Press Release

OASIS Approves XLIFF 2.0 Localization Interchange Standard

IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, SDL, Symantec, University of Limerick LRC, and Others Advance Interoperability between Commercial and Open Source Localization Tools

28 August 2014 – The OASIS international open standards consortium announced the approval of the XML Localisation Interchange File Format (XLIFF) 2.0. Enabling interoperability between localization tools, XLIFF frees publishers from the difficulty and expense of pre-processing localizable content from proprietary formats. XLIFF 2.0 is now an official OASIS Standard, a status that signifies the highest level of ratification.

XLIFF defines a standard, extensible vocabulary that captures relevant metadata for any point in the lifecycle so that it can then be exchanged between a variety of commercial and open source tools. It supports common software and document data formats and mark-up languages.

“XLIFF is widely regarded as the gold standard for localization. Version 2.0 enhances interoperability and makes the standard even easier to implement,” said Bryan Schnabel, chair of the OASIS XLIFF Technical Committee. “XLIFF 2.0 features a modular approach that lets implementers support the core set of required features and choose from a range of optional modules. The mechanics for common localization tasks like segmentation, annotation, and inline have been streamlined. Conformance requirements have been clarified to ensure that compliant XLIFF 2.0 files generated by any tool or process will be accessible by any other tool or process.”

A number of tools have been developed by the international community to support the standard, including a test suite, an online validator, and an open source Java Library to create, write, read, and manipulate XLIFF 2.0 documents.

XLIFF 2.0 is offered for implementation on a royalty-free basis. Companies, non-profit groups, governments, academic institutions, and individuals are welcome to participate in the OASIS XLIFF Technical Committee, which continues to advance the standard.

Support for XLIFF 2.0

Comtech
“XLIFF 2.0 is a major step in the right direction—to best assist organizations to translate content wherever it resides. With the features of XLIFF 2.0, we can expect major corporate users, large and small, to improve their translation practices for documents, websites, product interfaces, and anywhere text resides. Without it, organizations pay the price of asking their translation services providers to do high-cost busy work,” said JoAnn T. Hackos, PhD, President, Comtech Services.

Microsoft
“XLIFF 2.0 represents a major leap forward for localization interoperability. Congratulations to the XLIFF Technical Committee for delivering a comprehensive, robust localization standard. Microsoft recognizes the value of strong localization standards in fostering an efficient localization eco-system. The entire localization industry will benefit from XLIFF 2.0’s rich feature set and high degree of modularity and extensibility. Microsoft is a strong supporter of XLIFF 2.0, and we look forward to its broad adoption,” said David Treadwell, Corporate VP, Operating Systems Group, Microsoft.

Oracle
“XLIFF 2.0 is designed for both simplicity and extensibility. Its robust core can significantly im-prove translation interoperability while allowing individual participants to selectively adopt extended modules for advanced features. Oracle is pleased to see it mature as a standard and gain greater industry traction,” said Don Deutsch, VP, Chief Standards Officer, Oracle.

About OASIS

OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) is a not-for-profit, international consortium that drives the development, convergence and adoption of open standards for the global information society. OASIS promotes industry consensus and produces worldwide standards for cloud computing, security, privacy, M2M, IoT, content technologies, business transactions, emergency management, and other applications. OASIS open standards offer the potential to lower cost, stimulate innovation, grow global markets, and protect the right of free choice of technology. OASIS members broadly represent the marketplace of public and private sector technology leaders, users and influencers. The consortium has more than 5,000 participants representing over 600 organizations and individual members in 100 countries.

Press contact: Carol Geyer OASIS Senior Director, carol.geyer@oasis-open.org +1.941.284.0403+1.941.284.0403

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