How to import an Excel file into an RWS Trados Enterprise Translation Memory´and/or in a WorldServer Translation Memory?

Importing an Excel file in a Translation Memory directly is not possible because the XLSX file type is not a valid file format to import in a Translation Memory.
But, if your XLSX is bilingual, the XLSX file can be converted into a TMX file in several ways:

Workaround 1: The easiest way to do this is to use the Glossary Converter app found on the RWS App Store. When you are on the Download page, select the version for Studio 2022. Note: You don't need Trados Studio to use this app.



Once downloaded, find Glossary Converter.zip, unzip it and click on the SetupGlossaryConverter.exe file to install it and start it. This is how the Application will look like:



Now follow these steps:

1- Let's assume your bilingual Excel (XLSX) file looks like this, with a column for a source and one for a target language and the respective text:



In your glossary converter App, first click on the out tile:



2- This is where you can set the input format (Excel 2007 Workbook) and the output (TMX). Click OK once set:



3- Back to the glossary converter app, now click on in tile to browse to your Excel (XLSX) file, select it and click on Open.



4- Now the file will be converted in the background and you will find a TMX version of the XLSX file, with the same name in the same location/folder where your Excel/XLSX file is located. For example, if your XLSX file is called Test2.xlsx you will find a Test2.tmx file

5- Import the TMX file into your WorldServer Translation Memory. When importing, make sure to select the correct source and target language you want the TMX file to be imported into. For example:



Note that this method does not keep formatting information in the TMX, such as bolding.

Workaround 2: Use Trados Studio. This is the best way to keep any formatting information already available in your XLSX file. Following the instructions below:

1- In Trados Studio, go to File/Options and in the File Types section, make sure to disable any Microsoft Excel file filters and only leave the Bilingual Excel file type enabled.

2- Go to the Columns section of the Bilingual Excel File Type and configure it to extract only the source and the target text in the respective columns. If your content is stored in columns A (source) and B (target), use the settings as highlighted below (adapt if the source text and the target translation are in different columns) and click OK:


3- Now you can open the XLSX file for translation selecting the correct source and target locale.

4- While opening or after it is opened, make sure to add a blank Translation Memory to it. This is the TM that will be updated with the translation included in the Excel file.

5- Once you reach the Editor view, make any necessary amends to the translation (if necessary) and set all your segments to Translated Status. You can do so by simply confirming them (CTRL+Enter). In case you find segments without translation or that should not update the TM, do not confirm these segments and leave them as untranslated. By not confirming them, the TM will not be updated.

6- You are now ready to update your empty Translation Memory. To do this, go to Batch Tasks and select Update Main Translation Memories.




7- Once the update is complete, in Studio go to the Translation Memory View and open the same TM that you have updated in the Translation Memories view. Once your TM is opened in Studio, you can click on Export and export it to a TMX file. This will create a valid TMX file that can then be imported safely in an RWS Trados Enterprise or WorldServer Translation Memory.

8- Alternatively, you can skip steps 6 and 7 and save your translated bilingual file as *.sdlxliff file. You can then import the SDLXLIFF file directly into your TM both in RWS Trados Enterprise or WorldServer. Note: in WorldServer, the button Import from Bilingual File needs to be enabled on the TM page. In case it is not enabled, please refer to this article to enable it.