Convert srt subtitles from Subtitle Workshop to Adobe Encore CS5

Subtitle Workshop 4 is a fantastic (and free) application for easy subtitling but converting subtitles made from Subtitle Workshop to Adobe Encore CS5 (or .srt .ssa .sub etc.) is a tedious task because although Subtitle Workshop CAN output Adobe Encore .txt subtitle files, the Adobe Encore CS4 (and CS5) can’t import them. This is happening because Encore CS4/CS5 subtitle script file must be in UNICODE (UTF-8). Subtitle Workshop outputs some codepage text files (like ANSI) but not UTF-8. I found a solution (after reading a little the help file of Encore and without writing a pascal script to use in SW4) because I wanted to translate a feature using Subtitle Workshop 4 (it is MORE handy for subtitling than Encore) and then convert the sub file to Adobe Encore CS5.

At first you should prepare your subtitles as normal using your Subtitle Workshop. Finish the translation and save also a backup version. Then go to Export to->Custom “text” format and click it. A pop up window will appear with an option like HTML Example and other options to fill.

Alter the Extension to .txt and choose your appropriate frame rate. In the Title fill your subtitle’s filename. In Structure change the last zz to ff

Then click More. In the same window will appear a new tab called Editor. Click this and you’ll see a text frame with some code in it.



Delete everything except the code below:

{RepeatSub}{SubCount}. {swStart} / {swEnd} - {swText}{EndRepeat}
and alter this to:
{RepeatSub}{SubCount} {swStart} {swEnd} {swText}{EndRepeat}

Note:You must keep that as is (there are spaces between the {words}) – best solution is to copy-paste from this post.

This is because Adobe Encore .txt format is
SubtitleNumberStartTimecodeEndTimecodeSubtitleSecondLineSubtitle
for example: 1 00:00:10:20 00:00:12:10 Hello World! This is a lovely day!!

- Click Save

Got it so far? That’s great! Now you have a .txt subtitle file to import into Encore. Try it.
Hey…You will see Encore CS5 gives you an Error. Why? Because although the file is actually .txt and it contains the data as Encore wants them, IT ISN’T UTF-8! I tried notepad, notepad++, OpenOffice, Word but the problem couldn’t be solved until after google search I found this great text editor: BabelPad

Install it and open the .txt subtitle file (be sure to manually select your appropriate Encoding). Then there is something to alter in your subtitle file. Remember that in Subtitle Workshop when you want to change line (Carriage Return), it puts a | character? This has to get fixed in your final .txt because Encore doesn’t recognize it. (You can always change them
inside Encore one by one but who wants more work?)

So back in BabelPad choose Edit -> Find & Replace -> Replace (or hit Ctrl+H) and put in the following popup
Find what:  |
Replace with: (backslash u 2028)

TICK Using Unicode Escape Sequences

There you are. Check your subtitles!
The | character have changed to [L SEP] babelpad tag. Save this file and check the following:

Your subtitles’ .txt file is finally ready! Switch to Encore and import it. No more Error Message! This method worked well for me! You should always check your subs if something didn’t convert well and… happy and easy translating productions!

A request: Although this site and myself isn’t affiliated in any relationship to the developers of Subtitle Workshop and BabelPad (both applications are free and very useful), please
give some kudos to them by donating a small amount to their site (they deserve your gesture)

BabelPad:  http://www.babelstone.co.uk/Software/BabelPad.html
Subtitle Workshop: http://www.urusoft.net
Adobe Encore CS4/Cs5 is copyrighted. Encore, CS4, CS5 is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

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Note: if you want a quote for a Greek subtitling project feel free to email me