My workflow is as follows:
(1) If I receive a PDF, I first convert it into an editable .docx, using ABBYY FineReader 15, which I find to be the best conversion tool currently available.
(2) Then, I clean the .docx of any stuff that would result in spurious tags in my CAT tool, using TransTools’ ‘DocumentCleaner’ and/or ‘Unbreaker’.
- https://www.translatortools.net/products/transtools
- https://helpcenter.memoq.com/hc/en-us/articles/360010266260-Cleaning-unnecessary-tags-with-TransTools-Document-Cleaner
(3) Then, I translate the file in memoQ (using its excellent previewing function).
(4) In the end, the client receives a final translated word document (in .docx), and a bilingual table in .docx and .xlsx as a courtesy.