Backups and Cloud Sync

Wordfast Pro (WFP) does not get along with programs that create automatic backups and/or sync your files with the cloud such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, iCloud, etc. If you are using this method to create backups of your TMs, glossaries, or projects, stop immediately. Either move your TMs, glossaries and projects outside of the backed-up/synced folder or remove the folder from the respective program's backup/sync list.

Why? WFP requires exclusive access to your TMs, glossaries, projects while working with/on them. A backup/sync program will violate this and there will be a conflict. If your backup/sync program is active, it will probably start the synchronization process as soon as a change is made to your TM/glossary/project – and you make changes all the time while translating. As it attempts to back up, sync or restore the file(s) from their cloud copy, this will interfere with WFP writing the changes to the same file. Eventually, this conflict will result in your files becoming corrupt and unusable. It might be possible to rescue them, but you should not leave things to chance.

But I want to back up my TM/glossary/project, what should I do?

Use the following procedure to create backup copies of your TMs, glossaries, or files.

TM backups

1. Create a "TM backups" folder on your computer's drive. This folder should be different from the folder where you keep the TMs you use in WFP.
2. Start WFP and open the project whose TM you wish to back up, then go to the Project TM tab.
3. Select the TM by clicking once on its name.
4. Click Export TM.
5. Choose the TM to export from the drop-down list if more than one TM is added to your project.
6. Choose a location to export the TM to. You can export the TM directly to the dedicated "TM backups" folder you have created.
7. That's it! Your Dropbox/Google Drive/MS OneDrive/iCloud app can now sync the exported file(s) without interfering with WFP.

Glossary backups

1. Create a "Glossary backups" folder on your computer's drive. This folder should be different from the folder where you keep the glossaries you use in WFP.
2. Start WFP and open the project whose glossary you wish to back up, then go to the Project Terminology tab.
3. Select the glossary by clicking once on its name.
4. Click Export Glossary.
5. Choose the glossary to export from the drop-down list if more than one glossary is added to your project.
6. Choose the TBX format (selected by default).
7. Choose a location to export the glossary to. You can export the glossary directly to the dedicated "Glossary backups" folder you have created.
8. That's it! Your Dropbox/Google Drive/MS OneDrive/iCloud app can now sync the exported file(s) without interfering with WFP.

Project backups

1. Create a "Project backups" folder on your computer's drive. This folder should be different from the folder where you keep your WFP projects.
2. Start WFP and on the initial Projects screen (without opening a project), select the project you wish to back up by clicking once on its name.
3. Click Export Package.
4. At the bottom of the dialog window, choose a location to export the project as package to. You can export the package directly to the dedicated "Project backups" folder you have created.
5. That's it! Your Dropbox/Google Drive/MS OneDrive/iCloud app can now sync the exported package files (.glp format) without interfering with WFP.