Introduction to CATv2

The CAT Editor (computer-aided translation) is the core of the Lilt platform and where translation happens. This article describes the different components that comprise the CAT Editor, including:

• The Segment Editor
• Editing Tools
• Leaving Comments
• Working with Tags
• The Header (including configurable Editor settings)
• The Footer
• The Contextual Sidebar
• Using Hotkeys

The Editor has two modes: Translate and Review. The two are largely the same, with a few exceptions; see this page for specific details about Review Mode.

Segment editor

When you open the Editor, you will find your source text divided into numbered segments. An active source segment has three components:

• The source text (ST)
• The typing area for your target text (TT): you can type in your translation manually or insert a suggestion from the suggestion area. Alternatives for the next word to insert may appear in this area as ghost-words.
  
• The suggestion area: TM matches above 75% are shown first. If a match does not exist, then the interactive MT output appears. This section is interactive, and it updates as you type. Read more about Lilt and Translation Memory Matching.
  

Segment editing tools

There is a toolbar on the right-hand side of each segment. Its buttons change depending on the segment's activity and status.

In confirmed or unconfirmed segments that are active, you can refresh QA check, confirm the segment and access the Segment editing tools.

Using the Segment editing tools, you can:

• Confirm a segment (Accept, in Review Mode)
• Merge it with the next or previous segment
• Split a segment
• Copy the ST into the TT area (you may want to use this option when you come across a complex and difficult fragment in the ST and you want to translate it expression by expression without looking up at the ST area)
• Insert the entire suggestion into the TT area (not available in Review Mode)

When a segment has already been confirmed but is not active at the moment, the toolbar allows you to edit tags (if available) or unconfirm the segment.

For inactive and unconfirmed segments, the toolbar will not be visible.

Comments

The Comments button is displayed on the right of each segment when it is active. If you are the only translator of a given document, you can use the option to add notes, to-do lists, etc. If there are more translators, you can use comments as a space for discussion. Read more on comments.

Tags

Lilt supports the import and export of tagged text. In the editor, you will see tagged spans in the source text. Most font styles (e.g., bold, italic, underline, color) will be rendered. Other arbitrary tags may not be shown although they will be preserved. When you are working with a tagged ST, translate the text as usual.

Tags show automatically after you confirm a segment. Lilt will automatically place the tags for you. You can manipulate the tag placement if you find errors or want to make changes. You can move and confirm tag placement through keyboard shortcuts or by hovering over the tag, clicking it, and dropping it where the tag belongs. Read more on tags. 

The header

The header bar gives you access to file options, settings, view options and tools. On the right side of the header bar you can see your average translation speed, measured in the number of words per hour. If you are translating from a source language that primarily uses characters, this counter will be replaced with characters per hour.

File

Allows you to download the translated text as TXT, XLIFF or in the original format of the file (i.e. the format in which the file was uploaded). If some parts of the text have not been translated yet, they will be preserved and shown in the file in the original language.

View

Allows you to change the way the segments are displayed. You may choose to see only the confirmed ones, the unconfirmed ones, or all. You may also switch to the Split view, in which the TT is on the left and ST (or the area in which to type it) on the right, as opposed to the horizontal view. You can also filter for segments with tags to double-check tag placement more easily. 

Tools

Here, you can directly manage roles (such as a translator and a reviewer). Moreover, you can turn on a QA check manually.

Settings

This menu contains various ways to configure and customize the editing experience. These settings are set on a per-account basis, and any changes will persist across Documents and Projects.

• X Segments per page in editor: Changes how many segments are displayed per page.
• Sticky lexicon: Keeps the sidebar open after inserting a word from the Lexicon into the segment's target text.
• Forward auto-propagation: Propagates any confirmed segment to other unconfirmed, 100% Exact Matches throughout the entire document. In Review Mode, this applies to accepted segments instead of confirmed.
• Backward auto-propagation: Propagates any confirmed segment and overwrites other confirmed, 100% Exact Matches throughout the entire document. In Review Mode, this applies to accepted segments instead of confirmed.
• Display invisible characters: Displays a dot in place of invisible characters, such as spaces between words.
• Replace last word of a prefix: When using the mouse to select an MT-suggested word, after initially typing part of that word, Lilt will append the remaining characters rather than insert the word as a whole.
• Auto-scroll: Automatically scrolls to the next unconfirmed/unaccepted segment after confirming or accepting a segment.
• Case-sensitive matching: Forces TM Matches to respect case-sensitivity.
• Tags: all: Displays all Tags, including hidden Tags.
• Tags: source: Always displays Tags in the segment source text.
• Tags: auto-propagation: Enabling forwards and backwards propagation also affects tags.
• Partial updates: Displays immediate, partial MT suggestions in the segment editor, when loading full MT suggestions could otherwise require more time (i.e. very long segments).

The footer

The footer bar allows you to:

• See the name of the file you are working on and the language pair
• Navigate segments and check how many have been confirmed
• Check how many words have been translated out of the total number
• See an estimate on how much time it will take to finish translating the document

The sidebar

You can use the tiles menu on the right to:

• Access the Lexicon
• View the target text in isolation using Target Document Preview
• Use the Find and Replace option, which allows you to search for words and expressions in both ST and TT
• Use the Memory Search option
• Access the Termbase
• Access the list of all the documents you have in a given project, switch between them, and see the details for each (the number of words and segments, the percentage of confirmed and reviewed segments, and the total translation time so far)
• View any available metadata for the selected segment
• See the Hotkeys cheatsheet

Hotkeys

The editor is designed to be operated entirely from the keyboard. The key interaction is autocomplete. Press Enter to insert the next highlighted word in the suggestion if you choose to accept it. Press Shift+Enter to insert the whole suggestion. Once you confirm your translation by pressing the check mark or Control+Enter, Lilt improves its suggestions for the rest of the segments.

This is the list of Hotkeys. You can access the cheatsheet anytime directly from the Editor, by choosing the question mark icon from the right-hand side tile menu. If the cheatsheet is not enough, there is a link to the full list at the top of it.