How to design Translation File Format for Multi-lingual
elearning Courseware Development?
In this blog, I will share my experience of working on Multi-lingual eLearning courseware development.
First and foremost, you need to develop multilingual courses in such a way that it is easy to translate and
localize into multiple languages. Especially, if there is voice-over in the course, which needs
synchronization with the animation.
Avoid using the images with text superimposed on it. If textual content is required, then add it to the top
of the images separately, but avoid merging it with the image.
If you’re using authoring tools like Lectora, Captivate, Articulate, etc., then you can use the translation
tools to develop the translation file easily. If you are using other course development tools like Adobe
Flash or coding, then you need to create the translation file manually. This format works for the legacy
courses, which are developed without considering translation in future.
Please look at the below format for Non-voiceover course. This format is applicable to any languages. In
the below format, you will find 3 tables.
• In the first table, you need to write the translation language details.
• In the second table, you need to include all the general text for translation.
• In the third table, you need to put the text page wise.
In Table 1, you need to type the source and the translated language and the date of translation.
Translator should update the versions after each revision or changes.
Details
Translation Language <Source Language> <translation language>
Date <Date>
Version <version>
Table1
Table 2 consists of global content including all the general content based on the course like GUI text, help,
glossary, resources pages etc.
• Page #: This column is used as reference for translators and developers.
• Source Text: Put all the source text. Break the content into paragraphs. Use separate rows for
each paragraph.
• Translated Text: In this column, the translators will translate text based on the source text.
• Image/ Buttons/Other Text: In this column, input all the words included on the images (If
present).
• Translated Text For Image/Buttons/Other: In this column, the translators will translate the
image text.
No.30, II Floor, Sarvasukhi Colony, West Marredpally, Secunderabad – 500 026 INDIA
Telephone: 0091–40–27803080 & Fax: 0091–40–27716308
URL: http://www.commlabindia.com Email: info@commlabindia.com

IMAGE/
TRANSLATED TRANSLATED TEXT FOR
Page # SOURCE TEXT BUTTONS/OTHER
TEXT IMAGE/BUTTONS/OTHER
TEXT
Module <module name> <Image text>
Name
Loading <loading text 1> <Image text>
Text <loading text 2>
Page <Page info text 1> <Image text>
Info
Launch <launch page text para 1> <Image text>
Page <launch page text para 2> <Image text>
<launch page text para 3> <Image text>
<launch page text para 4>
Titles <Common Page title> <Image text>
Buttons <button 1 text> <Image text>
<button 2 text> <Image text>
<button 3 text> <Image text>
<button 4 text> <Image text>
<button 5 text> <Image text>
<button 6 text> <Image text>
Table2
Table 3 consists of text for translation. For each page, there will be a separate block for reference. In the
first column, mention the unique ID of the page as reference. The other columns are similar to the Table2.
IMAGE/
TRANSLATED TRANSLATED TEXT FOR
Page # SOURCE TEXT BUTTONS/OTHER
TEXT IMAGE/BUTTONS/OTHER
TEXT
<Chapter title> for reference
1 of 3 <page content paragraph 1> <Image text 1>
<page content paragraph 2> <Image text 2>
<page content paragraph 3> <Image text 3>
<page content paragraph 4> <Image text 4>
<page content paragraph 5>
<page content paragraph 6>
2 of 3 <page content paragraph 1> <Image text 1>
<page content paragraph 2> <Image text 2>
<page content paragraph 3> <Image text 3>
<page content paragraph 4>
<page content paragraph 5>
<page content paragraph 6>
Table3
No.30, II Floor, Sarvasukhi Colony, West Marredpally, Secunderabad – 500 026 INDIA
Telephone: 0091–40–27803080 & Fax: 0091–40–27716308
URL: http://www.commlabindia.com Email: info@commlabindia.com

Courses with voiceover:
Online Training Courses with voice over are little more complex than courses without voice over. Here you
need to synchronize the text animation with audio. You need to be more careful in the format and the
content breakup, because only the source language can be understood and has to be matched with the
translated language. Below is format of Table 4, which will be useful.
TRANSLATED AUDIO TRANSLATED
Page # ONSCREEN & IMAGES TEXT AUDIO SCRIPT
TEXT FILE NAME TEXT
Slide <Onscreen text related to 3a <Audio text para 1>
number audio text para1>
<Onscreen text related to 3b <Audio text para 2>
audio text para2>
<Onscreen text related to 3c <Audio text para 3>
audio text para3>
<Onscreen text related to 3d <Audio text para 4>
audio text para4>
<Onscreen text related to 3e <Audio text para 5>
audio text para5>
<Onscreen text related to 3f <Audio text para 6>
audio text para6>
Table4
• Page #: This is used to identify the page/slide.
• Onscreen & Images Text: In this column, you need to include both onscreen content and the
text on the images
• Translated Text: Translators will write the translated onscreen text.
• Audio File Name: After the script is recorded slide wise by the narrator, it has to be split into
several parts. These smaller audio files are to be renamed as for example, if it is a slide 3 audio,
then the split audio file should be named as, 3a, 3b, 3c etc.,
• Audio Script: Break the audio scripts into parts based on the animation clips.
• Translated Text: Translators will write the translated onscreen text.
Note: Translators need to be informed about not to translate the “Page #” and “Audio File Name”
columns.
No.30, II Floor, Sarvasukhi Colony, West Marredpally, Secunderabad – 500 026 INDIA
Telephone: 0091–40–27803080 & Fax: 0091–40–27716308
URL: http://www.commlabindia.com Email: info@commlabindia.com