Software TO3000 Initiator des Themas: Carola BAYLE
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Carola BAYLE 
Frankreich
Local time: 00:21
Deutsch > Französisch
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I saw recently on a banner on proz.com an advert for this programme and I would be happy to get feedback from colleagues who already use or tried this software.
| | | | SirReaL
Deutschland
Local time: 00:21
Englisch > Russisch
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| I find it useful | Aug 4, 2011 |
I've used it for almost 4 years, since version 8.0. It saves me quite a bit of time on invoicing. It's not the smoothest piece of software you'll ever use, but it works.
| | | | Donglai Lou (X)
China
Local time: 06:21
Englisch > Chinesisch
+ ...
| It's a great software | Aug 5, 2011 |
I have used it for more than 5 years and it saved me a lot of time. However, I regretted upgrading it from 7.0/8.0 to 9.0 because things become complicated and unnecesarry.
| | | | Peter Linton (X)
Local time: 23:21
Schwedisch > Englisch
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| Great old software | Aug 5, 2011 |
I agree with the others -- it is very good, or rather it was very good, and I am glad I have not upgraded from v. 7.0
The problem I found is that in v.7, translation jobs are organised by customers, whereas in versions 8 & 9 they are organised by projects -- a good structure for translation companies who may well need to set up a project with multiple languages. But it is not so convenient for solo freelance translators, for example because they may want to invoice a number of jobs ... See more I agree with the others -- it is very good, or rather it was very good, and I am glad I have not upgraded from v. 7.0
The problem I found is that in v.7, translation jobs are organised by customers, whereas in versions 8 & 9 they are organised by projects -- a good structure for translation companies who may well need to set up a project with multiple languages. But it is not so convenient for solo freelance translators, for example because they may want to invoice a number of jobs at once.
This is by no means a fatal flaw, and the other advantages easily outweigh this disadvantage.
Worth saying that you need to be thorough about filling in details. GIGO applies ( garbage in, garbage out), But if you fill in everything dutifully, invoicing is a breeze. ▲ Collapse
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Claire Cox
Vereinigtes Königreich
Local time: 23:21
Französisch > Englisch
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| If you're good with technology | Aug 5, 2011 |
Whilst I do use TO3000, I'm afraid to say that I have not been able to work out how to customize invoices or make my own reports, so it hasn't really done all that I expected of it. This may well be down to my lack of software knowhow, but I don't think it's particularly user-friendly and it took me a long time to get what I do have set up. As it is, I do find it useful for scheduling my jobs and deadlines and for keeping statistics - but I find myself manually exporting data from here to a sepa... See more Whilst I do use TO3000, I'm afraid to say that I have not been able to work out how to customize invoices or make my own reports, so it hasn't really done all that I expected of it. This may well be down to my lack of software knowhow, but I don't think it's particularly user-friendly and it took me a long time to get what I do have set up. As it is, I do find it useful for scheduling my jobs and deadlines and for keeping statistics - but I find myself manually exporting data from here to a separate Excel file to work out end-of-year statistics such as how many words I've done for each client, each language, etc. I'm sure there must be a way of creating such reports in TO3000 but it isn't obvious to me how to do so! As for invoicing, I'm frustrated by the fact that TO3000 rounds down, not up, contrary to normal practice, so that, combined with my inability to customize the invoice successfully means that I've stuck to my faithful Excel invoice system which has worked for more years than I care to remember.
I was hoping that the TO3000 team would be at the Rome conference this year so I could resolve these queries, but unfortunately they weren't able to be there, so I'm still in ignorance.... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Friedrich Reinold
Vereinigte Staaten
Local time: 15:21
Mitglied (2003)
Englisch > Deutsch
| Very recommendable | Aug 6, 2011 |
I find TO3000 extremely useful, as it's a great time saver for invoice-writing. All report templates, including invoice templates, are MS Word templates that can be customized exactly as you like. You can even define and use your own custom variables.
I did have to adapt the approach I was using to organize projects, so I wish it had more flexibility in that regard, but all in all I'm very satisfied.
The company's support is also very responsive.
| | | | Carola BAYLE
Frankreich
Local time: 00:21
Deutsch > Französisch
+ ...
THEMENSTARTER | Thanks to all your useful comments | Aug 6, 2011 |
I still use different Excel-files but find it getting more and more dispensive in time. I might go for a trial.
Further comments are still most welcome.
| | | | Emma Goldsmith
Spanien
Local time: 00:21
Mitglied (2004)
Spanisch > Englisch
| Rounding problem | Aug 6, 2011 |
Claire Cox wrote:
As for invoicing, I'm frustrated by the fact that TO3000 rounds down, not up, contrary to normal practice
I quite agree with Claire here. I have managed to adapt Excel to fit in with TO3000 rounding (it's called Bankers' Rounding, actually, and rounds 5 to the nearest even number, so sometimes it rounds up and sometimes it rounds down). Here is how to adapt Excel to use the same rounding system:
http://www.proz.com/forum/software_applications/202627-suggestions_for_translation_office_3000_to3000_version_10-page4.html#1775896
However, there's still no solution for agencies that use on-line invoicing systems when they round up, so I end up entering a flat fee in TO3000. Not a good solution, I know, but at least it's a workaround.
I've only been using TO3000 for just over a month (I downloaded the one-month trial version) and then purchased it through a Proz group buy. After spending a very long time entering all my clients' details, I issued all my July invoices through TO3000, adapting some of the templates and creating one in Spanish for my Spanish clients. It wasn't very hard, and the results were quite satisfactory.
Like Claire, however, I haven't managed to get to grips with the reports, so for the moment I'm still using my Excel spreadsheets to separate clients who are charged VAT, others who aren't, Spanish ones who are subject to a 15% withholding etc. I'd like to be able to do this with TO3000 too, but it looks too hard!
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Natalie
Polen
Local time: 00:21
Mitglied (2002)
Englisch > Russisch
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Moderator dieses Forums SITE LOCALIZER | Sorry, rounding what?.. | Aug 6, 2011 |
Claire Cox wrote:
As for invoicing, I'm frustrated by the fact that TO3000 rounds down, not up, contrary to normal practice....
I don't understand how is it possible... in my experience, TO does not round up anything and the invoices look exactly as I need them.
| | | | SirReaL
Deutschland
Local time: 00:21
Englisch > Russisch
+ ...
| It does round down cents | Aug 6, 2011 |
TO3000, version 8.0, does round down cents.
If I translate 1 word for 9.5 cents, TO3000 will round it down to 9 cents.
| | | | Natalie
Polen
Local time: 00:21
Mitglied (2002)
Englisch > Russisch
+ ...
Moderator dieses Forums SITE LOCALIZER
But the simpliest way to avoid this is entering the "flat fee", for example
| | | | Claire Cox
Vereinigtes Königreich
Local time: 23:21
Französisch > Englisch
+ ...
| Hardly the point... | Aug 6, 2011 |
Entering a flat fee would be a retrograde step in my view. My current system of Excel files means that I type in the word count and Excel works out the total based on the pre-entered per word cost, plus any surcharges I may have in a separate column. If I have to use a separate calculator to enter a flat fee, I might as well not bother! As it is, I have to have a separate price in TO3000 for my various surcharges, rates for repetitions, etc, rather than allowing TO3000 to work it out, as I gathe... See more Entering a flat fee would be a retrograde step in my view. My current system of Excel files means that I type in the word count and Excel works out the total based on the pre-entered per word cost, plus any surcharges I may have in a separate column. If I have to use a separate calculator to enter a flat fee, I might as well not bother! As it is, I have to have a separate price in TO3000 for my various surcharges, rates for repetitions, etc, rather than allowing TO3000 to work it out, as I gather it can - but once again it wasn't clear to me how you did this!
I'm impressed, Emma, that you've managed to get the invoices to work. I did initially contact the TO3000 support team about this as there is so little help available (it's probably just me....), and although they did respond quickly, I still didn't understand what I was supposed to do and was eventually told (after two or three e-mails) that any further assistance would be chargeable. Not surprisingly, I gave up - if you don't provide a manual or a product which is easy to use, you have to be prepared for queries! I only managed to get as far as I have because of the help offered by fellow users on ProZ via these forums - for which many thanks, once again. I'm not computer-illiterate by any means and have mastered essential aspects of Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Wordfast without the need for external training - but I really did struggle with this. I feel as though it has added an extra layer to my systems rather than tidying the whole procedure up as I'd expected. I keep using it because of the project management and statistics aspects as I've said, but I do wish someone would organise a training course or produce a manual to explain to lesser mortals how to use it properly!
[Edited at 2011-08-06 22:14 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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