, which is always a good thing.
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