XLIFF files (XML Localization Interchange Format)

XLIFF (XML Localization Interchange File Format) is an XML-based format created to standardize the way localizable data are passed between tools during translation and localization. It's also a common format for translation tools.

XLIFF files are bilingual - XLIFF is not a source document format. The files contain entire segments, similarly to the way memoQ shows them in the translation editor. There is status information; there are tags; and match rates may also be saved. In addition, the XLIFF file may contain "skeleton" data, required to export translated documents. But if the XLIFF file comes from a different tool, memoQ can't interpret the skeleton data.

memoQ can pick up preview information from XLIFF files:

In XLIFF 1 files, preview IDs can be in an attribute or a newly defined child element of the <trans-unit> element, or in the context-type attribute of the <context> element.

XLIFF is a standard: XLIFF was standardized by OASIS in 2002. Its current specification is v2.1, released on 2018-02-13.

Use this to import XLIFF files from different tools: When you receive an XLIFF file that was saved in another translation tool, use this filter to import it. Don't use it to import memoQ XLIFF files.

Don't use this for memoQ XLIFF, it's special: Normally, memoQ exports bilingual documents in its own flavor of XLIFF. The files have the MQXLZ extension. To import those, use the simple Import command, or drop the files on the Translations pane in Project home.

Import SDLXLIFF with the special SDLXLIFF filter: Normally, memoQ uses the SDLXLIFF filter to import XLIFF files saved in SDL Trados Studio. But you can import these using this generic XLIFF filter, too. For instructions, scroll down on this page.

XLIFF comes in, XLIFF goes out: After memoQ imports an XLIFF file from a different tool, it can export an XLIFF file only. memoQ can't export the translation in the original format: for that, you need the original tool.

In this window, you can set up how memoQ imports XLIFF files.

How to get here

  1. Start importing an XLIFF file.
  2. In the Document import options window, select the XLIFF files, and click Change filter and configuration.
  3. The Document import settings window appears. From the Filter dropdown, choose XLIFF filter.

    xliff-general

What can you do?

When you finish

To confirm the settings, and return to the Document import options window: Click OK.

To return the Document import options window, and not change the filter settings: Click Cancel.

In the Document import options window: Click OK again to start importing the documents.