Extract text from Trados translation files (SDLXLIFF)
To convert SDLXLIFF translation files to another format, you need Trados Studio or other Data software.
To convert other file formats to the "Localization Interchange File" file type, you need software like Trados Studio or a similar tool.
The .SDLXLIFF format is a specialized, XML-based bilingual translation document created by Trados Studio. It stores both the source language text and the translated target text, alongside segment metadata, translation memory match rates, and terminology data. Functionally, it is an extension of the standard XLIFF (XML Localization Interchange File Format) standard, customized specifically for the Trados ecosystem.
The main disadvantage of .SDLXLIFF files is their rigid software dependency. They are designed almost exclusively for Trados workflows, meaning you typically need an expensive commercial license to open, read, or edit them properly. While you can technically open them in a standard text editor, the sheer volume of proprietary XML tags and embedded base64 data makes them nearly impossible for human reviewers or clients to read. They are not natively supported by standard office suites, web browsers, or general-purpose text processors.
To make this data accessible outside of localization departments, conversion is necessary. For cross-platform translation workflows, convert to standard XLIFF or TMX to import into tools like memoQ or OmegaT. For client review, export the bilingual data to CSV or XLSX. If you just need the final translated text, you must reconstruct the target document (e.g., DOCX or HTML). Drop your file here to view and convert it securely right in your browser - free, online, and without installing heavy localization software.
Convert.Guru analyzes your SDLXLIFF file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted SDL, XLIFF, SDLPROJ, XLF, SDLPPX, SDLRPX, IDML, DOCX, ZIP, PDF, FH11, XML and SDOCX files.
If you want to convert SDLXLIFF file to TMX, XLIFF, XLF, TXT, RTF, DOC, DOCX, ODT, PAGES, TEX, LATEX or MD, you can use Trados Studio or similar software from the "Bilingual Translation Document Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert PDF, DOC, ASC, TODO, NFO, MEMO, README, DOCX, JPG, TXT, NOTE or RTF files to SDLXLIFF, try Trados Studio or another comparable tool in the "Bilingual Translation Document Storage" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our SDLXLIFF converter.