| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: When working with multiple files, I start Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Normally I begin with the first and work my way down. However I put "Other", because if I'm feeling a bit sluggish or under the weather, I normally work on an easier file rather than struggling with a difficult one.
| | | | John Cutler 
Spain
Local time: 02:16
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Difficult or long | May 27, 2010 |
I generally start with the one that looks like it may be most problematic (even if it's the shortest document) or the longest one if they all seem about the same. I prefer to dive into the bulk of the work and have the project get easier as I go.
| | | | | Other- Analysis first | May 27, 2010 |
I print them all out and then spend time reading them in the original, which usually gives me a logical (in terms of production efficiency) order. The largest file may give me things that I need for the smaller files, or it may be a summary dependant on concepts derived from or fully explained in the smaller files.
Although this might seem to give me 2-3 days with zero actual production, I find it reduces my overall time by giving me a logical work flow.
| | | | jacana54 (X)
Uruguay
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Logical order, or start by the longest | May 27, 2010 |
Christine Andersen wrote:
I look them through and see if there is any logical order.
If file A refers to file B, then it may be an idea to decide on the terminology and formulation to be cited first.
If not, I frequently go for the longest file first, and take it from there.
The same here.
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Minna Wood MITI (Purring CAT Ltd.) (X)
United Kingdom
English to Finnish
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I would start with the file that contains most background/basic information on the subject matter in question, eg. SPC before PIL.
Minna
| | | | C. Mouton
France
Local time: 02:16
Member (2007)
English to French
| I merge them ! | May 27, 2010 |
And work on a single file !
At least, this is what I do around 97% of my time, since I use Trados.
In other applications, I always start with the largest file.
| | | | | If client has no preferred order of completion ... | May 27, 2010 |
.... I run an analysis and take matters from there, seeing from there where I can leverage the most reps and matches, most effectively.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 02:16
Spanish to English
+ ...
Russell Jones wrote:
They usually come in a zip file. I start at the top and work down.
I'm doing some right now, there are about 11 or 12 files in the ZIP folder. The clients asked for 3 of them first for publication next week, and they will take the rest in any order, so now I'm just working down thru the list.
I also agree that it'd be a waste of time opening them all (especially from ZIP) just to check which is easiest/longest etc,, since they all need doing...
I'm also gobsmacked by the notion of printing out files to read before translating, which seems a tad expensive/wasteful considering the costs of paper and ink ...
[Edited at 2010-05-27 17:56 GMT]
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Amy Duncan (X)
Brazil
Local time: 21:16
Portuguese to English
+ ...
| Question not clear | May 27, 2010 |
The poll doesn't make it clear whether we're talking about a zip file with a bunch of files from one client, or a serious of unrelated jobs.
In a zip file, I work them in order, regardless of length, unless asked to do otherwise.
With unrelated jobs, I do the one first that has the earliest deadline.
| | | | Jenn Mercer
United States
Local time: 20:16
Member (2009)
French to English
| One job with many files | May 27, 2010 |
Amy,
I wrote the question because I had recently went through this thought process with one job with multiple files. In the case of multiple assignments, I would definitely start with the one with the shorter deadline. For the project which inspired the question, I decided to start with the shorter file because it was late in the day and I thought I might be able to get it all or mostly completed. Enough results are in to see that this is not the most common approach - except for i... See more Amy,
I wrote the question because I had recently went through this thought process with one job with multiple files. In the case of multiple assignments, I would definitely start with the one with the shorter deadline. For the project which inspired the question, I decided to start with the shorter file because it was late in the day and I thought I might be able to get it all or mostly completed. Enough results are in to see that this is not the most common approach - except for in this very circumstance. I enjoyed seeing the reasoning of other translators on this topic. It gives me good food for thought for the next assignment. ▲ Collapse
| | | | mediamatrix (X)
Local time: 20:16
Spanish to English
+ ...
| First the meat course | May 27, 2010 |
Assuming, just to illustrate my approach, that the files are the parts of a technical report formed thus:
Title page
TOC
Executive Summary
Report
Appendixes
Bibliographical References
... then, unless the client requires otherwise, I will start with the 'meat course': the Report.
Next, the Appendixes, which are now easier because I know more about their context and relevance to the Report, and they tend to ... See more Assuming, just to illustrate my approach, that the files are the parts of a technical report formed thus:
Title page
TOC
Executive Summary
Report
Appendixes
Bibliographical References
... then, unless the client requires otherwise, I will start with the 'meat course': the Report.
Next, the Appendixes, which are now easier because I know more about their context and relevance to the Report, and they tend to be more detailed/specialised/obscure than the Report itself, or to build upon the ideas contained in the Report.
Next, the Bibliography (because it's gotta be done ).
Next the Title page (and TOC which is automatic in Word, anyway...).
Last, the Executive Summary. This is the only part of the whole document that most people will ever bother to read, so it's worthwhile making sure I have a thorough grasp of the subject-matter before translating it.
That's the same order in which most technical writers write the reports we end up translating. There's no reason for a translator to do things differently.
MediaMatrix
[Edited at 2010-05-27 22:30 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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so I know that the "challenging" one is fine, and I do not have to run later (in a long one you can have unexpected problems, so better deal with it first).
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| Longest: last Monday I delivered a job consisting of 41 files | May 29, 2010 |
The client insisted that the files could not be merged, and indeed, each job had a different header and some tricky issues around that. It would have been a nightmare to unscramble.
I decided to do the longest ones first for two reasons:
1. To nail down as much of the terminology as possible for future consistency, and
2. To make sure I didn't get stuck at the end with too much to do before the deadline.
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