Valid from TermStar NXT Service Pack 16 Update 2 (December 2023)
Release Notes revision: 2023-12-20
These Release Notes describe new features of TermStar NXT.
The Release Notes list all officially released Service Packs and Service Pack Updates. Internal updates are not included, therefore the numbering of the mentioned Service Packs Update is not continuous.
Quick Installation Guides & User Documentation
TermStar is being continuously further developed. You can find current Service Packs, installation instructions, user documentation and accessories on our website under » Downloads | Transit & TermStar.
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You can find your local STAR subsidiary on our website under » Company | STAR Group worldwide.
For details about new features or solved issues click the respective title.
» Service Pack 16 Update 2 (December 2023)
» Service Pack 16 (October 2023)
» Service Pack 15 Update 3 (May 2023)
» Service Pack 15 (December 2022)
» Service Pack 14 Update 11 (May 2022)
» Service Pack 14 Update 5 (November 2021)
» Service Pack 13 Update 8.1 (December 2020)
» Service Pack 11 (February 2019)
» Service Pack 10 Update 3 (October 2018)
» Service Pack 10 Update 2 (September 2018)
» Service Pack 9 Update 16 (February 2017)
» Service Pack 8 (January 2015)
» Service Pack 7 (September 2013)
» Service Pack 6 (November 2012)
» Service Pack 5 (December 2011)
» Service Pack 4 (January 2011)
» Service Pack 3 (September 2010)
» Service Pack 2 (December 2008)
» Service Pack 1 (September 2009)
Additional web search services
TermStar’s web search now supports the following additional services:
ESCO ("European multilingual classification of Skills, Competences and Occupations" provided by the European Commission)
France Terme (French terminology provided by the Délégation générale à la langue française et aux langues de France)
GDT ("Grand dictionnaire terminologique" provided by the Office québécois de la langue française)
LINGUA-PC (German-French terminology provided by the State Chancellery of Canton of Bern)
SCTA Semamdy (trilingual terminology provided by the Belgian "Service central de traduction allemande")
TermCat Cercaterm (terminology provided by the Catalan Centre de Terminologia)
Call up service home pages per click on service name
The home page of each service can now be accessed by clicking on the name of the service. Therefore, the "globe" icon is no longer necessary and has been removed.
Additional key combination for non-breaking space: CTRL + Space
In TermStar, it is now possible to enter a non-breaking space directly by using the shortcut CTRL + Space.
Additional key combination for editing on the right page: CTRL + ENTER
It is now possible to edit a data record on the right page by using the shortcut CTRL + ENTER.
Addendum to » Service Pack 15 (December 2022): Since Service Pack 15, TermStar allows to run TermStar databases on Microsoft SQL Server 2022 and Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Express.
NOTE: The support of Microsoft SQL Server 2022 is optional and needs to be enabled by licence number. For more information contact STAR (» Contact).
This Update does not contain additional new features for TermStar. You will therefore find the latest new features for TermStar in » Service Pack 15 (December 2022).
TermStar can be installed and run on Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022.
TermStar now supports the following working languages:
Central Kurdish / Sorani (language code KUR)
Spanish (Cuba) (language code ESK)
When packing a project, it is now possible to pack multimedia files that are used in TermStar dictionaries and have been saved in the database.
Do to so, open the TermStar options when packing a project and select Pack multimedia files.
Saving multimedia files in the database can be configured in the dictionary settings (Miscellaneous tab, Save in database option). This option is supported for databases created with Service Pack 9 or later, » Saving multimedia files in the database).
Multimedia files that are only saved in the file system are not packed.
As of Service Pack, you can create project templates also based on a project.
Do to so, open the project, select Project | Template | Create and then select the Based on current project option.
The following UI elements have been renamed to clarify their meaning (no functional changes):
Data record filter: Display empty fields option renamed to Also display when field is empty
In addition, the German display names for the following languages have been changed:
Weißrussisch (language code BEL) changed to Belarussisch
Französisch (Rationalised) (language code FR1) changed to Französisch (Rationalisé)
Griechisch (Alt) (language code GRC) changed to Griechisch (Altgriechisch)
Previously, the licence number was automatically copied to the clipboard when the About TermStar window was opened.
From now on, the licence number is no longer copied automatically, but by clicking the Copy licence number to clipboard button in the About TermStar window. This prevents existing clipboard contents from being replaced inadvertently by opening the About TermStar window.
This Update contains the same new features as the previous internal Service Pack Update as well as additional bug fixes.
For the latest new TermStar features please refer to » Service Pack 14 Update 5 (November 2021).
When editing terminology, it is now possible to format any text in text fields as a cross-reference to Internet addresses (context menu Create cross-reference | To Internet address).
When you click such a cross-reference, TermStar starts your Internet browser and opens the corresponding Internet address.
Internet addresses entered in the Cross-reference field were already recognised and automatically treated as an Internet cross-reference.
As of this service pack, TermStar databases can also be accessed via http/https.
If the function is enabled and you connect to a TermStar database, you can choose between Local database (connection as before) or Remote database. For a remote database, you then enter the access data (URL, user name, password).
NOTE: The http access to TermStar databases is optional and needs to be enabled by licence number. For more information contact STAR (» Contact).
The structure of TermStar data records has been extended by the following fields:
Additional header fields: Multimedia source, Remark source
Additional language fields: Info 3, Info 4, Info 5, Multimedia source
Additional language entry fields: Usage status, Remark source
When collecting values for a value list, spaces at the beginning and end are now automatically removed.
Space when converting text field to field with value list
When converting the substrings of a text field into values of a value list, spaces at the beginning and end are now automatically removed.
To select the target data record for a cross-reference, TermStar searches for data records with the requested terms. To find similar terms, TermStar uses the fuzzy search.
As of Service Pack 14, this search is supported regardless of the length of the search string. Previously, a minimum length of 4 characters was required; very short terms (e.g. "dog") could not be searched for.
TermStar’s web search now supports the following additional service:
Pledari Grond (based on the linguistic database of the Lia Rumantscha for German and Romansh).
Previously, language entries of the same entry type within the same language were displayed in alphabetical order.
From now on the dictionary setting Miscellaneous | Additional sort field controls this order also (previously only data record order):
If the sort field has a value list, TermStar sorts the language entries according to the order of the list items.
If the sort field has no value list, TermStar sorts the language entries according to the alphabetical order of the field values.
If the sort field is a date field, TermStar sorts the language entries according to the chronological order of the field values (latest date first).
If the sort field is empty or does not correspond to the input verification, the language entry is sorted in at the end.
If no sort field is defined, TermStar sorts the language entries (as before) according to the alphabetical order of the term.
This message is displayed if you have defined the same terms for source language and target language in the Rapid Entry window.
You have the following options:
Yes: Add terminology with identical terms.
Cancel: Do not add terminology and close the Rapid Entry window.
Up to now, the "Compact" function in the TermStar database expert was used to permanently delete data records marked for deletion and to unlock locked data records.
When an Access database is selected, the function now additionally compresses the database (including file DSN databases). It is no longer necessary to compress Access databases via the Windows ODBC data source administrator.
With this service pack, TermStar optionally also supports the following drivers for MSSQL databases:
When creating a new database, TermStar offers the drivers that are actually installed on the computer.
If several drivers are displayed, we recommend the driver that matches the SQL version. If the SQL version is higher, select the latest driver.
With the following changes to the user interface, the meaning of the options/functions becomes even clearer. The functions themselves have not been changed.
Prompt window for global terminology changes
The prompt windows for confirming global changes (deleting data records or language entries; replace, assign, delete, copy, or move field contents) have been revised to show more clearly what will be changed.
TermStar layout settings for displaying graphics:
Do not scale renamed to Show original size
Scale to screen width renamed to Fit to page width
Shrink image renamed to Shrink to page width
In addition, shortcut keys for the most important functions are now displayed directly in their tooltips.
Additional web search services
TermStar’s web search now supports the following additional services:
Wikipedia (free encyclopedia for more than 30 languages)
Termium (Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank for English and French)
Termdat (Swiss Federal Administration’s terminology database for German, French, Italian, Romansh, and English)
IATE (European Union terminology for more than 25 languages)
When creating a new database, File DSN (User scope) is now the default connection type (it was previously User DSN). As ever, you can still select a different connection type during the creation process.
When installing TermStar for the first time, the databases that are provided – TermStar NXT, TermStar NXT Received and TermStar NXT Check – are now created as follows:
Location: db folder (as previously)
Connection type: File DSN (Global scope) (previously User DSN or System DSN)
The database is set up when Transit/TermStar are being installed (as before).
TermStar NXT Received and TermStar NXT Check databases:
Location: config/users/<username> folder (previously db folder)
Connection type: File DSN (User scope) (previously User DSN or System DSN)
These databases are created when a new user is set up (previously this occurred when TermStar were being installed).
The structure of TermStar data records has been extended by the following fields
Header field: External reference
The field is filled in by import or merging only, but cannot be edited by the user. It allows to store external IDs permanently and can be used for secure data synchronisation with other systems.
The previous readme files have been replaced by release notes. In addition to the service packs, they will also contain information about updates and will therefore be updated for each officially released service pack update.
The release notes of the latest Service Pack / Update are available in the » Downloads | Transit & TermStar | Service Pack area on our website.
The release notes of your installed TermStar version can be found in your TermStar installation folder (filename TermStar-NXT-Release-Notes.htm).
Since Service Pack 9 it was not possible to enter a password when unpacking a TPF for a protected dictionary.
When receiving translations with dictionaries, modified terminology was not transferred to the original dictionary in exceptional cases.
If subentries were merged with the Same GUID option, only the entry fields were replaced, but not the term itself.
When merging with the option Non-matching subentry: Add as subentry of same type if empty no subentries were added.
TermStar now allows to run TermStar databases on MSSQL Server 2014 and Oracle 12.
TermStar now supports the following languages and language variants:
Spanish (International) (language code ES1)
Tooltips for information in status bar
TermStar now provides tooltips for all sections of the status bar.
Saving multimedia files in the database
TermStar now allows to save multimedia files that you have inserted in your dictionaries in the database. Doing so, you can keep all your terminology data in one data source.
This feature is supported for databases created with TermStar NXT Service Pack 9 or later. If you want to use it for databases created with earlier Service Packs, you just have to copy the database content into a database created with TermStar NXT Service Pack 9.
Dictionary defaults for new databases
TermStar now allows to set the following default settings for all dictionaries created in a database:
Creating unique identifiers (GUID).
This feature is supported for databases created with TermStar NXT Service Pack 9 or later. If you want to use it for databases created with earlier Service Packs, you just have to copy the database content into a database created with TermStar NXT Service Pack 9.
Migrating multimedia files into the database
When copying a database, TermStar now allows to migrate the multimedia files from the file system to the database.
Logging changes to data records as revisions
TermStar now allows to log each change to a data record as a revision step. Later you can compare different revision steps and, if required, reset the whole data record or particular field contents.
NOTE: This feature is optional and needs to be enabled by licence number. For more information contact STAR (» Contact).
Creating cross-references to data records
TermStar now allows to format text in any entry field as a cross-reference to a data record.
The cross-reference text does not need to match the term of the entry to which you want to refer.
If you change the term or other fields of the target data record, the cross-reference will still work. The cross-reference target is the data record ID or GUID.
The TermStar data model has been extended by:
Additional header fields Definition and Definition source for cross-language definitions
Additional language fields Definition and Definition source for all language entries of the same language
TermStar Gate now supports Microsoft Word 2016.
The Word add-in is available in the » Downloads | Transit & TermStar | Accessories area on our website. There you can also find the latest documentation on installing and using TermStar Gate.
/TermStar now supports additional languages and language variants:
In the new Startup settings user preferences you can now select the dialogue language.
In the Working languages user preferences you can now select the preferred working languages.
In the Folder selection user preferences, the individual actions have been sorted to increase clearness. Also, further folder selection options have been added.
The TermStar now provide options for specifying in which order the additional languages should be displayed in a data record.
The window title of the User preferences window now shows the full and abbreviated name of the current user. This way, the user always knows what user name he/she is using. This is helpful if different users use the same TermStar installation.
Messages for project-specific information
On the Messages tab you can now specify project-specific information that is displayed as a message when different project processing actions are performed.
As a project manager you can use these messages
to display information or working instructions for specific project processing steps to translators / reviewers or
Attaching arbitrary files to the project
TermStar now allows the project manager to add arbitrary files to the project as attachments.
The translator can open the attachments folder containing these files by selecting Project | Exchange (Transit / XLIFF / SDLPPX) | Show attachments.
Saving options for packing / forwarding projects
TermStar now allows to save the options selected when packing or forwarding a project as default. This way, they are preselected the next time you pack / forward a project.
Filtering data records for duplicates
TermStar now provides the Duplicates filter. Using this filter you can display all duplicate entries and subentries in the source language.
Filtering data records according to the number of entries/subentries
TermStar now allows to display only data records that contain a specified number of main entries or subentries in the source language.
The Open dictionary window has been revised:
Project dictionaries and additional dictionaries are now displayed in two separate lists.
An icon indicates that a dictionary is opened on a separate tab.
The new Open project dictionaries again button allows to open the project dictionaries again if you have accidently closed them.
Switching back and forth between language pair and Rapid entry window
TermStar now allows to switch back and forth between the language pair in the Transit Editor and the Rapid entry window, e.g. to copy an example of use for a term.
Field separator for CSV export
When exporting a dictionary to the CSV format, TermStar now allows to select the field separator (semicolon or tabulator).
Merging data: Differentiate entries by term or entry GUID
On the Merge data tab of the Merging expert window, you can now select how TermStar should differentiate matching from non-matching entries: by term GUID or entry GUID.
You need to differentiate entries by entry GUID, if e.g. a dictionary has been edited by a revisor and you now merge the dictionary into the source dictionary again.
Synchronise data: Search only up to the first match
You can now check an option if the content of the synchronisation field of each imported data record corresponds to exactly one (or no) target data record.
This make usually sense if you use the data record GUID for synchronisation.
Export terminology for import in MT system
TermStar now allows to export the terminology for import into a MT system (via the TermStar database expert).
TermStar now checks all entries and subentries in all languages for duplicates:
when you create a new data record or
when you copy / paste a data record from one dictionary to another or
when you copy a language entry from one data record to another.
Enhanced replacing / assigning / deleting of field contents
TermStar now allows to search and replace text in all fields of all languages. Furthermore, you can now assign or delete text in a selected field in all languages.
Creating new data records on right page of the dictionary
TermStar now allows to create new data records on the right page of the dictionary.
You can open a new data record on the right page of the dictionary by
selecting New (Right page) in the context menu of the dictionary or
by pressing the CTRL key when clicking Processing | Data record | Create.
Generating dictionary statistics via the TermStar database expert
TermStar now allows to generate statistics on data records and entries via the TermStar database expert.
Creating GUIDs to existing data records and entries
When you check the Create unique identifiers (GUIDs) options in the dictionary settings, TermStar now can add GUIDs for all existing entries and/or data records.
When you uncheck the options, TermStar can now delete the GUIDs of all existing entries and/or data records.
Sorting values within a values list alphabetically
TermStar now allows to sort values in a flat or hierarchic monolingual values list alphabetically.
Warning message when unpacking a TPF file twice
When unpacking a TPF file by double-clicking it, now a warning message is displayed if the TPF file has already been unpacked. This way the user can avoid overwriting existing data.
Opening dictionaries by double-clicking
It is now possible to open a TermStar dictionary from the Open dictionaries window by just double-clicking its name.
Web search tool has been enhanced
The web search tool has been enhanced as follows:
You can now call up the website of the search service without carrying out a search. To do so, click the globe icon in the corresponding list item.
After entering the search string you can start the web search just by pressing the ENTER key.
Via the Change entry type to option in the context menu of the edit mode, TermStar now allows to change the entry type quickly and easily.
This way you can change e.g. a synonym into a disallowed term (subentry to subentry) or a main entry into a subentry, and vice versa.
TermStar now supports new DSN types when setting up ODBC connections to databases.
The DSN (Data Source Name) contains access data that TermStar needs for setting up a database connection. It can now be saved as a DSN file in the \config\global or \config\users\<user_name> folder of the TermStar installation.
This has many advantages especially if you have a network host installation or individual workstations accessing common network resources. The DSN files are saved centrally and can be managed centrally. It is no longer necessary to setup each database connection on each client separately.
Names of ODBC connections with file DSN are displayed with the suffix (Global) or (User).
Extended structure of data records
The structure of TermStar data records has been extended by the following fields / subentries:
Header field: Data record GUID
Entry and subentry fields: Entry GUID
Subentries: User index 1 to User index 5 (instead of only one User index)
Automatically created data record GUIDs and entry GUIDs
You can now specify for each dictionary separately if TermStar automatically creates an unique ID (GUID = Globally Unique Identifier) when creating data records and/or adding main entries or subentries.
The created GUIDs are displayed in the GUID header field or the GUID field of the main entry or subentry.
By means of the GUID, each data record created and each main entry or subentry added can be clearly identified.
NOTE ON WEBTERM: If you want to use the new fields (data record GUID, entry GUID, subentry GUID) or the additional subentry types (User index 2 to User index 5) in your WebTerm installation, your WebTerm installation needs to be updated. For more information, contact STAR (» Contact).
TermStar can be installed and run on Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012.
NOTE: TermStar requires Microsoft .NET 2.0. During the installation of TermStar on a Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 is turned on automatically. This requires an active internet connection and may slow down the installation process.
You may turn this feature on before installing TermStar: In Windows’ Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features | Turn Windows features on or off menu, select the .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) option.
NOTE: This also requires an active internet connection.
TermStar now supports the following Indian languages:
Assamese, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sinhala, Tamil, Telugu
With Service Pack 6 the display names for the following working languages have been changed:
Ibibio/Efik (language code EFI) changed to Efik/Ibibio
Flemish (language code NLB) changed to Dutch (Belgium)
In the Chinese user interface, the sorting of working languages was been revised completely.
When importing a customised file format (e. g. an Excel terminology list exported as CSV or Unicode), it is now possible to import more than one term per language into one data record (corresponds to more than one main entry or subentry in TermStar).
REQUIREMENT: The columns of the import file must be arranged in a way that TermStar is able to assign the corresponding fields to the specific main entry or subentry correctly: The main entry term or subentry term must be followed by each of the respective fields before the next main entry term or subentry term follows.
For detailed information refer to » Document “TermStar Import/Export”.
With a new project settings option, it is now possible to have project dictionaries renamed automatically upon unpacking a PPF file. The project manager can set this option in the project settings file (*.PRJ) of the project for which this function shall be available:
Make sure that the project is not open.
Open the *.PRJ file in an editor, go to section [Exchange] and insert the following line:
Save the PRJ file, open the project and pack the PPF file.
If the PPF with dictionaries is unpacked, TermStar will automatically add the project name to the name of the dictionary: <dictionary name>_<project name>.
If you delete this unpacked project, the project dictionaries can be deleted, too.
Information on the software protection (Site Code, Machine ID) has been added to the About window in standalone installations.
User role management and usability have been enhanced:
Password protection can be activated for user-defined roles.
The following windows have been enhanced:
Opening dictionaries and adding dictionaries as project dictionary
Enhanced data record filter options for language entries and subentries.
TermStar now allows to run TermStar databases on MySQL Version 5.x.
NOTE: This feature is optional and needs to be enabled by licence number. For more information contact STAR (» Contact).