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Poll: Would you use a PDF text extractor integrated into a CAT tool?
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ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
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Dec 22, 2008

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you use a PDF text extractor integrated into a CAT tool?".

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Miroslav Jeftic
Miroslav Jeftic  Identity Verified
Local time: 11:19
Член (2009)
англиски на српски
+ ...
Yes, but Dec 22, 2008

Only if it works. That is, if it is producing the same or better results than the usual OCR tools. Otherwise, no.

 
Alexander Kondorsky
Alexander Kondorsky  Identity Verified
Руска Федерација
Local time: 12:19
англиски на руски
+ ...
Other Dec 22, 2008

I don't know a program capable of correctly extracting text from a PDF file so that such text could be immediately exported into CAT tool. Sadly, there is no effective way of translating PDF files with a CAT tool. PDF is a curse of translators!

 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Украина
англиски на руски
+ ...
Should I find it appropriate Dec 22, 2008

As far as I know there are 2 (two) types of PDF
(a) with text layer
(b) scanned image (without text layer)

My Customers and I just decided to use variant (a) and we have no problems.
Cheers and good luck

[Редактировалось 2008-12-22 15:18 GMT]


 
Deborah do Carmo
Deborah do Carmo  Identity Verified
Португалија
Local time: 10:19
холандски на англиски
+ ...
Yes Dec 22, 2008

If the results are fit for purpose - i.e. (i) I am able to translate the converted text using the CAT tool immediately, without any need to keep going back to the original PDF to check what it actually written there and (ii) the converted text is properly formatted so I don't have to fiddle around afterwards once I've cleaned up the file.

As far as cost is concerned, as long as something is user-friendly and increases my productivity, I'm willing to invest (within reason).
... See more
If the results are fit for purpose - i.e. (i) I am able to translate the converted text using the CAT tool immediately, without any need to keep going back to the original PDF to check what it actually written there and (ii) the converted text is properly formatted so I don't have to fiddle around afterwards once I've cleaned up the file.

As far as cost is concerned, as long as something is user-friendly and increases my productivity, I'm willing to invest (within reason).

Who is asking????
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Charlie Bavington
Charlie Bavington  Identity Verified
Local time: 10:19
француски на англиски
Free market research :-) Dec 22, 2008

What an odd question.
Unless you were thinking of putting such a product on the market, of course.

Ah well, ho ho ho anyway


 
Tim Drayton (X)
Tim Drayton (X)  Identity Verified
Кипар
Local time: 12:19
турски на англиски
+ ...
other Dec 22, 2008

I do not use a CAT tool. Curiously, could PDF files end up being a niche market for those of us who do not use them?

 
Brandis (X)
Brandis (X)
Local time: 11:19
англиски на германски
+ ...
with Alexander.. Dec 22, 2008

Hi! direct page scans are big headache, especially when the scan orientation and the resolution are bad. Only today I have shifted from Abby 8.0 to Abby 9.0 extended edition, still trying to find out how this is better than the older version. I wish you all otherwise a great x-mas celebration. BR Brandis

 
Marie-Hélène Hayles
Marie-Hélène Hayles  Identity Verified
Local time: 11:19
италијански на англиски
+ ...
Other Dec 22, 2008

In my experience (mainly of revising translations of extracted texts) the formatting produced by text extractors is a total nightmare - fonts expanded and reduced seemingly at random, ridiculous line spacings, text boxes everywhere, random lines dotted here and there - it takes ages to get the formatting to a reasonable standard. So the answer is probably "no", unless it was better than the text extractors already on the market. As it is, ... See more
In my experience (mainly of revising translations of extracted texts) the formatting produced by text extractors is a total nightmare - fonts expanded and reduced seemingly at random, ridiculous line spacings, text boxes everywhere, random lines dotted here and there - it takes ages to get the formatting to a reasonable standard. So the answer is probably "no", unless it was better than the text extractors already on the market. As it is, I'd be more inclined to extract the text, clean up the formatting and only then run it through a CAT - and that's only worth my while for a small fraction of the (numerous) scanned PDFs I translate.
It would also depend on exactly what CAT tool was offering the text extractor, rather than any difference in price.
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neilmac
neilmac
Шпанија
Local time: 11:19
шпански на англиски
+ ...
I'm with Miroslav Dec 22, 2008

... only if it REALLY works. Properly. With no hassle.

 
Amy Duncan (X)
Amy Duncan (X)  Identity Verified
Бразил
Local time: 06:19
португалски на англиски
+ ...
Interesting point, Tim... Dec 22, 2008

Tim Drayton wrote:

I do not use a CAT tool. Curiously, could PDF files end up being a niche market for those of us who do not use them?


I don't use a CAT tool, either. I know people complain about translating PDF files, but I don't mind translating them at all. I just pop them up on the screen, open a Word document and half-size it, and translate away.


 
bookwormkt
bookwormkt
Local time: 10:19
француски на англиски
+ ...
A what to do what?? Dec 22, 2008

I am very new to this and don't really understand the question! I tend to get work as word documents. I print them out and translate it on alternate lines on file paper, using pencil. After working on it, I word process the translation and send it out as a word document.
Is this a bit old fashioned?
As work picks up, I will investigate these tools.


 
Nahit Karataşlı
Nahit Karataşlı  Identity Verified
Турција
Local time: 12:19
англиски на турски
+ ...
Does a translator have to extract the text? Dec 22, 2008

Does a translator have to extract the text? IMHO, an accurate answer to the question would make the issue clear. If a translator uses a CAT tool, he/she should be provided with the document format that is supported by his/her CAT tool, and he/she must be responsible for the translation (content) and TM only.

 
Miroslav Jeftic
Miroslav Jeftic  Identity Verified
Local time: 11:19
Член (2009)
англиски на српски
+ ...
Well, Dec 22, 2008

You are right, but that isn't always the case. I (and I'm not the only one) had experience where the source files were available only in pdf and it was take it or leave it. Of course, it's the easiest way to reject such offers, but again, it's not always the case.

 
Lesley Clarke
Lesley Clarke  Identity Verified
Мексико
Local time: 03:19
шпански на англиски
Free Marketing? Dec 22, 2008

I answered OTHER, because quality would obviously be the deciding factor, integrated or not.

 
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Poll: Would you use a PDF text extractor integrated into a CAT tool?






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