If translating XML files online (Extensible Markup Language File Format) is an important part of your organization’s data localization process, it’s no wonder you want to learn the best way to translate XML files and get an online XML translator recommendation.

An XML file, in the words of Harvard Business Review, is “a more flexible cousin of html.” In other words, XML files allow custom tags, code and other labels that describe the data in the file. Due to this custom markup, XML file translation isn’t as simple and straightforward as Word document translation.

To make it easier and faster to translate an XML file online into another language, use enterprise translation software optimized for XML files. This applies whether you translate XLIFF files, databases or data feeds.

Read this list of the top 11 features to look for in an XML translator online. We’ll recommend an enterprise solution at the end of this post. 

Best 11 Software Features for Translating XML Files

1. Machine Translation

Want to translate XML files while minimizing the need for human translation? Use machine translation. In most cases, it will create a credible “first” draft translation. This saves hours (and even days) compared to an all-manual translation approach.

Look for an application that includes top machine translation engines such as Microsoft, Google and AWS (Amazon Translate). You can create custom translations with AWS.

2. XML File Parsing

Choose an XML translator that is optimized to parse XML files. This way, it’s more likely you won’t encounter import and export issues when you translate XML files. 

Some translation software companies will actually work with your developers to trigger a custom experience for your organization’s XML files. Our recommended vendor provides that service.

3. Batch XML File Translation

Some online XML translation tools only allow translation of XML files one at a time. If you produce large amounts of localized content, this reason alone might be why you want to learn how to translate XML files more productively. 

That being said, XML translators that accept files in batches (groups) are hands down the best way to translate an XML file while saving time. This is also referred to as “batch translation.”

4. Terminology Management

Localization calls for consistency across many languages. Therefore, when you translate XML files into another language, you want to keep your terminology consistent. To do this efficiently, seek a strong Terminology Management component in an XML translator tool. 

First, learn how to create a termbase and then import it into your translation management system. This enhances productivity within the human translation workflow while improving the quality and consistency of translations.

5. Translation Memory & Dynamic Machine Learning

The best way to translate XML files online with repetitive text is to leverage translation memory and Dynamic Machine Learning.

A translation memory is a bilingual repository that consists of sentences, phrases and segments that have been previously translated from one language into another. Translation Memories can deliver nearly-instant quality improvements and reduce translation costs and effort, especially for XML files. Translate once and never translate the same online content again.

Dynamic machine learning uses AI to produce custom translations. With a machine translation optimized term base, users can get near human translation quality.

6. Translation Editor

Choose XML translation software that has a translation editor. This way, you can improve machine-translated files that require quality improvements. At the same time, you store them in a translation memory for future re-use. 

Consequently, you present the highest quality multilingual content to your users, employees, students and/or customers with the least amount of work. 

When you leverage the power of translation editing along with Dynamic Machine Learning, your productivity improves. For example, you can automatically find and replace all repetitions of a low-quality translation across a file when you edit just one instance of it.

You can produce custom translations with just a glossary and use your translation memory for on-the-fly machine translation training. In effect, you continuously train your translation engine to produce custom translations.

Watch the video below for a demonstration of translation editing.

7. Translate XML Files Online (Always)

In today’s world, using software with web-based access is vital to working productively and with ease. 

There are simply too many obstacles you can encounter when using a desktop-based program you need to download, or a solution that offers a desktop-first hybrid. That’s why we highly recommend you choose an online translation solution for XML file translation. 

We’ll recommend a web-first solution at the end of this post.

8. Encrypted Cloud Storage

Encrypted cloud storage is an important part of translating XML files online more securely and efficiently. You will eliminate confusion over which file version is the most current while creating centralized access for your authorized colleagues.

9. Translates More than XML Files

If your organization also translates non-XML files, find XML translator software that also performs file translation for other formats. This way, you avoid the use of separate solutions and build and leverage a larger translation memory in one place.

10. Collaboration

Does your team collaborate on XML translation? Because of the nature of XML documents and the code within them, it’s likely your localization team will work with your development team. That being said, you need features that help your organization’s departments work together efficiently.  

Look for an XML file translator with functionality such as translation history tracking, instant messaging, file sharing, bookmarking and user permission controls.

11. Translate an XML File into 100+ Languages

In the future, is it possible your organization will translate an XML file into different languages than you currently use? If so, it’s important to use a translator tool that has all the language pairs your organization uses now and will anticipate using in the future.

This includes English, Spanish, German, French, Hindi, Arabic, Japanese and more.

Recommended XML Translator Tool

Now that you know the best way to translate XML files online, are you wondering how to find the best XML translation software with all these capabilities? 

Try Pairaphrase as your XML Translator online. It’s the AI-powered translation management system for teams who value safer, smarter and faster translation.

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