| Страници во темата: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you keep a database or record of the projects you've worked on? Лице кое објавува дискусија: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
| | | A simple one | Feb 14, 2013 |
just for my own info
| | | | neilmac
Шпанија
Local time: 11:05
шпански на англиски
+ ...
My method consists of just not deleting my document folders, which are left languishing in chronological order in the bowels of my PCs. I have a main folder for each client, containing a subfolder for each year, containing a subfolder for each month, containing the jobs done for each client in chronological order...
Simples!
| | | | | A very basic one too | Feb 14, 2013 |
Michael Harris wrote:
just for my own info
A few translation blog posts I read at the start of 2013 were focusing on how their authors did in 2012: they were compiling their achievements and giving stats such as how many new clients they met, how many business events they had attended and how many words they had translated. I thought it was such a great idea!
I'd never thought of this and I think keeping a track of how many words you have translated could be handy. I now keep a record of how many words I have translated for every month, I will see what I can do with it at the end of the year - maybe compare my productivity for each month?
| | |
|
|
|
neilmac
Шпанија
Local time: 11:05
шпански на англиски
+ ...
| Better things to do | Feb 14, 2013 |
Louise Péron wrote:
Michael Harris wrote:
just for my own info
A few translation blog posts I read at the start of 2013 were focusing on how their authors did in 2012: they were compiling their achievements and giving stats such as how many new clients they met, how many business events they had attended and how many words they had translated. I thought it was such a great idea!
My take on it is quote the opposite. I am usually far too busy actually working on translations (or revising other people's) to engage in this kind of "meta-activities". Other than income I earn from it, I'm not interested in stats like how many words I translate in a day, month or year etc.
In fact, I find very notion of "compiling my achievements" rather embarrassing.
| | | | | Which just goes to show that translators are not all of same character | Feb 14, 2013 |
neilmac wrote:
Louise Péron wrote:
Michael Harris wrote:
just for my own info
A few translation blog posts I read at the start of 2013 were focusing on how their authors did in 2012: they were compiling their achievements and giving stats such as how many new clients they met, how many business events they had attended and how many words they had translated. I thought it was such a great idea!
My take on it is quote the opposite. I am usually far too busy actually working on translations (or revising other people's) to engage in this kind of "meta-activities". Other than income I earn from it, I'm not interested in stats like how many words I translate in a day, month or year etc.
In fact, I find very notion of "compiling my achievements" rather embarrassing.
| | | | | We are all different | Feb 14, 2013 |
If I had the time, I would indulge in statistics, but I find it challenging enough to do my own bookkeeping to the satisfaction of the authorities.
| | | | Tim Drayton (X) 
Кипар
Local time: 12:05
турски на англиски
+ ...
Yes, I decided in the middle of last December to keep a diary of my working time and log myself on and off as I work on each project. At the end of each project I now take the amount I earned in euro (converted from another currency if applicable), and work out how much I earned per hour in euro. It is an eye opener to see how much this varies.
I then categorise the project in terms of subject matter, and make another record under the category in question detailing the length in ter... See more Yes, I decided in the middle of last December to keep a diary of my working time and log myself on and off as I work on each project. At the end of each project I now take the amount I earned in euro (converted from another currency if applicable), and work out how much I earned per hour in euro. It is an eye opener to see how much this varies.
I then categorise the project in terms of subject matter, and make another record under the category in question detailing the length in terms of characters and the time that it took me.
I feel that in the long term, metrics of this nature will help me to decide which type of project or which language pair is more lucrative, or which kinds of projects I need to charge more for if they are to be worthwhile. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
| Yes, detailed | Feb 14, 2013 |
I enjoy playing with digits. Probably that is why I record all of my translations in self-made system, based on MS Excel.
It is very useful and it can answer many questions. Besides it reminds me to invoice some of my clients or shows who has higher priority based on different criteria.
Sometimes this 'system' (actually just the file with pages full of formulas) finds out some interesting results and facts.
| | | |
I have in fact a great deal of my earlier work on CDs and later, as computers got larger, simply archived in folders with the overall title Finished work. (It has a lovely ring to it in Danish )
Much of it is in my TMs, and I record the terminology in Multiterm, and that is where it is useful.
I do in fact have all my monthly worksheets - hand written, so it would be a very time-consuming task to extra... See more I have in fact a great deal of my earlier work on CDs and later, as computers got larger, simply archived in folders with the overall title Finished work. (It has a lovely ring to it in Danish )
Much of it is in my TMs, and I record the terminology in Multiterm, and that is where it is useful.
I do in fact have all my monthly worksheets - hand written, so it would be a very time-consuming task to extract the statistics.
My husband has a record of how much I have earned from each client over the years, but I have no head for figures, so I am not interested in a lot of statistics.
I simply know that while in theory client A pays the same word rate as client B, one sends lovely, trouble-free files that swim through Trados, while I have to prepare files from the other myself - spell check, tidy up the extra Danish letters that PDF converters have trouble with... remove hard line breaks or whatever.
I am not very numerate, so figures just confuse the issue! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Emma Goldsmith
Шпанија
Local time: 11:05
Член (2004)
шпански на англиски
Yes, I started 20 years ago with a notebook organised by project date (ticking them off when complete).
Then I moved to Outlook Tasks, which was quicker as I could set a rule to convert an email to a task and colour it by client.
Finally I started using TO3000 a few years ago, where it takes a tiny bit longer to enter projects, but then does your invoices for you automatically at the end of the month. And you can see how many words you've done per year, on which subject and how much ... See more Yes, I started 20 years ago with a notebook organised by project date (ticking them off when complete).
Then I moved to Outlook Tasks, which was quicker as I could set a rule to convert an email to a task and colour it by client.
Finally I started using TO3000 a few years ago, where it takes a tiny bit longer to enter projects, but then does your invoices for you automatically at the end of the month. And you can see how many words you've done per year, on which subject and how much you made. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | my only record is | Feb 14, 2013 |
I have a main folder for translations, a folder for each client divided into the following sub-folders:
year
month
deadline of the translation + number
That's te organization of my computer, and it serves only to do jobs on time, since the deadlines are not the first thing I see, I have a word doc for each month, which includes the following info:
deadline - number - client and I tick off the translations as soon as I deliver them.
I have to keep... See more I have a main folder for translations, a folder for each client divided into the following sub-folders:
year
month
deadline of the translation + number
That's te organization of my computer, and it serves only to do jobs on time, since the deadlines are not the first thing I see, I have a word doc for each month, which includes the following info:
deadline - number - client and I tick off the translations as soon as I deliver them.
I have to keep track of word, pages, lines, translated every year, but not because I like statistics, but because every year I am required to submit these figures for tax reasons. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Triston Goodwin
Соединети Американски Држави
Local time: 03:05
шпански на англиски
+ ...
| I love numbers... | Feb 14, 2013 |
I have a record similar to what's already been mentioned, using files on my computer to separate my clients and projects. The only difference is that I change the order a little bit. I go Year, client, month, date received. I have a big dry erase board where I write down all the active projects with their due dates and rates, invoices that I need to file, and active invoices.
As far as keeping track of rates, word counts and the like, I do have a record system, but it's all hard co... See more I have a record similar to what's already been mentioned, using files on my computer to separate my clients and projects. The only difference is that I change the order a little bit. I go Year, client, month, date received. I have a big dry erase board where I write down all the active projects with their due dates and rates, invoices that I need to file, and active invoices.
As far as keeping track of rates, word counts and the like, I do have a record system, but it's all hard copy and I would like something digital, so my wife and I are working on that now. We also have budgets showing all of our expenses which helps me estimate how much work I need to do per month in order to cover all the bills, but that's beside the point.
I am piecing together my "annual report" for 2012 right now, mostly because I want to see how my business has grown, where it's going and where to invest my resources so I can help it grow more. As a missionary I was told that if we write down our goals and share them, we will be more driven to complete them. I've come to believe that this is a true statement. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Timo Eugster
Кина
Local time: 17:05
фински на англиски
+ ...
| Alles in Ordnung | Feb 15, 2013 |
I like the suggestion of keeping track of the number of words translated for reviewing productivity periodically.
As it is, I just have a pretty straightforward archive of chronologically-ordered client folders for all the projects I've ever done, which matches up with my email folders for easy reference if ever I need to look up anything. I don't have to delve into the archive too often but I'm glad of the order whenever I do need something.
I find it's worth keeping a... See more I like the suggestion of keeping track of the number of words translated for reviewing productivity periodically.
As it is, I just have a pretty straightforward archive of chronologically-ordered client folders for all the projects I've ever done, which matches up with my email folders for easy reference if ever I need to look up anything. I don't have to delve into the archive too often but I'm glad of the order whenever I do need something.
I find it's worth keeping a separate folder for all TMs as they can easily get lost among all the project folders. ▲ Collapse
| | | | DianeGM
Local time: 12:05
холандски на англиски
+ ...
| Not per se ... | Feb 15, 2013 |
On my invoicing spreadsheet, I coincidentally happen to have included the language combination, field and word count, of every project I've every worked on. I don't think I've every used it for any purpose other than invoicing. Theoretically I guess I potentially could create a database and use the data for something.
| | | | | Страници во темата: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Do you keep a database or record of the projects you've worked on? | PerfectIt | Check translations faster for consistency, quality and style guide compliance
PerfectIt helps professional translators deliver error-free documents in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. It helps improve consistency, ensure quality, and enforce style guides. ProZ members receive a 30% discount off individual purchases of PerfectIt.
More info » |
| | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
