Forecaster TRANSLATE -vs- TRANSLATEL

Subtlety is an art, right?  So it goes that the difference between the TRANSLATE and TRANSLATEL tasks in Forecaster is a very subtle one.  For those of you unfamiliar with currency translation in Forecaster, it actually works on a pretty basic idea.  You have an input set with a "originating" currency, and it is mapped to an input set with a "functional" currency.  When you save the "originating" input set, it translates to the "functional" input set (if you have set it up for auto-translate).

Even with auto-translate selected, you may still have need to use the TRANSLATE and TRANSLATEL tasks. So here is the difference:

• TRANSLATE- This task will translate all departments/assignable segments in the "originating" input set to the "functional" input set.  This would apply when all segments need to be translated.
• TRANSLATEL- This task will only translate those departments/assignable segments specified in the line set defined in the task. So, for example, if I set up a line set (Build>>Lines) with only three departments/assignable segments in it, only those three segments will be translated when the task is run.  This would apply if only certain segments need to be translated.

The difference is a subtle one, and it is even more subtle when you set up the task using the wizard.  First, you need to use Build>>Lines to create a line set of the departments/assignable segments to be used in the translation.  Then you need to create the task:

• Data>>Tasks
• Right-click, choose "New"
• Mark "Create Using Wizard"
• Click "Next"
• Click the "Insert Task Package" button in the upper right hand corner

• Choose the "Perform Currency Translation" task from the drop-down list
• Select the Input Set for translation
• Set the Translation Scope
• If you want this to be a TRANSLATEL task, you need to then mark the "I will choose a set of lines with assignable segment (Department) IDs for which translation is to be run" and then select the line set
• Click OK

So although it is a subtle difference, it is an important one if you only need to translate some departments/assignable segments.

Christina Phillips is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Dynamics GP Certified Professional. She is a supervising consultant with BKD Technologies, providing training, support, and project management services to new and existing Microsoft Dynamics customers.