Merging and Editing Source Cells

Source editing mode lets coordinators clean up source content before or during translation. Use it when imported content was split badly, machine transcription created duplicate text, or a source correction is needed before translators continue.

When To Use Source Editing

Use source editing when you need to:

• Merge adjacent source cells that express one idea.
• Correct spelling or transcription errors in source text.
• Remove duplicated machine-generated content.
• Add missing source text that was omitted during import.
• Improve line breaks before translation begins.

Do not use source editing for translator discussion. Use Comments for questions and review notes.

Enable Source Editing Mode

1. Open the project and file you need to correct.
2. Open the command palette with Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows/Linux or Cmd+Shift+P on macOS.
3. Search for Toggle Source Editing Mode.
4. Run the command.
5. Confirm that source editing controls are visible in the editor.

The controls are hidden by default to prevent accidental source changes.

Merge Adjacent Source Cells

1. Enable source editing mode.
2. Find the second cell in the pair you want to merge.
3. Use the merge-with-previous action on that cell.
4. Confirm the merge when prompted.
5. Review the combined source text.
6. Save the change.

When source cells merge, the corresponding target structure is kept in sync so translators can work against the updated segmentation.

Revert or Clean Up a Merge

If a merge was not right:

1. Use the revert action when it is available.
2. Review both source and target content afterward.
3. Clean up any extra text that remains.
4. Sync the project if others are working from the same files.

Edit Source Text

1. Enable source editing mode.
2. Click the source cell that needs correction.
3. Fix the source text.
4. Save the cell.
5. Review the target side for any translation impact.

Common corrections include punctuation, repeated words, missing phrases, and line breaks.

Disable Source Editing Mode

When you are finished:

1. Open the command palette again.
2. Run Toggle Source Editing Mode.
3. Confirm that source editing controls are hidden.

Best Practices

• Make source cleanup before large translation or batch AI work whenever possible.
• Keep changes small and reviewable.
• Back up the project before broad source restructuring.
• Tell collaborators what changed, especially if comments or validations were tied to the old structure.
• Use Milestones and Navigation to check that structured projects still navigate as expected.