skip to content

Glossary

A - P

Binary Localization

Direct localization of the binary files, very efficient, enables changes to be immediately viewed and fixed in the software.

Bitmap/Raster

An image or other collection of data represented as an array of bits. In Bitmap graphics an image is displayed on the screen as a collection of tiny squares called pixels which form a pattern.

Bug

Defect in the software, can be either functional or cosmetic. A functional one results in the malfunction of the software, i.e. crashing or leading to the application not working as expected. A cosmetic one leads to an untidy appearance, buttons or text not being properly aligned, text not being clearly visible etc.

Bug Tracking System

System for logging defects and tracking their resolution.

Bug Fixing

Resolving the found defects.

Building/Mastering

Creation of the application installation, i.e. creation of the complete application installation media/structure from the source files.

CAT

Computer aided translation, using computer software to assist in the task of translation.

CAT Tool

Software for CAT, such as TRADOS, Passolo Alchemy Catalyst, SDLX etc.

DTP

Desk Top Publishing, using a desk top computer to produce camera—ready copy for printing. Desk Top publishing makes use of word processing programs and page layout programs.

EPS

Encapsulated Post Script, a graphic file format that can be used with many different computers and printers. EPS files can be imported into most DTP software.

Font

A complete set of type characters in a specific language, style and size.

Framemaker

A DTP program available for Macintosh and Windows.

MAC

Macintosh computer, a family of 32—bit computers, the first widely used computers with a graphical interface.

Pagemaker

A DTP program originally designed for MAC, now available for Personal Computers.

PDF

Portable Document Format, very useful file format for previewing documents made in other sophisticated applications such as PageMaker, Quark Express etc.

Postscript, PS.

A Page description language from Adobe Systems Inc. PS translates the text and graphic images that appear on the computer screen into instructions for the printer. PS must be used with a printer that can interpret it.

Q - Z

QuarkXpress

A page layout program from Quark Inc. for Macintosh and Windows.

Source Code

Computer program written in a source language such as Basic, Pascal, Visual basic etc

Source Code Based Localization

Localization at the source code level.

TM

Translation Memory, each translated segment is stored in the computer memory, the translation can be retrieved later when translating the same or similar term.

True Type Font

A font technology which enables WYSIWYG printing by providing matching screen and printer representations through support in the operating system.

Type 1 Font

The original, highest quality of Postscript outline font. Type 1 fonts are designed to print clearly at small sizes on low—resolution machines.

UI

User Interface, software dialogs, menus etc.

UA

User Assistance, user help, HTML pages etc.

Unicode

A character set that uses 16 bits (2 bytes) for each character and therefore is able to include more characters than ASCII which is based on 8—bit characters. This extra scope enables Unicode to have up to 65,000 characters which allows it to encode almost all of the worlds languages.

Vector Graphics

A way of creating pictures by designating coordinates and drawing lines or shapes in relation to them. Vector graphics are an alternative approach to Raster graphics.

WYSIWYG

What you see is what you get. Refers to the ability of a computer to present an image, page layout or graphic on its screen that shows how the actual page will look like when printed.