Computer Skills

5Translation Fundamentals

Illustrations by Alex Mathers

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus PointsSuper Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

Which statement do you most agree with?

Translators must be speedy typists.

Translators should be IT whizzes — masters of office software, email and online search.

Translators can get by without advanced computer or typing skills.

Which of the following statements is true?

Microsoft PowerPoint slides can be edited in Google Docs.

Microsoft Excel has a built-in spell checker.

All of the above.

What is the filename extension for Microsoft PowerPoint?

.png

.ppt

.pdf

Pre-Lesson Warm Up

These questions are designed to get you thinking about the subject at hand: Computer skills.

Long gone are the days when the translator toolkit contained a paper

notebook and print dictionary.

Today’s translator is plugged in and uses technology to deliver high quality translations

at speed and scale.

We covered Google Search in Lesson 2, so this lesson will focus on office software

programs such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Google Docs.

Intro

The Translator Games

1. Super Microsoft World

2. Google Docs Galaxy

3. Plain Text Power-Up

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

1. Super Microsoft World

Master Microsoft to save time and prevent mistakes.

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

1. Super Microsoft World 2. Google Docs Galaxy 3. Plain Text Power-Up

Microsoft desktop applications—such as Word and Excel—are powerful tools.

Unlock this power by collecting experience points inword processing, hidden text and shortcuts.

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

1. Super Microsoft World 2. Google Docs Galaxy 3. Plain Text Power-Up

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

Word ProcessingMost translators are familiar with Word’s spell checker, but here are some special word processing features that you might not know:

Excel: Don’t be fooled by the absence of red squiggly lines—Excel doesn’t check spelling as you type. But, it does have a built-in spell checker. Click “Spelling” to run your check.

Thesaurus: Thesaurus is to translators as the Super Mushroom is to Mario. Use it to avoid repetition, find a term, and confirm meaning.

1. Super Microsoft World 2. Google Docs Galaxy 3. Plain Text Power-Up

Hidden TextExcel’s grid structure makes it a popular option for managing large translation proj-ects. But, it’s a minefield for translators.

Keep your head on by:Revealing hidden text: select all; wrap text; auto-fit column and row heightsHiding unrelated languages: select unre-lated section; hide column/row height

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy

Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

1. Super Microsoft World 2. Google Docs Galaxy 3. Plain Text Power-Up

ShortcutsShortcuts are powerful speed boosts. Start using these today!

Windows

CTRL+S

CTRL+A

CTRL+F

CTRL+C

CTRL+V

CTRL+Z

CTRL+Y

CTRL+B

CTRL+U

CTRL+I

F7

Mac

⌘+S

⌘+A

⌘+F

⌘+C

⌘+V

⌘+Z

⌘+Y

⌘+B

⌘+U

⌘+I

Option+⌘+L

Function

Save

Select All

Find

Copy

Paste

Undo

Redo

Bold

Underline

Italic

Spelling

2. Google Docs Galaxy

Don’t have Microsoft Office? Use Google Docs instead.

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

Google Docs is a free, web-based alternative to Microsoft Office. Through its sophisticated file conversion technology, translators can use Google Docs to edit, share and collaborate on a wide range of file types, including:

.doc, .docx, .html, plain text (.txt), .rtf

.xls, .xlsx, .ods, .csv, .tsv, .txt, .tab

.ppt, .pps, .pptx

Create a Google account. Explore the Galaxy.

1. Super Microsoft World 2. Google Docs Galaxy 3. Plain Text Power-Up

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

3. Plain Text Power-Up

Use plain text to get out of sticky situations.

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

Different file formats and character encoding settings can throw up major obstacles to translators.

Often, these can often be overcome by opening files in plain text format (.txt) and editing in a generic text editor. Plain Text Power-up!

Cheat code: Set your text editor’s file encoding preferences to UTF-8 (opening and saving, if relevant).

1. Super Microsoft World 2. Google Docs Galaxy 3. Plain Text Power-Up

Bonus Level: File Formats

Bonus points go to translators who can convert files into different formats. Using Microsoft’s Save As function to:

1. Super Microsoft World 2. Google Docs Galaxy 3. Plain Text Power-Up

Convert

.docx to .doc

.xlsx to .xls

By Saving As (Windows)

Word 97-2003 Document (.doc)

Excel 97-2003 Document (.xls)

By Saving As (Mac)

Word 97-2004 Document (.doc)

Excel 97-2004 Document (.xls)

Super Microsoft World Unlock Power

SpellingSuper Mushroom

Mine�eld Google Docs Galaxy Plain text Power UpMajor Obstacles

Bonus Points

Are you ready to challenge yourself to a game of Excel Expert?

To talk about the lesson or ask questions, join our discussion in the Translator Forums.

Practice what you’ve learned

Download Exercise

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