Keeping your termbase clean and trustworthy
Applies to: Pattrans desktop 0.2
Content updated: 3 August 2026 Compatibility checked: 3 August 2026
A good termbase is not a big one. It is one you are willing to trust when a translation reuses a term from it.
This page collects what to do and what to avoid — the same ground as the tips shown in the app, ordered the way you actually need them as the termbase grows.
My Termbase is available from the Basic plan upwards. Importing and exporting it is available from Pro upwards. See Pricing.
What to keep out
This is the easiest thing to get wrong, and getting it wrong spoils many translations at once. Keep out of the termbase:
| Kind | Why |
|---|---|
| Application, publication and patent numbers | These identify one file; they are not terminology. Add one and you force it onto every later document |
| Trademarks and proper names | They are not translated by a general rule; handling depends on the file |
| Figure labels | They belong to one set of drawings |
| Measurement units | These have their own mechanism — see Unit names in your language |
| Abbreviations | How they expand depends on the document |
What these share: they are right in one file and wrong in the next. A termbase is for what stays right.
Split a term that has several meanings
If a source term carries several meanings, split it into separate entries with different domains rather than picking one. The same word in a mechanical file and a chemical file rarely translates the same way.
For the same reason, consider a separate termbase per domain — and for applications in the same patent family, or from the same applicant, a termbase of their own keeps wording consistent across the set.
A narrow termbase is usually more accurate than a large one.
Reading the Trust column
The Trust column counts how often a term has been used. A 5-star term has been through many translations — you can reuse it without checking it again from scratch.
⚠️ Editing a term’s translation resets its trust to ★. That is fair: the new wording has never been used yet. But it means you should not casually tweak entries that have earned five stars.
Quality matters more than quantity. Review every term as you add it — it will apply itself to every later translation without asking you again.
Clean up periodically
A growing termbase drifts. From time to time:
- merge synonymous entries onto one translation,
- delete terms you no longer use.
Each plan has a different term limit, and your current count is shown at the top of the page — tidying before you reach the ceiling is easier than tidying once it is full.
Working faster in the table
| To do this | Do that |
|---|---|
| Edit a cell quickly | Double-click the cell |
| Change display density | Hold Ctrl + scroll inside the table (Compact / Default / Comfortable) |
| Sort a column | Click its header |
| Filter by domain | The buttons in the Domain filter |
| Delete several consecutive rows | Hold Shift + click to select the whole range instead of ticking each one |
A freshly edited term carries a yellow dot — that means unsaved. Save before leaving the page.
Backing up and sharing
Export the termbase periodically, and always export before a bulk replace — that export is your only copy if a bulk operation goes the wrong way.
When several people work on the same matter, sharing means exporting the file, sending it, and importing it on the other side.
When importing from Excel or CSV, check the column order carefully — source / translation / domain / notes. Get it wrong and the whole file lands in the wrong columns.
Your termbase is synced across every device you sign in on, so you do not need to carry a file between your own machines.