Translation software

SYSTRAN 6 Desktop Products FAQ

  1. Installation Questions
  2. Toolbar Questions
  3. SYSTRAN Toolbar for browsers
  4. SYSTRAN Toolbar for Microsoft Office applications
  5. Activation and Registration
  6. Program Updates
  7. SYSTRAN Translation Project Manager
  8. SYSTRAN Dictionary Manager
  9. Other Questions
Installation Questions

How can I add more language pairs to the existing installation?

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

I have not installed all of the available language pairs when installing my product, how can I change this after the installation?

Explanation/Solution

Relaunch the installer by one of the following method:

  • Go to Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs>SYSTRAN
  • Double click on setup.exe in your original installation folder (CD, orunzipped downloaded archive)
Click on Modify and select the language pairs you want.

My installation file is damaged or incomplete.

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

What should I do if the installation file is damaged or incomplete, probably as the result of a download problem?

Explanation/Solution

Downloads of SYSTRAN products are handled by our online retailer, . Download problems are not uncommon due to noise on telephone lines and other technical issues; is accustomed to dealing with this kind of thing and they should have no difficulty getting the software to you.
They also offer a CD backup that you can purchase if the download continues to give you problems.
You may contact by sending an email by clicking here or by calling one of these numbers:

  • office in US: ++1 952 253 1234
  • office in UK: ++44 118 934 6150
  • If you call from the US or Canada, you may also dial the free number +1 952 908 4150.

Installer tries connecting to the internet to get Instmsiw.exe.

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

During the installation, my computer connects to Internet and says that it can't download a file called InstMsiW.exe or InstMsiA.exe.

Explanation/Solution

The error you see during installation indicates that an older version of Microsoft installer is not installed on your computer. You'll have to download version 2.0 from here. Please install appropriate Microsoft installer prior to installing SYSTRAN product.

Nothing happens when clicking on downloaded SYSTRAN product.

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

I double click on the downloaded SYSTRAN product, the mouse pointer changes to "busy" state but nothing happens.

Explanation/Solution

The downloaded products are delivered in a auto-extractible zip format. The first stage of the installation is to unzip the installation folder - this operations can take up to 10-15 min depending on your hardware and the pack you purchased.

How can I install a second language pack?

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

I have SYSTRAN 6 installed and I want to install a second language pack - how should I proceed?

Explanation/Solution

Check Merge installation procedure

During installation, a warning displays mentioning "known compatibility issues".

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: Vista, 7

During installation of Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1, a dialog shows and proposes to:

  • Check for solutions online
  • Run Program
  • Cancel
Should I still run the installation?

Explanation/Solution

The Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 is required to run SYSTRAN applications. This compatibility issue concerns simultaneous use of IIS services and the .NET Framework 1.1. If you are not hosting applications using IIS services, or if you don't know what IIS services refers to, you can safely proceed with the installation. Otherwise, install the Microsoft patch that you will find by clicking on Check for solutions online.

Asian Characters do not display correctly.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ12184
Configuration: Windows XP, Windows 2000
  • When translating with the Toolbar from English to Chinese, Japanese or Korean, I see black boxes in the translation output.
  • I don't see Asian characters in Word documents or HTML pages.

Explanation/Solution

This is a Windows configuration issue. You need to install support for East Asian languages in Regional and Language Options of the Control Panel.

Reference

Additional information can be found here:

Arabic text cannot be edited properly.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ15393
Configuration: Windows XP,Windows 2000

When pasting an arabic text in the SYSTRAN Toolbar, the text comes out with separate characters, and written from left to right.

Explanation/Solution

This is a Windows configuration issue. You need to activate Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages in Control Panel>Regional and Language Options>Languages>Supplemental language Support.

Reference

Additional information can be found here:

I added a new license in License Wizard, but I do not see the new corresponding language pairs/applications.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ13060
Configuration: all

I want to add new language pairs to my current SYSTRAN installation. I added my new license in SYSTRAN Toolbar>Options>License>Add New License - but the new language pairs do not show.

Explanation/Solution

You need to modify your installation. After adding the new license, relaunch your installer or launch Control Panel>Add/Modify Programs>SYSTRAN/Modify. Select and install the new language pairs.

Message displays "Please insert volume DISK1 into drive X:".

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ16104
Configuration: Vista, 7

When running the task manager after an installation, the message [Please insert volume DISK1 into drive X:] displays.

Explanation/Solution

This problem might happen if the installer is still running a process in background.

Workaround

Restart your computer.

Fail to install additional language pack

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: Vista, 7

Serial number for additional language pack is added and activated, however the additional languages are not listed in the installation dialog, making impossible to install additional languages.

Explanation/Solution

The problem is probably caused because the user does not have sufficent previlege to installation files.

Workaround

  1. In Vista or 7, go to Start>Control Panel.
  2. Switch to Classic View.
  3. Double click on User Accounts.
  4. click on Turn User Account Control on or off.
  5. Remove check mark from Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer.
  6. Press OK.
  7. Reboot your computer.
  8. Launch any SYSTRAN application.
  9. Activate the product if prompt.
  10. Go to Options>Licenses and add and activate the serial number for the additional language pack one more time if it is gone.
  11. Run SYSTRAN installation.

Migrate from a non genuine SYSTRAN version to a genuine SYSTRAN version

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: Windows XP, Vista, 7

Installing a SYSTRAN desktop version on an environment having a non genuine SYSTRAN installation requires the uninstall of the current software, the installation of the genuine product and the update of the SYSTRAN software manager server.

Explanation/Solution

Workaround

  1. Perform the uninstall of the non genuine SYSTRAN desktop product.
    1. Go to Start>Control Panel>Add or Remove Programs.
    2. Select SYSTRAN and click on Remove.
    3. If 'Files in use' panel is opened, click on Ignore.
    4. There are two panels with error 1721 and 1603.
  2. Perform the installation of the genuine SYSTRAN desktop product.
    1. Restart your computer.
    2. Under C:\Windows\System32, remove libsyslic1.dll and libsyslic1.original.dll.
    3. Install a genuine SYSTRAN version.
  3. Perform the update of the SYSTRAN software manager server.
    1. Run Flexnet_update_info_6.1.exe. This executable will check the installation and will enable you to have access to future software updates.

Toolbar Questions

Highlighting does not work in expanded Translation Toolbar.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ12747
Configuration: all

I have activated not found words indicator in SYSTRAN Toolbar>Options>Translation Options>Indicators but do not see any highlighting when translating unknown words in the SYSTRAN Toolbar.

Explanation/Solution

Highlighting does not work on plain text, use textual markers instead.

Translation takes more time than specified in the “Translate as you type” delay option.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ12967
Configuration: all

When I select '0' seconds in the SYSTRAN Toolbar>Options>Application settings>Translation toolbar>Enable 'Translate as you type', I still observe a delay in the translation after entering text into the SYSTRAN Toolbar.

Explanation/Solution

This is normal behavior, as the delay indicated by the option is the delay before translation is launched, not the delay before the translation is displayed.

Global shortcuts not working on non-committed Japanese input.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ14180
Configuration: all

Perform the following steps:

  • Open Wordpad.
  • Enter and select a sentence.
  • Press Ctrl+T.
An error message shows [Please select some text to translate].

Explanation/Solution

Problem is reproduced with Japanse IME or Natural Input methods, before the content is "committed". In this case, the copy function does not even work.

Workaround

You must "commit" your IME/Natural input before using global shortcuts or context menus.

SYSTRAN Toolbar for browsers

The SYSTRAN Toolbar does not show in Internet Explorer.

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

After installing, the translate button is not visible on Internet Explorer. How do I access it?

Explanation/Solution

To fix this go into View>Toolbars> and uncheck lock the toolbar
or

  1. Go to View>Toolbars, and look for a SYSTRAN entry. If there is an entry and it is not checked, click on it to place a checkmark beside it; the toolbar should then appear. If there is a toolbar and it is already checked, click on it to remove the checkmark, then go to View>Toolbars again and click on it; the toolbar should then appear.
  2. Go to Tools>Internet Options and click on the Advanced tab. Make sure that Enable third-party browser extensions is checked.

Some parts of HTML pages do not get translated.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ13057
Configuration: all

When translating some web pages, parts of the page do not get translated.

Explanation/Solution

This can happen for the following reasons:

  • The text not translated is dynamically produced using javascript - javascript "output" can not be translated.
  • The text is part of images - images are not translated by SYSTRAN
  • The text is part of a flash animation - SYSTRAN cannot translate flash content.

Some links in translated pages do not work.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ13322
Configuration: all

After translating a webpage with option Fluid Navigation activated, an error message [The page cannot be displayed] when trying to clicking on hyperlinks

Explanation/Solution

This problems occurs when hyperlinks are implemented with javascript window.open function pointing to a relative URL. In those cases the fluid navigation function cannot work properly.

Workaround

Return to the untranslated page, follow the link to the page that could not be displayed, then translate that page.

Internet Explorer seems to open pages slowly.

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

Since I have installed SYSTRAN, it seems that opening pages in Internet Explorer takes longer.

Explanation/Solution

If the language detection is activated, then for each page, a process tries to identify language on each page. Normally this process is very fast and cannot be detected, however in some configurations this might slow page loading.

Workaround

If you experience such a slowdown and do not need language detection to be activated, try deactivating the feature in SYSTRAN Toolbar>Options>Application Option>Internet Explorer Options.

The SYSTRAN Toolbar is not handled with FireFox 3.5.

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

After updating to FireFox 3.5 or installing SYSTRAN Desktop V6, the SYSTRAN toolbar can not be used in this version of Firefox. How do I get it?

Explanation/Solution

To fix this, you need to update the SYSTRAN plugin for Firefox.

Workaround

You have 2 ways to complete this:

  • Installation with the automatic update:
    1. Select Start > All Programs > Software Updates,
    2. Once the Software Manager is opened, select SYSTRAN 6 Plugin Firefox 3 from the list of available updates,
    3. Click Install,
    4. Follow the instructions.
  • Installation with the manual update:
    1. Close all Firefox applications opened,
    2. Download and run Systran_Firefox_Patch_6.00.42.07.exe . This program will check the installation and will allow you to fix this issue.

Validation of the installation:

  1. Select Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs ,
  2. Select SYSTRAN and click Info
  3. The new SYSTRAN version 6.00.42.07 should be displayed,
  4. Open Firefox,
  5. The SYSTRAN Plugin is available,
  6. Translate a WEB page,
  7. The translation is correctly performed.
SYSTRAN Toolbar for Microsoft Office applications

Inconsistent translation between Translation Toolbar and translation within Office applications.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ12729
Configuration: all

When I translate a sentence using the keyboard Ctrl+T shortcut, I see a different translation in the Translation Status window than the one that I can paste in my application with Ctrl+V.

Explanation/Solution

When you copy a cell in Excel, the content of the cell is copied in the clipboard into several formats. Each format is translated independently. The format displayed in the Translation Status window is the "text" format, whereas the format copied in Excel is the "html" format. Normally the translation does not differ depending on the format, however some side-effects can sometimes be observed.

Workaround

To copy the equivalent of the Translation Status output into the Excel cell, double-click on a cell and copy to the clipboard inside the edition field on the top of the screen.

The page layout is not preserved after translation.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ13389
Configuration: all
  • Translating a .doc file, I see that the page layout is not preserved:
    • text is wrapped whereas it was not wrapped in the source
    • text and image have been moved from one page to the other
    • words with bold face on same letters do not render correctly in the translation
  • Translating a .ppt file, I see that the page layout is not preserved:
    • boxes overlap
    • some text is displayed outside of the slide

Explanation/Solution

  • Translated text does not necessarily have the same length as source text. Layout of document using manual positioning will be modified because of this.
  • Intra-word formatting cannot be preserved in the translation

Workaround

There is no solution to this problem, however, the following tips can be used to reduce the problems:

  • in Microsoft Word, try not using any manual object/text positioning
  • if translating from English to a "verbose" language like German, try reducing the font size in the output

Microsoft Office Add-ins cannot be disabled.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ16378
Configuration: Office 2007

In Microsoft Excel 2007, open Office Button>Excel Options>Add-Ins, select Manage: COM Add-ins and click Go, and try to disable SYSTRAN. An error message shows [The connected state of Office Add-Ins registered in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE cannot be changed].

Explanation/Solution

Problem is caused by Vista or 7 security settings. Vista does not allow the changing of any common registry settings without running in privileged administrator mode. True for all Microsoft Office applications.

Workaround

  1. Close Microsoft Excel or the other Office application
  2. Browse to the office application file C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\Excel.exe
  3. Right-click on the file and click on Run as administrator
  4. Follow the standard steps to disable the Add-In

Reference

Additional information can be found here:
  • similar issue for another Add-In reported here.

Cannot translate some Microsoft Word files.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ18083
Configuration: Office 2007

In Microsoft Word 2007, if the option "Save files in this format" is set to "Word 97-2003 Document (*.doc)", the Translation is systematically failling

Explanation/Solution

Workaround

  1. In Microsoft Word 2007, set the option "Save files in this format" to "Word 2007 Document (*.docx)"
  2. Close the Microsoft Word 2007
  3. Open the Microsoft Word 2007 to translate
You can translate with the SYSTRAN Microsoft Word Toolbar. This procedure does not avoid the user to choose the save format of document: a "Word 2007 Document (*.docx)" document can be changed to "Word 97-2003 Document (*.doc)".

Cannot translate some Microsoft Excel files.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ13016
Configuration: all

When trying to translate an Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, I observe the following SYSTRAN error [error converting file]

Explanation/Solution

The Excel document you are trying to translate is probably protected.

Workaround

Unprotect the spreadsheet and try translating again, or copy/paste the content of the spreadsheet in a new spreadsheet if you cannot unprotect the spreadsheet.

SYSTRAN Toolbar is suddenly missing in Microsoft Excel.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ16402
Configuration: all, Office 2007

I used to translate with SYSTRAN using the Microsoft Excel Toolbar, but now I just reopened Microsoft Excel and the Toolbar has disappeared.

Explanation/Solution

This problem sometimes occurs after translation with the Excel Toolbar.

Workaround

  1. Close all Microsoft Excel windows
  2. Right-click on the SYSTRAN icon in the System Tray and click Exit.
  3. Open Windows Task Manager and click on the processes tab.
  4. Kill any Microsoft Excel processes
  5. Reopen Microsoft Excel

Why does my translation in Outlook open in a Word window?

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

Translating an email in Outlook, I see the translation in a Word window

Explanation/Solution

If your default editor in Outlook is Word, then your email is translated with SYSTRAN Toolbar for Word and does not respect SYSTRAN Toolbar for Outlook options.

Workaround

Change your default text editor in Outlook so that Microsoft Word is not used.

My Outlook freezes and is slow

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

After installing the SYSTRAN Toolbar for Word and the SYSTRAN Toolbar for Outlook, the Microsoft Office Word and Microsoft Office Outlook can freeze or/and be very slow

Explanation/Solution

Workaround

In the goal to stabilize Outlook, please reproduce the following 6 steps procedure:

  1. Open Microsoft Office Outlook.
  2. Deactivate the SYSTRAN Toolbar for Outlook from Display/ToolsBar.
  3. Close the SYSTRAN server in the TaskBar.
  4. Close Microsoft Office Outlook.
  5. Open Microsoft Office Outlook, create a new mail and close it.
  6. Activate the SYSTRAN Toolbar for Outlook from Display/ToolBar.
Microsoft explains in more details the problem on its Support Page here.

Outlook: Cannot display source message in my translation.

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

I have activated SYSTRAN Toolbar>Options>Application Options>Office Toolbars>Toolbar for Outlook>Keep copy of original email, but the option does not work when translating an email in Outlook.

Explanation/Solution

If your default text editor in Outlook is Word, then your email is translated with SYSTRAN Toolbar for Word and does not respect SYSTRAN Toolbar for Outlook options.

Workaround

Change your default text editor in Outlook so that Microsoft Word is not used.

Activation and Registration

Activation is required again after rebooting

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ16617
Configuration: Windows Vista, 7

After Installing and activating SYSTRAN on Windows Vista or 7, when rebooting and running SYSTRAN I am asked to activate again.

Explanation/Solution

A patch is available for Windows Vista or 7 users here

Automatic activation fails.

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

What should I do if I get the error message: "Cannot connect to the activation server" ?

Explanation/Solution

This could be caused by your antivirus software, a firewall or proxy server. Please contact your network administrator for assistance. You'll have to allow SYSTRAN to send and receive https requests during the internet activation. Alternatively, you can activate SYSTRAN via telephone. To do this, follow the branch "by telephone" in the activation dialog.

"Maximum number of activations" error.

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

What should I do if I get the error activation not possible: "Maximum number of activations exceeded"?

Explanation/Solution

You can activate your software three times without contact to our Support team. After that, you will have to contact us specifying the reason for your reactivation. Please note that one license for a SYSTRAN Desktop product only allows one activated installation at the same time.

How can I force product activation?

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

I see the activation reminder every time I launch a translation - how can I activate the product?

Explanation/Solution

Click on SYSTRAN Toolbar>Options>License>Activate and then chose manual or automatic activation.

Register/Activation fails

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ16833
Configuration: all

What should I do if I get the error message: "Font 'Trebuchet MS' doesn't support style 'REGULAR'" ?

Explanation/Solution

Register/Activate SYSTRAN Products operations request the installation of the ' Trebuchet MS REGULAR ' font.

Program Updates

Update Manager is Partially Displayed

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ16634
Configuration: all

When viewing the Update Manager, the dialog is not displayed correctly. On machines using Internet Explorer 7, only the top 1/3rd of the Update Manager dialog is displayed.

Explanation/Solution

An automatic update has been provided by Installshield, and can also be found on Installshield Support Pages at http://support.installshield.com/kb/view.asp?articleid=Q112727

SYSTRAN Translation Project Manager

STPM corpus viewer doubles the first string of my document.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ13936
Configuration: all

When importing some Office files in STPM, the first sentence of my document sometimes appears twice.

Explanation/Solution

The first string is the document title - that is by default the first sentence of the document. Edit the title of the document in File>Properties menu.

STPM corpus viewer shows some sentences that are not part of my document.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ13937
Configuration: all

When importing some Office files in STPM, I see some additional strings like [Click to edit Master title style] or [<footer>] in the Corpus Viewer.

Explanation/Solution

Those strings belong to the meta-data stored in your document, for instance the slide mask definition - you can disregard them for the translation.

Import of Microsoft Office documents in STPM without corresponding Microsoft Office installed.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ14956
Configuration: all

I do not have Microsoft Word installed and try to import a .doc file in STPM. The import fails with the following error message: [Error converting file]. What can I do?

Explanation/Solution

You can not import Microsoft Office documents in STPM without the corresponding Microsoft application installed.

Ctrl+A does not work in STPM.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ13945
Configuration: all

In STPM, I try to select my whole document using Ctrl+A but it does not work.

Explanation/Solution

This behavior is by design. You can only select content within a single paragraph at one time.

Cannot preview some pages in "side-by-side" mode from STPM.

Description and example of the problem

ID: BGZ15258
Configuration: all

Some pages do not show when previewed from STPM in "side-by-side" mode.

Explanation/Solution

These pages might contains some javascript code which blocks them from being included in frames that are used to display the side-by-side.

Workaround

Try disabling javascript in the browser

SYSTRAN Dictionary Manager

How can I use my SYSTRAN 5 dictionaries?

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

I have v5 dictionaries built with my previous v5 installation. How can I use those dictionaries in v6?

Explanation/Solution

To use v5 dictionaries in v6, you need to import these dictionaries use File>Import menu command.

  • v5 dictionaries are the ".dct" files located in C:/Program Files/SYSTRAN/5/Premium/UserDicts
  • import these files using File>Import command menu in SDM.
Note that the import will fail if the installed v6 language pairs do not include the same language pairs of these v5 dictionaries.

Workaround

Alternately, you can export these dictionaries into textual format using SDM v5 and re-import them in SDM v6

Other Questions

Windows Security Alert

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

When launching SYSTRAN, a Windows security alert displays a warning that Windows firewall has blocked the SYSTRAN program. Is there a risk? What should I do?

Explanation/Solution

There is no risk as the firewall detects that the SYSTRAN program is trying to communicate with the translation engines. Click on Unblock. The same warning will probably display the very first time you use each SYSTRAN program.

Can I get a discount for an upgrade?

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

I have an older version of SYSTRAN, can I get a discount for an upgrade?

Explanation/Solution

If you would like to upgrade to our current release, version 6, you will receive a special discount depending of the version you have. If you would like more information, you can contact our sales department by phone at:
Europe : +33 (0)1 44 82 49 99 (de 9h00 à 18h00 CET)
USA : +1 858 457 1900 x443 (de 8h30 à 17h PST)
or via email.

I'd like to attach documents to the support form.

Description and example of the problem

Configuration: all

I'd like to attach documents to the support form or send a file which is not translated correctly with its translated file, how do I do this?

Explanation/Solution

When you complete the support form, you'll get an immediate automatic response. Please reply to this mail and attach your file to the email.