How to import/export a termbase

A termbase is a multilingual file containing information about concepts in a special subject, field, or area of usage, and their translations into several languages. Information on Matecat's termbase format can be found here.

Import a termbase

You can import a termbase through the "Translation Memory and Termbase" tab in the "Settings" panel.

Once you have accessed the "Translation Memory and Termbase" tab, click the down arrow next to the "Import TMX" button corresponding to the private TM key where you want to import your termbase and select "Import Termbase" from the dropdown.

When a new termbase is imported to a key that already contains an existing one, the content of the existing combinations will be replaced, while the content of the new locales will be added to the existing termbase.

So, for example, if a key contains a termbase that only has the en-US <> es-ES combination in it:

• if you import a new termbase that only has the en-US and it-IT locales, the content of this combination of locales will be added to the key and the content of the en-US <> es-ES will be left untouched;
• if you import a new termbase that has the en-US, es-ES and it-IT locales, the content of the en-US <> it-IT combination will be added to the key and the content of the en-US <> es-ES will be replaced.

Please note that if you have a TM key containing a termbase, associated with your project, but you are not the owner of that key, you can't modify the termbse.

Export a termbase

If you need to export your termbase, just click "Export Termbase" from the dropdown, and a link to download it (in .csv format) will be sent to an email address of your choice.

Tips and workarounds

Case 1: I only need a blacklist to flag forbidden terms in the target

You can create a termbase that only has the "Forbidden" column, a column for the locale that you want to ban the words in and a column for another random locale. This way, Matecat will accept the file and the words will be correctly flagged as forbidden while working on a job.

Case 2: I have to update a large termbase that takes a long time to upload.

If you need to update a very large multi-combination termbse that takes a long time to import, upload a file that only has the updated locales in it and any other locale with which you wish them to be combined: this way, you will have the same result as reuploading the whole termbase again, but quicker.