Resegment an existing file

Resegment applies the current segmentation rules to an existing file. Use it when the same boundary problem repeats: for example, an abbreviation causes unwanted breaks or a source passage needs a new sentence boundary.

Before resegmenting

Resegment uses the whole current file regardless of row selection or filters. Confirmed and locked segments keep their boundaries. Export current work, check the rules, and review the new source–target pairs after the operation.

This changes the units you translate, confirm, search, and export. It is different from editing wording, changing the table layout, or selecting a smaller set of rows.

Choose the right operation

Your task	Use
Correct a boundary in one source segment	Split
Combine adjacent segments	Merge
Apply saved boundary rules throughout eligible content in the current file	Resegment
Return from working segmentation to the imported boundaries	Restore Original

Resegmentation operates on the current file, not just selected rows or filtered segments. Open the file itself from Project Home: segmentation changes are unavailable in a combined View.

Which files and segments can be resegmented

The current segmentation workflow supports Searchspeare and supported memoQ and Trados bilingual content. Other imported formats or workflows can make the commands unavailable. Single-language review does not offer the bilingual Segmentation tab.

Confirmed or locked segments are protected from resegmentation. Unlocking a confirmed segment alone does not remove its confirmed status. Reopen approved work only when changing its structure is intentional.

Previously merged groups can also be protected from splitting. Protected rows keep their existing boundaries when you run Resegment.

Prepare the rules

1. Inspect examples of the problem and decide which boundaries should change.
2. Open Segmentation → Abbrev. for a repeated abbreviation problem, or Segmentation → Rules for a custom boundary condition.
3. Check the source language and save the appropriate changes.
4. Test the rules on a small file before resegmenting a large project.

Custom rules are saved for the language. After saving them, run Resegment to apply them to an existing file. Rules and abbreviations explains creation and import.

Run Resegment

Open Segmentation in the ribbon. Resegment applies the saved rules; Abbrev. and Rules let you prepare them first.

1. Open the intended project file and check its name.
2. Keep a current working export if you need a separate copy before restructuring substantial work.
3. Clear table filters so you can inspect the result across the file.
4. Open the Segmentation ribbon tab and choose Resegment.
5. Read the confirmation and continue when the file and saved rules are correct.
6. Wait for the operation to finish before another structural change.
7. Review the resulting boundaries and targets, including any message about protected segments.

Filters do not limit this action. Selecting one example segment identifies the file; it does not make Resegment a one-segment command.

What happens to existing translations

Searchspeare maintains a working segmentation linked to the original file structure. You continue editing that working text, while the link to original boundaries supports restoration and export.

An existing target is not automatically translated again or intelligently divided merely because its source is split. Existing target content can remain with the first resulting portion, while later new portions have empty targets. Combining source portions can also combine their existing target content.

Read every changed pair and move or rewrite target wording as needed. Check tags, numbers, comments, workflow status, and the following rows before confirming the result. Check that each target still translates the source in its new row.

Restore the original segmentation

Choose Segmentation → Restore Original when you want to return to the imported boundary structure. This is offered for an active segmented working file and asks for confirmation.

Restoration uses your translated working units to rebuild the original units; it is not a request to discard all translations and reload empty targets. After successful restoration, Searchspeare removes the segmented working file and returns to the original structure. Restoration also clears the working editing history, so do not treat it as an ordinary Undo step.

Preserve boundary tags

When a row combines original segments, colored boundary tags mark where those original segments meet. Keep every required source boundary tag once in the target, in the correct place and order. They allow restoration to separate the target text reliably.

If restoration cannot use the boundary tags, Searchspeare leaves the current segments in place and asks you to correct them. Check for missing, repeated, or misplaced boundary tags, then retry.

Check the exported file after resegmentation

Revised working segments and the original document structure are related but different. Some bilingual export paths ask to restore original segmentation before delivery. Read that prompt and inspect the restored result before finishing the export.

Use Files and export for delivery choices and Manual boundary changes for targeted repairs that do not require a file-wide resegmentation pass.