10. Exporting XLIFF Files

Created by Steven Smith, Modified on Fri, 8 Nov at 10:14 PM by Steven Smith

Introduction

XLIFF (XML Localization Interchange File Format) is an XML specification supporting an easy transfer of localizable data between tools during translation and localization with little or no loss of critical data. It is commonly used in translation tools as well as in content systems. More information can be found on various internet sites, i.e. Wikipedia.

Passolo already has a function supporting the export and import of SDLXLIFF files. This function works very well with Trados products such as Trados Studio, Trados GroupShare and Trados Team / Enterprise. However, the scope of the exported metadata is limited, some of the metadata can just be processed with Trados tools.

The XLIFF Export / Import of the Traloctec Data Exchange Utility for Passolo is more versatile and can be configured with more options and exports more metadata from the Passolo translation list entries of the Passolo project. This allows users to translate the exported data very conveniently and securely in third-party CAT tools.

XLIFF files are bilingual containing already segmented entire segments, that are usually shown in the translation editors. The exported XLIFF files don’t contain skeleton data, which are required to create translated documents. This limits the functionality to the exchange of translatable data between Passolo and other translation tools.

Exported data

The exported translation unit elements have the following layout:

The following data fields are exported:

Exported data fields
file	File level element. Multiple Passolo translation lists can be exported into one single XLIFF file
original	Path and name of the source file
datatype	Specifies the format of the original file
source-language	Language attribute taken from the Passolo, written as language/region coding
target-language	Language attribute taken from the Passolo, written as language/region coding
date	Specifies the creation date of this XLIFF file. Format is ISO 8601. The recommended pattern YYYYMMDDThhmmssZ is used.
product-name	Always ‘Passolo’
product-version	Major Passolo version 22, 18, 16, 15, or 11
psl-listid	Non-XLIFF attribute that specifies the internal translation list ID of the Passolo project. Used to ensure correct re-import of translated data. Do not change.
psl-tagtype	Non-XLIFF attribute that specifies the content of source and target elements to ensure correct conversion of Passolo tags into XLIFF tags.

header	XLIFF header element (Empty)
body	XLIFF body element

group	Specifies a set of elements that should be processed together
id	Specifies the internal resource ID within the translation list of the Passolo project
resname	Specifies the resource name or identifier created by the developers
restype	For Win32 resources the resource type is exported

trans-unit	XLIFF trans-unit element
id	Specifies the the source list record ID (PslNumber)
resname	Specifies the identifier created by the developers
approved	Indication whether translation is final
translate	Indication whether the entry should be translated
size-unit	Specifies the units of measure used in the maxheight, minheight, maxwidth, and minwidth attributes. Passolo supports char and pixel.
maxheight	The maximum height for the target element. The unit is determined by the size-unit attribute.
maxwidth	The maximum width for the target element. The unit is determined by the size-unit attribute.
font	Specifies the font name

note	Specifies localization-related comments
from	Specifies the author of a note. Supported content is parser, when the note was imported from the source file pjm, when the note was inserted by the project manager translator, when the note was inserted by a translator
annotates	Specifies if a note element pertains to the source or the target

XLIFF Export options

By default, tags like Inline Pattern and parser specific placeholders will be converted into XLIFF specific tags. When the option Export string entries as datatype=’plaintext’ is activated, all tags and placeholders will be exported as plain text which will result into the ability to change the tags in the translation tool that processes the XLIFF file.

By default, only entries are exported, that need translation. When the option Export ’Translated’ and ’Validated’ string entries is activated, the plugin will also export entries that have the internal Passolo state Translated and Validated (black).

By default, entries that have the internal Passolo state Locked are not exported. When the option Export ‘Locked’ string entries is activated, locked entries will be exported as well.

By default, not translated entries are exported using an empty target element. When the option Export no <target> element when string entries not translated is activated, only the source element is exported.