Find answers to our most commonly asked questions:
Top general frequently asked questions
What is included in Trados Studio 2021?
If I do not purchase a Support and Maintenance Agreement, how can I resolve technical issues?
What is the RWS Community?
The RWS Community is a complimentary service to help you get started with your Trados Studio products and to offer you continued support as you learn to use more of the RWS translation productivity product set.
There are just three steps to access the RWS Community:
- Use this link to sign in using your ‘RWS Account’ account log-in
- Click on the ‘My Sites’ tab and then on the RWS Community icon – you can choose from a number of options to read the latest hints and tips
- If you want to log a query – click on ‘New Post’ and post your query to the community
The RWS User Support Community is staffed by both internal and external RWS experts who are there to help you with your query. These experts are constantly monitoring the forum, your query will be displayed and addressed as soon as possible, please be aware that response times are dependent on the current volume of queries.
What should I do if I have a licensing issue?
Even if you do not have a Support and Maintenance agreement (SMA) with RWS, you can find support for installation and licensing issues on RWS Gateway.
Visit our dedicated installation and licensing page for step-by-step instructions.
Do I have to buy an upgrade each year?
What does Trados Certification mean and do I really need it?
The Trados Certification Program is the industry's premier technology based certification. It's a comprehensive professional education program designed to develop and validate expertise in the use of Trados translation software.
Translators around the world are increasingly using Trados Certification as a key differentiation point for their business to increase their competitiveness. Being Trados Certified signifies to potential and existing clients that you are fully prepared to work with the world's leading translation software.
Where and how can I purchase Support and Maintenance?
For products you already own
If you have already purchased the product you would like support for, you can request a quote and purchase SMA through your RWS Account. Alternatively, contact our customer care team by email: contractrenewals@sdl.com or telephone: +44 1628 410 165.
For a new product
When you order a new product through our online store, you will be given the option to add SMA to your purchase before you have finalized your payment.
What are the system requirements for Trados Studio 2021?
Trados Studio 2021 supports Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.
As a minimum requirement, we recommend an Intel or compatible CPU-based computer with 8 GB RAM and a screen resolution of 1024x768.
For optimum performance, we recommend a 64-bit operating system, 16 GB RAM, an SSD drive and a recent Intel or compatible CPU. Full support for 4K hi-resolution screens is planned and will be implemented incrementally in future releases.
What is the difference between Trados Studio 2021 Starter, Trados Studio 2021 Freelance and Trados Studio 2021 Professional?
Trados Studio is available in three different versions: Starter, Freelance and Professional. The reason behind having separate versions is that freelance translators do not usually require all the functionality within the full Professional license such as working on a company network.
View the comparison table to see the different functionality between the different versions.
Product related frequently asked questions
What is a translation memory?
What is terminology management?
What is Computer Assisted Translation (CAT)?
What is machine translation?
Does Trados Studio work on an Apple Mac?
How many languages pairs does Trados Studio support?
Can I open other CAT tools translation memories with Trados Studio?
Can you combine translation memories from other CAT tools and Trados Studio to create a larger translation memory?
How many separate installations does one Trados Studio Freelance license allow?
We have two versions available. Trados Studio Freelance and Trados Studio Freelance Plus. You can install Trados Studio Freelance on more than one computer, but you can activate your license on only one PC at any one time. You can also easily return your license and activate another PC through our license manager tool as many times as you like.
If you would like the convenience of two activation codes, Trados Studio Freelance Plus allows two activations at the same time.
For help with activation and deactivation of licensing, click here.
What are the differences between Trados Studio Freelance and Trados Studio Professional?
Buying related frequently asked questions
What happens when I order RWS software from trados.com?
What payment methods do you accept? Can I pay for my software in instalments?
How do I order a Support and Maintenance Agreement?
Is the maintenance package an annual fee?
What is the cost of a Support and Maintenance Agreement?
How do I buy from the web?
Please go to the store and select the product you wish to purchase, click on the buy now button, select any training or other products that you may wish to buy, and then proceed to check out. If you are a returning customer you'll be asked for your email address and password to login to your account. If you're a new customer you will be asked to create an account for yourself. Once this has been done you will be asked if you wish to place your order and what method of payment you wish to use. When you have paid for your software you will be taken to a page where all the information will be displayed on how to download and activate your license.
Alternatively if you would like to talk to someone before you purchase then please chat online with one of our friendly customer experience representatives who will be happy to help.
Is there a trial version for Trados Studio?
Software maintenance related frequently asked questions
What is the cost of a Software Maintenance Agreement?
How can I find out the cost of a Software Maintenance Agreement?
When you order a new product through our online store, you will be given the option to add a Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA) to your purchase before you have finalized your payment.
If you have already purchased the product you would like support for, you can purchase SMA through your RWS Account.
Alternatively, you can contact our Customer Care team by email or telephone and they will be happy to give you a quotation:
- contractrenewals@sdl.com
- +44 1628 410 165
After reformatting my computer Trados Studio was deleted, how do I re-install?
You will need to go to your RWS Account area.
Log in with your username and password and select "Go to My Downloads"
You should see your Trados Studio in your Downloads area. If you have any problems accessing your software please Select "My Support" and go to the Installation and Licensing area and follow the steps of our Solution Finder "Download & Installation Problems".
Where can I get help with my installation and licensing?
Even if you do not have a Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA) with RWS, you can find support for installation and licensing issues on RWS Gateway.
Visit our dedicated installation and licensing page for step-by-step instructions.
How can I get help if I don't have a Software Maintenance Agreement?
If you don't have a Software Maintenance Agreement then you can search the RWS Gateway for resolutions to common issues, hotfixes and patches.
For common licensing and installation issues, visit our dedicated page for step-by-step instructions.
Additionally you can ask questions and discuss the use of RWS solutions in the RWS Community.
What countries provide support?
UK, Germany, USA, Romania and China. You can log your cases in English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese or Chinese. Please note that the choice of language may influence our response time.
If I have a Software Maintenance Agreement, will I get telephone support?
I am interested in understanding more about your products
Where can I find more information on Trados Studio training?
Visit our training area for current information or for further information email producttraining@sdl.com.
Is a Software Maintenance Agreement based on an annual fee?
Training and certification frequently asked questions
How much does both online and onsite training cost?
What is the difference between onsite and online training?
Onsite training is hands on, classroom based and is delivered at one of our Approved Training Centers or at a customer's own site.
Online training is live and delivered by ProZ.com an authorized Trados trainer.
Where is the onsite training being delivered?
How is the online training being delivered, in which language, is it interactive, who is the caller?
Online training can be delivered in the following languages, on a public, schedule of course dates. See the online course schedule for availability. The training is not interactive but is delivered live with the ability to ask questions. Online training sessions are delivered by ProZ.com - an approved Trados trainer.
Languages delivered in: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Dutch, Chinese (simplified), Greek, Russian, Portuguese, Romanian, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Bulgarian, Egyptian, Turkish, Catalan.
What is the duration and workflow of the online training?
What languages is the training delivered in?
What is Trados Certification?
Trados Certification is the industry's premier technology based certification which provides a recognized standard of excellence in Trados software knowledge. It's a comprehensive professional education program designed to develop and validate expertise in the use of Trados translation technology tools.
The certification has been designed to help educate the translator community on the latest technological developments and best practices in translation technology, terminology management and automated quality assurance checks. As a result, certification greatly increases derived efficiencies from the use of Trados software and ensures the automation and time saving features available in the technology are applied. Additionally, the Trados Certification helps increase quality of translation project by reducing human error and helps individuals achieve their personal development goals.
Do I need to be Trados Certified to accept project work?
What is the process to become Trados Certified?
The process for becoming Certified is simple:
- Select the certification exam for either Trados Studio or MultiTerm according to whether you are a Translator or Project manager.
- We recommend you take Trados Approved Training to prepare for the exams.
- You move up the certification ladder by mastering each level.
How long will it take to become Trados Certified?
This depends largely on your current experience in using Trados translation productivity technology. Some translators and project managers pass on the first try, and others who are just starting with the software prefer to take training courses (online or onsite certification training) or simply download our courseware to prepare themselves for the exams.
Find out more about our certification training options to prepare you for the exams.
How much does Trados Certification cost?
How long do I have after I have purchased the exams to take the tests?
Do I need to update my Trados Certification when new versions of the software are released?
What happens when I successfully pass the exam of the Trados Certification?
How do I transition my 2017 certification to 2019?
Trados Studio Certification for Translators:
If you have already passed any of the Trados Studio 2017 exams you will be given the opportunity to take the Trados Studio 2019 New Features exam. If you pass that you will be have your specific Certification updated to the 2019 version. For example, if you have passed Trados Studio 2017 Level 1 exam and then pass the Trados Studio 2019 New Features exam, you will receive Trados Studio 2019 Level 1 Certification
MultiTerm Certification for Translators:
Anyone with MultiTerm 2017 Certification will be given access to take the MultiTerm 2019 exam.
Trados Studio Certification for Project Managers:
If you have the Trados Studio 2017 for Project Managers exam you will be given the opportunity to take the Trados Studio 2019 New Features exam. If you pass the New Features exam you will receive Trados Studio 2019 for Project Managers Certification
MultiTerm Certification:
Anyone with MultiTerm 2017 Certification will be given access to take the MultiTerm 2019 exam.
If you have older versions of the Trados Studio or MultiTerm exams in your RWS Account but have not yet taken them, they will remain in your RWS Account. To keep your Trados Certification current individuals will need to purchase and take the new Trados Studio and MultiTerm 2019 exams.
If you have not found an answer in this FAQ then please email your query to producttraining@sdl.com.
How can Trados Certification help me win business?
For freelance translators:
The Trados Certification program has been developed with the aim of helping freelance translators achieve their professional development and career advancement goals. Additionally, all major translation community websites such as Proz.com and TRADUguide have recognized the importance of technology Certification alongside linguistic credentials and have added fields to display Trados Certification in their translator's profile area. Search results from these websites have shown that outsourcers actively look for persons who have the Trados Certification credential as a means of validating their level of expertise in the world's leading translation technology tools.
For translation companies:
Translation companies around the world have shown great interest in the Trados Certification program as they can see the benefits of ensuring a level of competency in translation software for themselves. Currently there are over 200 Language Service Providers around the world who have embraced the program. Additionally most of these companies are using the Trados Certification as a way to add value and attract more business, by differentiating themselves from the competition and actively demonstrating to their clients how they can leverage the efficiencies in the technology to their benefit.